The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-09
@ENNARVETERANS
ST. LOUIS.
1ll Emphasizes the Desire
to Have Legion Very
Democratic.

EW YORK, April "a committee
nose officers declared 1t represented
4Hely state in the union, every rank
the army and navy and every head
Political belief, issued here last
1ight q call for q caucu in st. Louis
mcnth to elect preliminary organ
z&ttons Of the American Legion to be
composed Of American veterans of the
51pfidsWar.
The caucus to be held May s.. Q and
1es VIII pave the way for a national
cpnyention set tentatively for Novem-
herS11 when the organization intends
fCF6ner membership to all officers and
enlisted men in the United States mil
itafyornaya1 service between the date
~ Americas declaration OF war and
he cessation Of hostilities, will be per
0anent.
Tho caucus call was signed by Lieu
en41tColonel Theodore Roosevelt,
m % New York, chairman; Lieuten-
HtEColonel Bennett Clark, Of Mis-.
NSouff; Vice hairn1an, and Lieutenant
Colonel Eric Fisher Wood, Of Penn
yfVanta, secretary; together with
Upwards Of 200 committeeman drawn
nom the commissioned and enlisted
reTgonneI OF the army, navy and ma.
Tine corps and representing the forty.
Eyht states and the District Of Co.
3lnbie.
The legion will not interest itself in
Nolitics, but will make its influence
telt in regard to politics, Lieutenant
Colonel Roosevelt declared in discuss.
ING the embryo organization. 1t will
tesstrictly non-partisan, he added, its
objects being to perpetuate conrad
hip and to maintain the principles for
which american soldiers and sailors
aiied, fought and died.
The st. Louis caucus will be the
third formal meeting Of the legion or
1fnization the first two following a
0nfsrence in February Of a group of
0ftlcers in France having been attend
a last month by nearly 1000 officers
md men OF all branches Of the Ameri.
can Expeditionaty Forces. Before call
the assembly in this country 1t was
decided to make preliminary commit
Representatives by including en-
listed men and by apportioning the
Membership among the states.
As evidence OF the proposed demo-
cratic character Of the legion, it was
statedsthat the committee desires that
& least half the delegates Of the eau
6Nslbe men from the ranks.
Colonel R~oosevelt's committee urged
that veterans Of the War communicate
With the temporary committeeman
Inomstheir states so that in the prelim-
mary state conferences, all may have
Z vote in the selection Of delegates to
The St Louis meeting. Delegations
rom each state, it was added, would
Be twice the size Of the representation
congress.
addition to the delegates and
lkeir altArnates. the committee said,
8fenf6aentatiyes OF veterans and pa
tfl6tfe organizations already formed
would be; invited to attend, together
governors and adjutant generals
5 al states as honorary delegates.
Among the honorary delegates on
the temporary committee are Major
James Wheeler, Paducuh, KY; Lieu.
telantlC Colonel Ralph D. Cole, Colum.
bus, Ohio; Lieutenant-C Colonel Isa-
dore H.. Duke, Cincinnati, Ohio; Col.
Asher Miner, Wilkesbarre, Pa; Chas.
Biddle, Philadelphia and Major
Alexander Laughlin, Pittsburgh, and
Eientenant-C Colonel Jackson A. Arnold,
Weston, w. Va.