The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-05-20

Tho men who gathered at that event
ful meeting did many important things,
Including the selection Of Il home for
the new patriotic organization. They
called it the American Legion, and
under that maine it will 60 down in
the patriotic history Of the United
States.
The caucus also named 4 committee
of fifteen to work in the United States
and to plan for Il national meeting
Within Il year. This committee came
home and Il caucus was arranged for
II; st. Louis, May 3.
The ST. Louis meeting was revfIa-
ton. There several hundred men who
had served their country at home and
abroad met and, forgetting both creed
and politics. worked to inject the prll-
cipltS of Amrricanism in one great
nOyrnrnt the American Legion. At
this meeting a joint executive com
mit1ec was formed by men Of - states
with units in the Legion. This com
miltce formulated a basis for perma-
nnnt organization and agreed that a
constitutional convention Of the Lee
gion would be held in Minneapolis in
November. An organization commit
toe of five was appointed to complete
plans for the Minneapolis meeting.
This committee was composed OF
Henry d. Lindsey of Texas, Bennett
u. Clark Of Missouri, Franklin D'Olier
Of Pennsylvania Dr. Richard Derby Of
New York. and Eric Fisher Wood OF
Pennsylvania. Mr. Lindsey WAS
chosen chairman Of the committee and
SeQucnt work as chairman Of the Min
npapOIiS convention, the title Of first
commander Of tn" American Legion
was conferred on him. Mr.. Wood WAS
named the secretary. One important
step taken at the st. Louis meeting
was that Of asking the congress OF
the United States for charter. This
, request was intruSted to Luke Lea
and Thomas w. Miller. The measure
was introduced in both houses June
- Y VI
representatives August - and the sen
ate. September ; President Wilson
signed the charter September 1G, COM
pleting the work Of granting a charter,
| the first ever granted to an OrgaEiza-
| ton of the nature of the American
Legion. The legislative committee OF
the Legion also placed before the con-
gress many other important !egisla-
tive matters, including bills covering
land grants for former service men,
bills dealing with the question OF the
deportation Of alien Slackers and other
matters Of interest to men Of the Le
giOn.
Important steps taken at the st
Louis meeting provided for the open
ing Of national headquarters in New
York and for the publication Of 8
weekly periodical that would be Of in
terest to former service men. Plans
known men of the legion visit differen
parts Of the country to further the in
terests Of the new organization. TIT
men chosen were Theodore Roosevelt
,Jr., John p. J. Herbert and John w
InZer These made tours of the cOun
try to advance the organization o
| local posts. When the American LIE
gion met in Minneapolis the member
ship had passed the 100000 mark, an
it was predicted that the million mar
would be reached in few months
There now are more than 5000 Amer
lean Legion posts in the United State:
Alaska. Cuba and Hawaii.
; Franklin D'Olier Of Pennsylvania
the new commander Of the America
, Legion. He, with other new officer
Of the Legion have opened headqua
, ters Offices Of the Legion in Indian
: aDolis. And Indianapolis and Indians
feeling a joint pride in the honor pal
, the state by the American Legion, we
=, comes them. When they came the
heard that Indianapolis was preparir
: to erect a memorial to her fightir
! sons that will serve not only as hon
] for the American Legion, but for 9TH
: patriotic bodies, including the veteran
8 of the Grand Army Of the Republ
:. and the Spanish-American war.