The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-10
NATIONAL CHARTER
FORsANE. LEGION
iat,Is Object of Bill Now
Under Committee Con-
sheraton. . as

( WAs1I1NGroN,sD. / c., July TO-
hearings VIII be held blythe respec-
hve Judiciary. committeesiof the SEN
be and House of Representatives. on
< biz to incorporate THE american
legion. The bill was introduced by
bsnator ]. Q. wolcott, Democrat. of
Delaware, and Representative Royal
b. johnson, Republican, OF South Da
kota.
the incorporators, all present or
,ormer service men who wore the uni
FORM OF the United States during the
war. are: q. II. Brent, New York; G.
3. Buxton. Jr., Rhode Island: B. c..
Clark, Missouri: r. Derby, New York;
&. H. Everidge, Texas; NJ. H. Foreman,
illinois; Ruby Garrett, Missouri; r. 8.
Haines, Maine; J. r. ]. Herbert, Mas
Uachusetts; r. Hoffman, Oklahoma;
3. B. Humphrey. New Mexico; j. w.
liner, Alabama: S. s. Jenney, Mary
land; L. Lea, Tennessee; L. Leonard,
Colorado; II. D. Lindsey, Texas; o..
Mills, New York; q. Meyers, Pennsyl.
pania; +. D,Oiier, Pennsylvania; w. G.
Price. Jr.. Pennsylvania; T. Roose.
Welt. Jr., New York; A. A. Sprague,
Illinois; j. j. Sullivan, Washington;
Dale Shaw, Iowa; d. G. Sttvers, Mon
fana; g. Al. White, Oregon; e. F.
Wood. Pennsylvania; G. H. Wood.
Ohio.
The preamble OF the bill recites that
under official authority" caucus OF
aelegates representing the various or.
limitations OF the a. e. F. met at Par
Is on March IL, 1919, and similat
Caucus met In st. Louis, May $40.
1919. for the purpose of forming an
nrganization of veterans of the mill
tary and naval forces of the United
States in the War OF 1917-191S"; that
these caucuses resulted in the forma-
ton of The American Legion, the scope
and Importance of whose principles
and work require its Incorporation by
Congress.
The purposes Of the Legion as set
forth in the bill are as follows: ITO
uphold and defend the Constitution
Of the United States of America; to-
safeguard and transmit to posterity
the principles OF justice, freedom and
democracy for which the members of
the military and naval services of the!
United States commended in the War
Of 1917-191S; to maintain law and or
der; TO foster and perpetuate 100
per cent. Americanism; to inculcate
'fhe duty of the citizen to the state and
fhntion, and TO preserve and develop
equality of right and opportunity I'M
the United States; to promote the So
cial and Industrial welfare Of the citi-
zens of the United States to make
right the master of might both in do
nestle and international affairs, and
to- promote peace and good will among
the people of the United States and
the nations OF the earth; to cement
the ties of comradeship formed in SER
vice; TO preserve the memories and
incidents OF the Great War, and to con-
secrate the comradeship of its mem
bers by their devotion to mutual help
fulness and service 10, the nation"
The objects and purposes of the Le-
zion, are stated to be solely patriotic
and benevolent. One section will re-
Quire the American Legion as soon as
possible after the first day of January
each year to make and transmit to the
ceedings for the preceding calendar
year -including a full, complete and
itemized report of receipts and expen-
nAAuAco Vi Atp haLiOAeA1 L6dulEdIlOu VI
whatever kind" and that this report
shall be audited by the War depart
ment and transmitted to Congress.
Among the powers to be granted to
the Legion are. the powers "to estab-
lish and maintain state and territorial
organizations and local chapter or post
organizations throughout the United
States, its territories and possessions;"
10 make and adopt constitution and
bylaws; TO publish magazine and
other publications and generally to do
all such acts and things as may be
necessary TO carry into effect the pro-
visions of this act and promote the pur-
poses and principles" Of the organiza-
tion.
Membership in the Legion is eligible
to all persons who were in the naval
or military service during the period
between April 6, 1917. and Noyember