Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-07-03
The American Legion.
The National Organization OF
American Veterans Of
The World War.

The American Legion originated in two
meetings of soldier, sailor and marine
delegates at Paris and St. Louis or
March 18th and May 9th, 9th and 10tf
respectively. The Executive Committees
appointed at these meetings have com
bined to form the National Executive
Committee of the American Legion with
headquarters at 10 West 44th Street,
New York City. State Branches and Lo.
cal Ports are being organized throughout
the country. This organization work is
progressing rapidly and it is expected
that at least one million ex service
men will be enrolled as members prior to
the National Convention of the Ameri-
can Legion which will meet at Minneap-
oils on November 10th, 18th and 18th to
effect the permanent organization of the
Legion.
NATURE.
1. 1t is non-partisan.
g. 1t knows no distinction of rank or
service.
3. 1t is a civilian organization.
OBJECTS.
l. To uphold and defend the Constitu-
ton of the United States.
2. To foster and perpetuate 100 per
cent Americanism.
3. To safeguard and transmit to pos
terity the principles of Justice, Freedom
and Democracy.
4. To consecrate and sanctify our COM
radeship by our devotion to mutual help
fulness.
The following item regarding the
American Legion is taken from Golfers
Weekly, May 81, 1919:
"A National convention of American
soldiers and sailors in which no grievances
were aired, no political axes ground, no
special privileges or preferments de-
manded, where oratorical bunk was
hooted down; where social discrimination
was taboo and military rank counted not
not at all; where the past glories of war
were subordinated to the future glories
of peace, and where the national interest
was placed above all partisanship-that
is something new under the sun. 1t was
in such a convention held in st. Louis
during the second week in May, that the
new spirit of the American army and
navy expressed itself articulately for the
first time since the armstice was signed.
The birth of the American Legion was
attended by circumstances having sig
nfcance comparable with those sur
rounding the signing of certain docu-
ment in Philadelphia one hundred and
forty-three years ago come July 5.
IA brigadier general arises to place
in nomination the name of man who
and is cried down by doughboys with
calls of Name him! Who is he?' A pro-
posal to give extra pay to enlisted men
is unanimously defeated because, as
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt put it, we
are not here to sandbag something out
of the Government. but to put something
into it, The invitation to make Chicago
the next meeting place of the legion is
refused because AIneTlcdH SOltleTS anu
sailors don't want to 60 to city whose
mayor would be ashamed to welcome
such convention A Progressive Re-
publican, son of famous father, refuses
the craftsmanship to quiet suspicion of
of personal ambition, and the Office goes
to Southern Democrat of whose party
the gathering is in complete ignorance.
Zone of the convention stenographers
said: This the funniest conventions ever
have atteeded' We have an idea that
there was an element of prophecy in her
homely remark-a body representing
more than four million American soldiers
and sailors that makes so little political
noise is likely to be about as funny to
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES politicians as a
bombardment of gas shells. This Ian
guage of restraint in the mouths of or
ganized civilian youth may prove to be a
natural companion to the famous battle
slogan of the A. E. F.: Let's go!'
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