Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-06-02
~ nIn La Iocate ths
Indlanapolls7


Wv the American Legion al
Inuianap0lisG
This Is a question that many dele
gates 20 the Minneapolis convention 81
the American Legion are unable 20
answer. They know that Indianapolis
was not one OF the three cities re
ported favorably on by the committee.
that a minority report was presented
on the floor 81 the convention. result
Ing On the election 81 Indianapolis as
permanent headquarters Of the organi-
Eatlon.
Fred Bates Johnson. an indianapolis
attorney and one o. the HoOsier dele
gates 10 the convention. was asked
how the Indianapolis delegation ma
neuvered 10 secure the headquarters.
1T was a case OF superior salesman
ship. as I see g." said Mr.. johnson.
THAT means. as you know. faith In
the superior quality OF the product
you're trying % sell. a thorough knowl-
edee 81 the article. and hard work.
I'VE not only worked hard In try
ing 90 convince the members Of the
committee that indianapolis was the
logical locati0n-we tried 20 sell the
city % every delegate we could talk
%. Tie result was when we found
We had lost out in committee we felt
pretty confident we could win by rails
ing the question on the floor OF the
convention. and we did.
~we had q delegation thoroughly
well Informed on the advantages the
city afforded as a headquarters cen
ter. The line o. argument was. 81
course. shaped 10 fit the particular
delegate with whom we were dealing.
and ali IN line with a pre-arranged
plan. I'm not saying that the political
bent naturally Inherent In every Hoo
sIer may not have helped US On winning
out over the competing cities.
~Our FIRST argument was that Indi-
annapolis was the ideal convention or
headquarters city because II Is Only
sixty miles from the center 81 popu-
latIon and thus most accessible % the
largest number Of members We ex-
planned that with fifteen railroads ans
thirteen electric interurban lines. this
greatest inland railway center was
easily and directly reached from all
parts OF the country.
Eve showed them how more cities
% $1,000 population and over can be
reached m a nights ride from Indi-
annapolis than from any other city In
the United States. embracing a zone
including Chicago. Milwaukee. Detroit.
Toledo. Cleveland. Buffalo. Pittsburgh.
Columbus. Cincinnati. Louisville. Chat
tanoOga. Knoxville. Memphis. 81.
louis. Peoria and Springfield. over
two million people live within two
hours ride o. the city and over CO.
10000 can be reached over night.
I'VE also argued that the fact the
city was an ideal headquarters loca-
ton was evidenced by the number ~
national headquarters already located
here. listing among these the United
Mine Workers o. America. Information
N Brotherhood % Bookbinders. Inter.
national typographical union. Inter
national Brotherhood OF Teamsters and
~iaureurS Bricklayers. MRsons and
eiasterers' International union. Bar
hers International union. and the In
teTnationai Brotherhood q Carpenters
and Jolners. This array Of labor or
ganiEatiOns assured the approval OF
the thousands 81 legion members he
longing 20 labor organizations.
we said We could assure al ex-
service men 81 a most cordial welcome
a. Indianapolis had always been most