The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-27

To these wonderful results national
headquarters has contributed SO in
significantly that l shall refer but
briefly TO what we have tried TO dc
n helping this great cause"
National Headquarters
We have interpreted the main func-
ton Of national headquarters as serv-
ce TO the different state departments
and have al all times favored the
maximum recognition Of the rights
Of Individual states not only in their
relations with the national headquar-
tees but as between the states them
selves as well We have favored the
greatest possible decentralization OF
amongst the different de.
partments consistent with national CO.
hesion and uniformity. We have
endeavored to faithfully and efficiently
serve every department 20 the utmost
of our means and our ability. W.
have endeavored at all times to avoid
assertion Of any national
authority but have rather appealed
to the ex-service mans sense Of team
play--to his native tolerance-to his
willingness 10 compromise on the un-
essentials in order that he may fight
to a finish on the fundamentals, sc
that We may all pull together with
a united front and every one pulling
his full load and all for the great
purpose of service to our country and
service to our comrades"
For Law and Order
"The greatest single service We
have rendered our country was the
virile stand for the maintenance OF
law and order We quickly served
notice in no uncertain terms upon
those wild radicals who would by force
attempt to injure those very institu.
tions we had risked our lives to pro.
tect. We stated plainly that We were
ready for them and could meet their
force with far greater force sufficient
TO stop them Instantly
During these present days Of un.
rest and readjustment the American
Legion and the stand Of the ex-service
man for law and order is the greatest
possible insurance policy our coun-
try could possibly have and the only
insurance premium the ex-service man
expects in return is simply fair play
from that government with which he
has played so fair"
Help Disabled Men
The first official act of this ad-
after the close of the
was to call a conference
in Washington to consider the deplor-
able condition of the disabled man
the war has been over more
than year, government compensa-
tion to disabled men was so made
quate that many men were objects
Of private charity At this conference
every state in the union
was represented and work begun on
Monday morning, actual legislation
passing both the senate and the house
before the end of the same week. AS
a result of that legislation there is
now distributed TO disabled men one
hundred million dollars each year
And the reason this legislation was
passed was because the American
Legion put its requests before them
so plainly and so forcibly that con-
yress knew that our requests were
Just and had the backing OF not only
ax-service men but the public as
we'll"
THE Bureau of War Risk Insur-
,nce, Vocational Training Board and
Public Health Service as 1t affects
he ex-service man all are maintained
by the government for the benefit OF
sx-service persons-practically all three
oelong 10 us-and the service we re-
,eive from these three departments will
De exactly what we insist upon. II
,ur organization remains strong and
always presents uniform front, we
nay always expect efficient service.
otherwise the ex-service person will
have 10 accept that those
II Washington feel like giving him -
After having looked after those
disabled and while still
for further Improvement in
heir condition, your national officers
md executive committee took up the
question Of adjustment of compensa-
ion to those who have suffered finan-
,ially because Of their service.
Recognize Nations Obligations
The last convention fully recognized
his obligation on the part of the
country toward the ex-service man but
adopted a policy OF watchful waiting
IN the implied promise that congress
would act. The national executive
committee 90 days later realized that
nothing had been done, nor was con-
yress likely to do anything They
therefore abandoned the policy Of
waiting and worked out the
optional plan covering land
settlement, home aid. vocational train
ng and adjustment. OF compensation.
In presenting this suggested plan TO
congress II was requested that each
feature be made a liberal as was
with the welfare Of the
country. AS result OF the most
active work on the part OF your ma
'ional officers and state officers. this
optional plan was finally
smbo1ied In bill which passed the
house few days before adjourn
nent Of congress, but too late for
action by the senate. II is for you
10 determine at this convention the
necessary steps 10 be taken by youI
next administration to secure It's
passage through the senate this COM
ing December"
our great success has been due.
rs have said. TO the fact that our
Ideals have proven right ard ae.uated
by these ideals there has developed a
great organization presenting q united
front and extending from the individ-
ual member up through the local
post and state organization to ma
uonal headquarters through which
national unity is secured. And so
your responsibility during these next
three days is 10 keep these ideals
pure interpret them and stIll further
strengthen them and solidify our or
ganization TO the end that 1t may
continue 10 stu more unaelfishlv aaycn