The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-07-10
THE AMERICAN LEGION.
The Why. What and Wherefore
of This Great Soldiers
Organization.


When cur boys return from til
war, they are going to run thi
country. /" The statement is mater
ializing in fact. Through their ~
sanitation. The American Legion
the soldiers are really preparing
to take charge of the situation
The great New York Sun says
of the Legion:
eff the hopes and expectations
of the founders Of the American
Legion are fulfilled. that society
will enlist in it's membership a
large majority of the men who
wore the United States uniform
in the great war. an earnest cf-
fort is to be made to keep it free
from sectionalism and party pol
itics.
"It should not be necessary TO
point out the tremendous power
snch an organization as this will
WELD in national affairs. The cx-
clusion Of party politics from it's
councils will not spell non-parti-
cipation in politics by it's mem
bers, and it is obvious that its force
will be potent for many years to
come in determining the lcgisla-
tive and administrative policy of
the country From the men who
compose it will come the leaders
of all parties It's standard bear
ers will naturally have the sym
pathy and good will Of great
body of electors in any project |
they put forward. an o Vantage
nonmembers of the order will lind
it hard to overcome. ("
The intents and purposes of the
organization are given /by the Lee
gion itself in the following Ian
guage:
What is the American Legion?
1t is the organization Of American
veterans of the World War. 1t is
non-partisan and non-political. 1t
is a civilian organization-not mil
itary or militaristic. 1t makes nc
distinction of rank and no dis
tinction between overseas men
and men who did not get over
seas.
Who is eligible? Any soldier,
sailor or marine who served hon
,rably between April 6, 1917, and
November II, 1918.
Are women eligible? Yes, those
Who were regularly enlisted or
commissioned in the army, navy
II marine corps.
When was the Legion started?
1t was first organized in Paris
Garch Is to II, 1919, by thous-
nd officers and men, delegates
rom all the units Of the American
lxpeditionary Force to an organ
zation meeting. which adopted
constitution and selected
he name American Legion
What has been done in America
egarding it? The action of TIE
'aris meeting was confirmed and
ndorsed by a similar meeting
ED in st. Louis May 8 to 10,
919, when the Legion was form
lily recognized by the troops who
erved in the United States.
Are the organizations in France
nd America separate? No. The
aris meeting appointed an Exc
ltiye Committee of seventeen Of
lcers and men to represent the
.oops in France in the conduct I
the Legion. The st. Louis {
leeting appointed a similar Com :
littee Of Seventeen. These two :
committees have ANAL Z
amated and are now the operat-
lg body of the Legion.
Who are the officers Of this ma {
onal governing body? Henry !
}. Lindsey, Texas, chairman; a.
emmett G. Clark, Missouri, vice :
hartman; Eric Fisher Wood,
ennsylvania. secretary; Casper
aeon, Massachusetts, treasurer.
When will the final step in the
rganization Of the Legion take
lace? November 10. IL (Armis-
ce Day., and IL, at Minneapolis,
[inn., when a great National Con- {
ention will be held. q
Why were those dates selected? I
O celebrate the completion OF 8
sace, and because by that time 2
ractically all Of the men OF the 8
E. F. will be at home and will q
Ave been able to participate In 2
lie election Of their delegates to :
lie Convention.
Who were some Of the men who .
itiated the formation Of the Lee
on? Lt.-Col. Theodore Roose-
lit, of the First Division; Col.
enry D. Lindsey. formerly may
of Dallas, Texas; Sgt. Jack" .
of Seattle; Lt.-Col.
D'Olier. of Philadelphia; (,
Ex-senator Luke Lea, of Tenne-
e; Lt.-Col. Frederick Huedeko-
II. of Washington. D.. c.; Major 4
edmond G.. Stewart, Of Balti-