The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-08-26

. The second annual convention OF
Sathe North Dakota American Legion
Opened in Minot Wednesday morning
with an exceptionally large attend
ance. The 500 delegates in attend
\ ance, representing the various Posts
\ in the state began arriving Tuesday
night, and they were all taken care
III q nicely by the billeting committee.
held at the high school auditorium
we're represented.
ss The knights Of Pythias band, en-
4 ragged for the two days, opened the
program Wednesday morning with a
\ Selection and has been playing at fre-
Quent intervals.
s When Commander C. L. Dawson
of the state organization and Adjutant
Jack Williams took their places on
the platform, they were met with
great applause, typical of the en-
/ thusiastic American soldier. AS the
band played the Star Spangled Ban
kner, every soldier sprung to his feet
with the alacrity Of soldier.
The invocation was delivered by
Capt. Martin of the Salvation Army.
State Adjutant Williams read the
Formal call of the convention.
le Judge Palda welcomed the visitors
On the part of the city and on behalf
Of the William G. Carroll Post, stat
ing that he deemed it high honor to
i be privileged to welcome these "boys"
\ to Minot.
i Mack v. Traynor of Devils Lake
gave the response for the Legion. He
4 quoted from the poem "Where the
West Begins" and stated that the poet
n might we'll have had Minot in mind.
State Commander Dawson reviewed
d at some length the work Of the Legion
in North Dakota. At the time of the
4 first convention held at Bismarck,
4 there were rs posts represented by
4 1877 delegates. There were but 4,6OO
/ paid up members at the time the first
Y yconvention and today there are II ,43O.
He said the work had been done with
out the aid Of state organizer.
Stands for Americanism
"We are proud to keep out of poll
tics" said the State Commander.
eve have done it. The organization
however, has stood for the principles
of Americanism. It must always stand
for those principles. 1t matters not
whether some political organization
!. stands in the way Of those principles.
If it does we must steam roller them" !"
That this was met with full approval
was indicated by applause. u, = I.
Mr.. Dawson also pointed out that
both the National and State Depart
ments of the American Legion are
doing much good through their Amer
:.>-:.o&:o,, ;&$noo IN $ockope kaan-
er interest in and better understanding
of our government.
Regarding the woman's auxiliary,
the commander pointed out that we
now have so such organizations in the
state. He desired each delegate to
take back an application blank and
help organize w0man's auxiliary.
When he asked for rising vote to
show how many would do this legion
naires rose almost % one man.
National Work Sketched
He rapidly sketched the work done
!, in behalf Of the ex-service man BY the
national organization. 1t has helped
to bring about needed and beneficial
changes in the matter Of war risk
insurance. It has improved conditions
in army hospitals and speeded up the
passage of the Sweet federal bill. 1t
has co-operated with the special ser
vice bureau in clearing up applications
for vocational training, Strengthening
out matters Of back pay, allotments,
etc.
He paid tribute to the boys who
sleep under lilies in France saying
1--WE will not forget them.
Report of State Adjutant Williams
Applause greeted genial Jack Will
liams, State Adjutant who made an
interesting report. Highlights OF this