The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-07-08

COMMANDER OIL CHe- Legion WAS ar
nounced exclusively in the Evening
News on Wednesday evening came
drifting back from the state encamp-
ment at Green Bay, Wednesday night
and this morning.
The election Of Commander Pendill
means that Kcnosha is going to be the
headquarters of the biggest organiza-
tionsin Wisconsin for the coming year
and that out from Kenosha the great
work Of organizing the veterans Of the
World War is going to 60 forward.
The new commander is the idol Of
the members Of the Kenosha post and
they hold that his election is as much
a recognition of the Kenosha post as
it is a recognition of the sterling
qualities Of Commander Pendill.
Kenosha played great part at the
meeting in Green Bay and it was the
wide vision of the Kenosha delegates
which aimed materially in shaping the
policies Of the Legion in Wisconsin for
the coming year.
See Wide Advance in Legion.
The new commander has made a
brilliant success in his handling the
Kenosha organization and it is expect
ed that his success is going to be re-
Elected in a great growth for the
Legion throughout the state. Com
mander Pendill was one Of the first
real leaders Of the American Legion
in Wisconsin. He brought to the
Legion a genius for organization and
a love for the men who had been in
service which prompted him to seek
organization along the lines which
would bring the Legion into a place
where it would be real organization
of service men with view Of pro-
noting their aims along right lines.
The new commander is one of the
best known Of the younger men Of Ke-
nosha and his election brought thrill
Of pride to the entire city.
Graduate of Michigan.
Commander Pendill is a graduate of
the University Of Michigan, 1918, and
prior to the war was employed at the
Simmons company. On May 8, 1917,
however, he enlisted as an apprentice
seaman in the regular navy but work
ed himself up rapidly to the position
of petty officer. Within a year he
passed competitive examinations for
ensign and later for junior lieutenant
and spent the remainder of the war on
the U. S. S. Oklahoma, in active service
in the danger zone.
Since the first Of the year, Pendill
has been commander of Kenosha Post
No. 21 and has built up the member
ship from less than 200 to slightly
over 100, the largest in the state, in
less than six months. BY the careful
organization and handling of commit
tees, business affairs have been man.
aged efficiently, the post has taken
positive action on such questions as
the bonus, the care of disabled SOL
diers, naturalization of alien residents,
dental clinics for school children and
other constructive measures. The
post has also conducted series OF
dances, smokers, lectures, vaudevilles.
a banquet, and has scheduled two pic
MICS for the summer.
Liked by Service Men.
While the new commander Of the
state Legion made conspicuous rec
ord in the navy during the war, he
has been modest and unassuming and
has taken close interest in every
other service man. He is an orator of
marked ability and he was selected by
the Grand Army to deliver the annual
Memorial address in henosha this
year. He has been given high praise
by the members of the Grand Army as
well as members of the American
Legion for his patriotic fervor in sup
port of the nation and in support of
many movements to advance the in
terest Of the men in service.
He is a real "mixer" and it. is GER
tain that during the coming year he
viii find time to get acquainted with
the Legion posts in all parts of the
state, His personality is certain to
be impressed upon the work of the
Legion during the term of his leader
Ship
Alexander to National Meet
Kenosha was also honored in the
fact that John D. Alexander, vice-com-
mander Of the local post, who now be-
comes its commander, was chosen by
the delegates from the first district to
be the first alternate to attend the ma
tional convehtion Of the American Lee
gion in Cleveland this fall Roy Gid
dings of Racine and j. f. Cunningham
Of Janesville were chosen as the dele
gates for this district with "A. G.
Dearsey Of Oconomowoc as the secopd
delegate.
In the action Of the convention in
the last afternoon Kenosha legion
naires were especially interested in the
retraction of the stand made in the
morning when the leaders agreed to
investigate the war records Of political
candidates for Offices and publish them
for the members of the post to govern
themselves accordingly. The changed
attitude was brought about by Dele
gate Hays Of Milwaukee, who in one
of the ablest speeches of the entire
convention pointed out the dangers of
such course and swayed the entire
convention to his point Of view.
The part that Kenosha played in the
convention is well shown by the high