The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-09
Ex-Service Men Sec
ond Annual Conve'n

PART IN ALL PROCEEDINGS AND
SECURE THE ELECTION OF ONE
OF IT'S MEMBERS AS DELEGATES
TO NATIONAL CONVENTION.
(By James B. Morris.)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 4.-The
second annual convention Of the Iowa
department Of the American Legion
was held in the auditorium at Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 2 and 8. From
the time Col. Tinley, department COM
mander, gave the order "fall in - until
he gave, the order fail out,' there
was pep in the meeting.
Colored Delegates in Attendance.
The convention was made up Of ap-
proximately fourteen hundred dele
gates divided into eleven districts. Des
Moines and Polk county were, in the
seventh district, which included among
Others the colored delegates from Lin
ccln post No. 1876, in the persons of
Jesse L. Mcclure, J. @. Lindsey and
James B. Morris, post commander, and
three alternates, Festus Stone, Lovelle
Owens and Clarance Harding. I
The First Days. ...
The body was called together Thurs
day morning at 10 CLOCK by Col. Matt
Tinley, who spoke at length on the OBJ
iect and aim of the Legion and the
course the members must pursue in or
der to make the organization what 1t
ought to be. In the absence of the may
or, Hon. James Trewin welcomed the
visitors to the city.
The afternoon session was spent lis
Tteninp to reports Of the various officers
and permanent committees all OF which
were generously applauded.
Big Entertainment.
At O'Clock the delegates were as.
sembled in automobiles collected by the
Chamber of Commerce and taken on
s; oht seeing tour throughout the city.
During the evening the delegates and
their friends attended high class en-
teHtainment at the auditorium consist
ing of boxing and band music.
The audience sang America, Mar
seillias and popular songs OF the war.
National Commander speakes.
franklin D'Olier, national COM
mander spoke to the delegates on Fri
day morning. a .=..
isIt was just a little over eighteen
months ago that the American Legion
was organized, - began D'Olier. Now
you have $4,000 posts and thousands
upon thousands Of members. Such a
thing has never before been accom-
plished in the history Of this country.
Service Man Will Rule It.
tYou may not realize that the ex-
service man is soon going to run this
country. but he is, because he is
Kicked man. Boiled down, the con-
stitution of our order is simply this:
Service to our country. "
..ln the American Legion there is
no east, no west, no north, no south'
Jew or gentle, Protestant or Catholic,
capital or labor. The American Lee
eion is the nearest thing on earth to
public opinion. Public opinion stands
for progress. But we who were in the
service know that our strength against
the enemy, was in direct proportion TO
the spirit of the 100,00O,OOO people be-
hind us.
"We have served our country and
we have vet to serve our comrades. W.
stuck together in the service ana =
am convinced that we are gong 70
hang together in this order so that we
may continue to serve our country anu
our comrades ...>s
Made a Stirring Address. 4
Congressman Burton Sweet, father
of the law known as the Sweet DILL
which gave increased compensation TO
wounded soldiers and sailors.
tsI believe that America IS Tor
Americans and when I say Americans
1 mean both native born and natural
lied persons who are in sympathy Win
what this great republic stands tor
(applause). -. 4;oo ,nd
/ saw and I know what war IS, ana
in nv heart there was found at tLat
time a resolve that the manned ana
their families should be taken care
OF. A nation that will not Protect
those who protected it is disgrace
to the world' (applanse.
His Closing Advice.
Mr.. Sweet closed with the follow
ing advice to the Legionaires: "Our
constitution is not contraet Det"een
all the people. If things do not 60
right in this country we ourselves are
to blame, for we are a part OF the gov
eminent. So I say to you, gentienen'
be alive to what is going on IN con
gress. The Darrow bill and the bonus
bill have passed the house and are up
to the senate. And if you believe IN
them you should let your congressman
know SO as to be a service to your
selves and to your country.
Other speakers included Dan C--NeM'
quist. field representative Of tho b. w.