Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-31
ROCK ISLAND POST LEGION
FORCES TO FRONT RAPIDLY
IN SPACE OF EIGHT MONTHS
BE PAUL B. PRESTON.
Commander Rock Island Post.

tC0mmAndef ROCK Island Post
It IL generally conceded that the
process Of organizing and getting
on it, feet any organization il .
hard, slow, discouraging struggle.
An exception is to be found in the
organization Of the local post Of the
American Legion. Although this
organization was first conceived
only eight months ago, 1t IL al
ready a permanent and fourishing
institution.
On March Is, 1919, about forty
overseas men. together with . few
representatives Of the G. A. r. and
Spanish war veterans. met at the
county court house to discuss the
ACCESSIBILITY Of forming an organiz-
alton to be called THE Veterans Of
Foreign Wars" It was decided at
that meeting that this was not the
kind Of an organization that was
wanted, owing to the fact that only
overseas men Of the late war would
be entitled to membership. As q
result, they formed an organization
called Veterans Of the War for
Democracy" and Leroy Philbrook
was appointed temporary chairman.
Soon after that the American
Legion was being heard from, and
Mr.. Philbrook attended the first
convention Of the organization IN
st. Louis, in order to get fully
posted regarding the aim and pur-
pose Of the same. He reported back
to the local organization, and. as a
result, it was decided to affiliate
with the American Legion.
Getting Started.
Interest in the local post Of the
American Legion tagged for a
while. and up to September, al
though $50 had signed up. only a
few had actually paid their dues,
making them bona f1de members.
1t was then decided to put on an
organized membership drive. A
number Of we'll known. energetic
ex-service ben took part in this
drive. among them \ctng Ben Ear
rer, Burt Kemper, Edward Duna-
vim, Edward Carlson. Fred Bren-
nan, and others. The results were
very encouraging.
At the next regular meeting OF
the post five delegates were elected
to attend the first state convention.
and a committee was also elected
to frame a constitution.
Permanent Organization.
At the state convention In Peoria
a state constitution was adopted
state officers elected and delegates
to the first national convention, to
be held in Minneapolis Nov. IL,
were also appointed. Two mem
bers of the Rock Island post, Ben
Farrar and Edward Carlson, were
among them.
On the first Tuesday of Novem-
Der permanent officers Of the local
post ewere elected as follows:
Commander. r. Preston.
Vice commander-Willard Lar
kin.
Adjutant-Burt Kemper.
Historian-Dudley Marshall.
Chaplain-D. B. Bergquist.
Surgeon-Dr. HSllowbush.
A few days later the commander
announced the chairmen Of various
committees. They were:
Ways and means. Walter Rosen'
field; entertainment, Fred Bren'
nan: civic affairs. E. v. Coulston
national legislation and insurance
Carl Anderson; publicity, Dar
Brennan; quarters. Edward Duna'
win; membership. R. G. Lindbloom
nominating, Will Roth.
These chairmen. with the officer.
elected, constitute the executive
committee, which meets every
Tuesday evening". and oftener, i
necessary.
Social Activities.
The first social event Of tn,
American Legion was an arwistic,
dinner held at the Harper house tn
evening Of Nov. II. There was ;
large and enthusiastic attendant,
and the hope was expressed tina
other such sociables be held In tn
future. A dance was also giveI
about thirty days later. The mex
social event OF importance will b.
a joint reception by the posts o
Rock Island, Davenport. Moline
Muscatine and Bettendorf, at tn