The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-12
AMERICAN LEGION EXTENDS WELCOME !. ID GEN. PERSH|NG
Commander Glad to EncOur. age Legion So Long as Skirts Kept Clear From
 Petty Politics
By Associated Press

New York Septemebr 1I.-"The American Legion welcomes you, Cell eral Pershing, on account of your po- tential usefulness for the present and
 the future
 With these words, Colonel Luke Lea. former United States senator from Tennessee turned with outstretched arms toward General Pershing at the legions mass meeting and reception to him in Madison Square Garden to- might and bade him welcome home in the name of the organization"
 Men and women, members ana guests of the legion, sprang to their feet and cheered as General Pershlrg 8, introduced after Colonel Lea, rose to speak. The uproar continued for sew eral minutes, while the consolidated military and naval band played Hall, Hail, the Gangs All Here"
 General Pershing remained express sionless during Colonel Leas address while the latter launched a vigorous appeal for ao foreogn policy fo rthe United States which would insure safety to our borders and protection to the people of Mexico equally from organized lawlessness and German colonization. even at the cost and sac rifice of policing and, if necessary, Americanizing, devastated and divided Mexico"
 It was the eliminating event ot 2 full day for the general. He departs for Washington tomorrow, stopping over at Philadelphia for two hours on the way.
 In his address at the legion recep- ton General Pershing said he was glad to encourage the American e. zion as long as it stands for tr1e ,Americanism, as long as it keeps i.s skirts free and clear from petty poli- ties"
 And with that understandings he said. T shall be glad to encourage + in every man. The Amercan legion should cherish and foster the lessons in patriotism which have been brought home to the American people during
 the last two years.
 "This organization possesses great advantages for the display and exer- else of the patriotism with which i.s Nmembers have been imbued in their service abroad and at home, and 1t is the hope of all of us who are inter- ested in the welfare of this organiza- tion that you enter it with the same integrity of purpose with which you conducted yourselves in the war. Our country is founded on laws anu not on men, and it should be the pur- pose of this organization to stand on veInment by laws based upon ihS principle of the constitution. l should deplore it if there were any chance of the American legion becoming po- litica; tool in the hands of political aspirants."
 Before he attended the legion recep- tion, General Pershing received infor- mally group of newspaper men, re- calling in the interview that tomor- row is the first anniversary of the start of the great St. Mihiel driye-the American army's first independent thrust at the heavy German lines. General Pershing declared he was highly appreciative of the welcome ac- corded him and his command, and speaking of the huge parade of yes- terday said:
 Multiply the division you saw on
 parade yesterday by 40. and add some artillery and airplanes. and you haze a notion of what the American army abroad looked like. Then add the
 services of supplies to that. about 10 per cent more and you have notion
 of the size of the entire American ex- | peditionary forces.
 | T think it is important that the American people get that impression