The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-04-02

The men who gathered at that event.
full meeting did many important things,
including the selection Of home for
the new patriotic organization. They
called it the American Legion, and
under that name it will go down in
the patriotic history Of the United
| States.
The caucus also named a committee
| of fifteen to work in the United States
and to plan for national meeting
| within year. This committee came
home and caucus was arranged for
at st. Louis, May 8.
The st. Louis meeting was a revela.
| 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 prin.
clples OF Americanism in one great
movement, the American Legion. AT
| this meeting joint executive com.
mittee was formed by men of 81 states
with units in the Legion. This COM
| mittee formulated basis for perma-
nent organization and agreed that
| constitutional convention of the LIE,
gion would be held in Minneapolis in
November. An organization commit
tee OF five was appointed to complete
plans for the Minneapolis meeting.
This committee was composed Of
Henry D. Lindsey of Texas. Bennatt
q. 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
because OF that service and his sub.
sequent work as chairman of the Min.
neapolls convention, the title of first
commander Of the 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 Len
and Thomas w. Miller. The measure
was introduced in both houses limo
~ last year. 1t passed the house of
representatives August q and the sen.
ate September 5. President Wilson
signed the charter September 16. com.
pietIng the work of granting a charter
the first ever granted to an orpanizo,
ton of the nature of the American
Legion. The legislative committee of
the Legion also placed before the con.
gress many other important legisla-
i've matters, including bills COVERING
land grants for former service mon
bills dealing with the question of the
deportation of alien slackers and otbar
matters of interest to men of the LIE.
gion.
Important steps taken at the 81
Louis meeting provided for the omen.
ing of national headquarters IN Now
York and for the publication of a
weekly periodical that would be of in. !
terest to former service men. Plans !
also were made to have three well.
known men of the legion visit GIifferant
parts Of the country to further the in. |
terests of the new organization. Tho
men chosen were Theodore Roosevelt
oR' dohh I. y. Herbert and John w
liner. These made tours of the conn. |
try to advance the organization ~
local posts. When the American L..
gion met in Minneapolis the member. |
ship had passed the 100000 mark. and |
1t was predicted that the million mark |
would be reached in a few months,
There now are more than 5000 Amer. |
lean Legion posts in the United States.
Alaska, Cuba and Hawaii.
Franklin DOlIer of PENNSYLVANIA 10
the new commander of the American
Legion. He, with other new officers
OF the Legion have opened headauar-
tiers offices Of the Legion In Indian.
apolis. And Indianapolis and Indiana.
feeling joint pride In the honor paid
the state by the American Legion, wei.
comes them. When they came they
heard that indianapolis was preparing !
TO erect a memorial to her fighting
sons that win serve not only as a home
Tor the American Legion, but for other /
patriotic bodies, including the veterans |
OF the Grand Army of the Republic /
and the Spanlsh-Amerdcnn war.