The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-05-14

party affiliations, for the organization
is thoroughly non-political, the Am
erican Legion is now one of the most
potent factors in this country on the
side of good government.
Not in theory or in purpose only
is the Legion in favor of good gov
eminent but in aggressive practice
as well. Does it occur to the mall
fingers of the Legion that it was
through the efforts Of this body that
the several state legislatures includ-
ing Minnesota have passed bonus
bills and are paying bonuses to ret
urned soldiers? Through its COM
mittee on legislation in Washington,
this organization is today exerting a
powerful force upon Congress toward
the passage of legislation intended to
benefit Immediately the ex-service
man,and indirectly the country at
large. It was entirely through the
efforts of this committee that the
present investigation of the Voca-
tional Training Board was brought
about. The farm and home settle
ment bill for returned soldiers and
sailors is one other of the measures
which this committee has sponsored
and is working for.
The local Post would like, in all
charity, to think that the derrogatory
statements that have been made
about the Legion have been inspired
more by, transformation than by NAL
ice. Every organization must have
its enemies to combat who work in
the dark. This organization seeks
the light and welcomes the light. It
offers this statement to the people
of Ely and the vicinity, especially to
the ex-service men who are not yet
counted in its membership, and relies
upon their judgement to approve it.
r A nationwide drive for new men,
bers is to be conducted by the Ameri-
can Legion during the week of May
18th to 22d. In view of this drive
Governor Burnquist has designated
that week as American Legion Week
and is directing all possible attention
to the Legion and its activities. Gov
ernors of five other states have taken
similar action and others no doubt
win follow their example. State and
local organizations throughout the
country are solidly behind this drive,
which was started by the National
organization. The object of the
drive is to enroll one million new
members and if, one may judge by
the present record of the Legion for
attaining it's ends by aggressive ac-
ton, it is safe to prophecy that one
week from today will see full mil
lion new members in the organiza-
ton. The local Post anticipated the
National drive by several weeks by
initiating Spring Drive which has
been going on with marked success.
Legion Week will be used for a pub
licity campaign in and around Ely.
Individual members of the local Post
are getting behind the movement by
acting upon the motto which has /
been responsible to a large extent |
for the phenomenal growth of the |
Legion in the past: Enroll Buddy"
Ex-service men who are eligible |
for membership in the Legion and
who wish to join, may make applica-
ton at the Community Center or the |
City Clerks Office at Ely. A letter
addressed to the American Legion at |
Ely will bring an application blank
by return mail.
The Legion dance scheduled for
next Friday night is the best adver-
tised affair of the kind that has been
held here in many months and prom
Uses even to exceed the advertising