Evening star., 1920-03-08
CALLS IGNORANCE
Of THE ELECTORATE
GREATEST MENACE
Gen. Pershing, at Legion An
niversary, Discusses Immi-
gration-0ther Speakers.

grati0n-0ther Speakers.
An ignorant electorate" was char
acterized by Gen. John J. Pershing
as the greatest menace to this or any
other free country. in a speech be-
tore members and guests of George
Washington Post No. I. of the Amer
lean Legion. held at Central High
school yesterday afternoon to mark
the anniversary of the organization
or the first post of the American
Legion
The former commander of the Amer
lean expeditionary forces paid high
tribute to the American as a soldier
but said that there remained much
Tor the former service men to do.
not the least of which was to pro-
mote education.
Where AgitatOrs Find Followers.
1t is among the ignorant Amcri-
can and foreign born. that the agi-
tator finds his followers" said Gen.
Pershing. The American Legion has
work to do in looking to the en-
1orcement of .aw. especially laws that
have to do with education. 1t is es-
peciaiiy important th.4t s, insist on
the education of the foreign-born.
we have been too lax in the enforce
ment of our immigration laws Many
4
citizens and have fought for their
new nag. Many Others have become
producers and credit to the nation.
but too large number have become
agitators and openly attacked the
Foundation of our government.
Il believe, as we all do. in the Con-
etltution of the United States and |
believe its safety depends on the
AmericaniZation and the integrity of
the community. And the duty of the
community will not be properly met
unless the citizens comprising it take
an active interest in their country
From an international standpoint, our
influence as a moral force will de-
pend on the strength of this nation
within itself"
His Tribute to u. s. Soldiers.
No body of soldiers has ever risen
to the heights of self-sacrifice that
our soldiers did in this war, said Gen.
at scissors. ST. Mihiel and the Meuse-
Argonne maintained the best tradi-
tions of martial ancestry.
The laurels won on the battlefields
are not the only ones to the credit
Of the American" he added. Far
from home and surrounded by temp
tations. he nevertheless by his mod
esty and abstinence won praise from
his allies. and came home in perfect
health. Never in the history of war
have men been so respectful to wom-
en- as the American soldier was to the
women with whom he came in con-
tact. He made the most of an oppor-
tunity that had not risen in gener-
alton and an honor that can come to
but few
Other Speakers and Themes.
Representative julius Kahn of CAL
ifornia, chairman of the House mill
tary affairs committee. and Col: E
Lester Jones, commander of the Dis
trict of Columbia department of the
American Legion, were the other
speakers. The member of Congress
made a strong appeal for military
preparedness.
He said in part:
"Of more than 100000 men who
we're in the military service when the
armistice was signed, barely 100000
had known the meaning of squads
right when the war broke out. 1t
took thirteen months of training and
preparation after we entered the war
before our first division entered the
line. Fortunately for us England,
France. Belgium and Italy were hold
ing back the enemy during that time.
but perhaps never again in history
will we find such a fortuitous con-
dition."
Col. Jones Describes Ideals.
Commander Jones. who was the
first commander of the first post, de-
voted his talk largely to the ideals
that inspired the first meeting of war
veterans. later crystallized in the
American Legion.
ITO those who have seen the legion
grow from one small post to what to-
day is vast army Of men and women.
with more than 5000 posts and more
than 100000 members. it is a mat
ter Of qualification and glory" said
Col. Jones I'VE are marching on as
the greatest and most potential body
of men and women that has ever
1ation in the history of our country.
and I might add, of the world
The nations capital occupies a
very peculiar position in it's relation
to the American Legion. It's duties
are twofold. First it has local is
transient nature. 1t has in it's midst
the great hospitals of the country
representing the Army and the Navy.
with men coming and going con-
stantly. besides large number of
regular officers and men in both of
our large military forces who re-
main in Washington only for a COM
parativeiy short time. This makes
II dificult to handle many of our
changeable problems. which the or
dinary state does not meet. Second.
or on the other hand. much of the
work-in fact. I can properly say so
per cent of it-has been of a national
character The close proximity of
this department to the headquarters
of our military offices. the war risk
bureau. the Vocational Training
Board. and last. but not least the
fact that we are living under the very
caves of Congress. brings to us daily
calls in large numbers for assistance
to comrades. through various posts
and departments in connection with
legislation. insurance and many other
matters which they think we are
capable of handling. We are doing
so as promptly possible. This
has given this department a great
opportunity for a work of national
character in connection with meeting
the needs of ex-service men directly
MANY perplexing problems are be
most serious consideration and judg-
ment. 1t will take time to work
them out. but ! am confident that the
answer viii be found.
Caring for Wounded Duty.
"The question of taking care of
the wounded or sick ex-service man
is paramount to all our duties. To
legislation which gives him greater
justice than was received the first