The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-17
ORGANIZE BRANCH OF
THE AMERICAN LEGION
Enthusiastic Meeting and Temporary
Committee is Named to Com
pletc Details.

Officers were elected. committees on
hy-laws and finances were appointed
and suggestions for chairmen of district
branches were made at the initial
meeting of the Richmond branch of
the American Legion, composed of
Veterans of the World War. held In
The auditorium of the John Marshall
High school last night.
Officers elected were Major Andrew
Christian. chairman Captain James
Smith. secretary; Lieutenant Robert
DuVal. treasurer.
The following compose the finance
committee: Lieutenant Robert G.
Hundley. John f.. Finney, Norman v,
kaTanaugh and w. B. Southall
Chairman Christian appointed the
following committee of three to draft
bylaws: Chairman Wallerstein, Sena-
tors James Cannon and Miller.
The following were chosen as mem
bers of a temporary state committee to
devise ways and means OF selecting
twenty delegates and as many alter
mates to attend the caucus OF the
American Legion TO be held in st.
Louis May 8. and 10:
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Mcclure,
chairman Major Andrew n. Christian.
Richmond vice chairman; Lieutenant
Robert @ NJ. Ross. Newport News,
secretary-treasu rer, sos First National
t'FIlh bUlAAlHEt sergeant HENRY SfidSS,
Lynchburg; Lieutenant C. Francis
Cooke, Roanoke; Ensign j. sydney
Fitzgerald, Norfolk; Captain Keith
Carliu, Alexandria: Lieutenant Robert
p wallace, II ri on: Lieutenant
Charles W. Moss. Chesterfield county;
Major o. L. Cole. West Point; Captain
Joseph Seay. Petersburg; Major will
liam A. Stuart. Rig Stone Gap: Captain
Darlington stetinius. Charlottesville;
Lieutenant p. w Handy. Bristol; Lieu
rtnant Commander Richard Evelyn
BYRD. Winchester; Captain Malcolm p.
Harris Danville.
The next meeting of the Richmond
branch, known as the parent Virginia
organization. win be held Wednesday
night a $50 o'clock in the auditorium
OF the high school pending selection
Of permanent quarters.
An executive COMMITTEES will be ap-
pointed at the next meeting.
The immediate duties of the finance
committee will be TO determine the ex-
rense incident to sending delegates to
the caucus and to devise ways and
means Of raising the necessary funds.
The national convention of the
American Legion will be held in No
vember in a city yet to be selected.
Colonel Stuart Mcclure, leading spirit
in the movement looking to organiza-
those present to get down to business
without delay and perfect at least
temporary organization. He wanted
Richmond to beat other Virginia cities
in the matter of organization and
" anted this city to have the distinction
of being the first to organize.
Colonel Mcclure opened the meet
ing, but turned II over to Chairman
pChristian following selection of the
latter as temporary chairman.
The idea Of the American Legion.
Colonel Mcclure explained. originated
in Paris in February at a gathering
Of about twenty officers OF the Aneri-
can army. More than thousand SOL
diers attended a subsequent meeting,
which was held In the French capital
on March 10, a which time the tenta-
tive name of American Legion was
adopted and tentative constitution
was drawn up.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, of New
4 York city, was chosen as chairman Of
a temporary committee to arrange for
a caucus in st. Louis in May A wire
! received few days ago by Colonel
/ Mcclure from Colonel Roosevelt stated
/ that every state in the union had or
! ganized with the exception Of viz
ginia. Colonel Roosevelt was sorry to
I see Virginia Tagging" and he ex-
pressed the hope that the Old Do
| minion, in view OF the illustrious part
/ her sons took in the world war, would
soon be up in the front ranks of the
/ organization. where she deserved to be
| The organization completed. Colonel
Mcclure said. win he larger than both
+ the Confederate Veterans and the
/ Grand Army Of the Republic combined
! 1t will be non partisan and non-poltti-
! cal.
[ Lieutenant Robert O. NJ. Ross late
/ of the quartermaster corps, Newport
! News, made "A short talk, in which he
/ declared that the American Legion
/ will make it it's business to see that
the returned soldier gets his old Job
4 back