The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-05-20
American Legion
TO Wear or Not To Wear q

/
uniform is still a question that is
kenosha Post of the American Legion
regarding the Memorial Day parade
and exercises. At the banquet on
Tuesday evening, the resolution to
march in civilian clothes was carried
by small majority, but despite this
It is not believed that the question is
definitely settled. In direct opposition
to the vote on the resolution the ques-
tlonnaires given out at the banquet
brought back a vote Of nearly three to
one for the wearing of the. uniform
and the officials are in quandary as
to which pIebiscite to follow,
Friends of the movement to wear the
uniform on that day, gathered after
the banquet and it is declared that
very strong sentiment for the wearing
/ OF the khaki was developed and that
this, coupled with the result of the
vote on the QUESTIONABLE may lead to a
reconsideration of the proposition at
the meeting of the executive committee
with the GAR. on next Monday night.
plan has been suggested that
those who care to wear the uniform be
asked to turn out in khaki, while others
who prefer to march in s.'civies" be
allowed to follow their choice. Thus
two contingents would be formed for
the parade on Monday the 31st of May.
Sixty-fve new members joined the
Legion at last nights meeting, bringing
the membership to eight hundred and
| eighty-fve up to date.
One member of the Legion, Donald
z. Fina, the man who secured the
greatest number of new members in
the membership campaign, is strongly
in favor Of wearing the uniform. He
declared this morning that he repre-
scented a large number of the legion
naires and that he could give assur-
ance that he would line up more than
one hundred service men in uniform
for the parade if the plan was re-
considered. He declared that there
was little opportunity at the banquet
to express his opinions on the subject
and has given the following state
aent to the press to show his beliefs
IN regard to the project:
"The Kenosha Post Of the American
Legion has everything in the world to
be proud of. 1t will be the largest in
the state by the 30th of May. 1t is
living up to its ideals and principles.
The meeting on Tuesday evening was
one occasion that we can all feel proud
Of. We have worked and worked hard
and we will continue to do so. But one
thing / feel should if possible be
overcome before Memorial Day, and
that is the wearing of the uniform.
1t was agreed by the majority not to
parade in uniform on that day. This
/ feel is great injustice to the old
fellows whom we are to represent in
the future the G. A. r.
It is an injustice to the memory Of
the boys who gave up their lives in
the world war. 1t is an injustice to
the one hundred per cent Americsnism
we represented. It should be the duty
of every man whether he served on
this side of the ocean or the other, for
this one day to throw aside all ideas
that he feels should not permit him to
wear the uniform and for this one day,
comrades in whose honor we march, to
wear for that one day, his uniform,
regardless of what it represents,
whether that of the soldier who fought
or who did not; he served his country
in some manner or other, and he did
his duty. Everybody could not get
into battle, that would not do. / think
that in view of the above facts we
should march in uniform.
If man for some reason or other,
has not his uniform at the present
time, he has sufficient time before
Memorial Day to secure one, by going
to the zone officer on 39th street,
Chicago, with his discharge papers.
There is no argument or any idea
that can change my opinion why we
should not march in uniform. I be-
lieve that if the Legion on Memorial
Day does not parade in uniform it will
be one Of the greatest mistakes it
ever made, and / feel that this is one
time when the majority should not
rule and give way to the men who
have the true principles Of the thing
at heart. March in uniform. If we
don't think it will be shame that
in time we may not be able to over
come. Marching for one day in the
year has nothing to do with us being
q military organization. Think it over
and think as we should The uniform
should be worn on the Both Of May.
While / am willing to abide by the
decision Of the majority, believe that
this matter should be reconsidered ard
that we should be sure that this is
what the majority of the members Of
the post desire. 1t would please me
very much if some way could be found
to reopen the question and still pro-
vide for the wearing of the khaki to
celebrate this date"
Donald p. Fina.