The Holly chieftain., 1920-04-29

The men who gathered at that event
full meeting did many important things,
including the selection Of Z homo for
the new patriotic organisation. They
called 1t the American Legion, and
under that name It will 60 down IN
the patriotic history Of the United
States.
The caucus also named 4 committee
Of fifteen to work in the United States
and to plan for national meeting
within 4 year. This committee came
home and caucus was arranged Tor
at st. Louis, May 3.
The st. Louis meeting was rsvsla-
tion. 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.
ciples Of Americanism IN one great
movement. the American Legion. At
this meeting joint executive com
mittee was formed by men Of "a states
with units in the Legion. This COM
mittee formulated basis for perma-
nent organization and agreed that
constitutional convention Of the Le-
gion would be held in Minneapolis In
November. An organization commit
tee Of Ave was appointed to complete
plans for the Minneapolis meeting.
This committee was composed a
Henry D. Lindsey Of Texas, Bennett
O. Clark Of Missouri. Franklin D'OlieR
Of Pennsylvania, DIR. Richard Derby Of
New York, and Eric Fisher Weod Of
Pennsylvania. Mr.. Lindsley was
chosen chairman Of the COMMITTEES and
because Of that service and his sub
seQuent work as chairman Of the Min
neapolis convention, the title of nrst
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 asklng the congress of
the United States for charter. This
request was intrusted to Luke Lea
and Thomas w. Miller. The measure
was introduced In both houses June
n, last year. It passed the house o.
Representatives August n and the san.
ate September 3. President Wilson
signed the charter September 16, com.
pleting the work Of granting q charter,
the first ever granted to an organixa.
tion Of the nature Of the American
Legion. The Legislative committee q
, the Legion also placed before the CON
gress many ether important legisla-
tive matters, including bills covering
land grants for former service men,
bills dealing with the question Of the
deportation Of alien slackers and other
matters Of interest to men Of the Il.
! g1on.
Important steps taken at the St
Louis meeting provided for the spen-
ing Of national headquarters in New
York and for the publication Of 4
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 different
parts Of the country to further the in.
| terests Of the new organization. The
men chosen were Theodore Roosevelt
| Ir., John P. ]. Herbert and John W.
home to ind that the great army a
men In American training camps were
ready, too. They had not crossed the
sea, but they were willing to 90 and
were equally willing to participate In
any movement that meant a bigger.
stronger America.
1 The twenty men who met In confer.
ence February 1b. 1915. In Paris asresd
at that time to call a caucus o4 men
representing every branch Of war serv.
Ice and the caucus assembled In Paris
March u. continuing for two dAZS