The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1920-09-16
DESERVED PRAISE

IN ITS September issue the Pa.
Il cific Legion pays fine tribute te
the work of F. R. Jeffrey as state
commander of the American Legion
as follows: ri
In few states in the union has the
American Legion shown the same
healthy growth and increasing influ-
ence that have developed in Washing
ton during the past year under the
able leadership of Frank R. Jeffrey
of Kennewick. Handicapped by the
fact that his residence was somewhat
distant from the center of legion ac-
tivities for the state and by the most
urgent necessity of earning livelihood
in the practice of law, Mr.. Jeffrey
nevertheless devoted tremendous
amount of time and energy to the
affairs of the American Legion, a
devotion which is appreciated sincere
" by his comrades in the organiza-
ton.
1t was not an easy tenure of office
held by Mr.. Jeffrey. The American
Legion was still in partial process OF
formation. 1t had not been stabilized
and the problems of early organiza-
ton all were to be met. Early in his
term as commander, the American
Legion in Washington met the crisis
6f Centralia's armistice day massacre
and acquitted itself in manner to
its eternal credit. Then, there was
the fight to be made for the soldiers
bonus, won before the Washington
legislature by the organized forces of
the legion
Commander Jeffrey was fortunate
during his regime in having an excep-
tionally able lieutenant in the person
of E. A. Klebba of Seattle, depart
ment adjutant finance officer. Mr..
Klebba attended to the detail work
and handled department headquarters
in the Crary building, Seattle.
From 81 posts with total member
ship of 5000, the American Legion in
Washington has increased during Mr..
Jeffrey's administration to an organ
ization with 152 posts, paid up mem
bership more than $4,000 and gross
enrolment of more than $4,000. That
is no little accomplishment in itself
Mr.. Jeffrey has made several trips
to Washington, d. c., in the interests
of the department of Washington and
is well versed in the problems which
must be met by the league of world
war veterans. His efforts in behalf
of disabled veterans have been untir-
ing and his fight for adjusted COM
pensation, both state and nationally
has been unceasing, once he was as
sured of the prevailing sentiment
among the ex-soldiers, sailors and
marines Of the state.
In his tours about the state Mr.
Jeffrey has done much to cement the
friendly relations between posts ant
to direct the united sentiment of ths
| legion in matters of interest to vet
Grams.
Too muchs emphasis cannot be lait
upon the paragraph in the farewell
message of Commander Jeffrey, writ
ten for The Pacific Legion.
81 would feel that I had not don,
my whole duty if did not endeavo
to forcibly impress upon you the nee
essity of electing only those men t.
departmental offices who are willing
to give and will give such time AM
energy as may be necessary to fulfil
the duties of the various Offices" h
writes. VThis is absolutely essentia
to the life of the American Legion j
Washington. Popularity alone is no
the standard of measurment for de
partmental officers. The officer
must be able and willing to spar
many hours from their personal al
fairs in service to the American Ii
gion. For this service they can ea
pect little recognition from their CON
, rades and no compensation save tn
= sense of duty well done.
Z "Men who are willing to make sat
rifices for the American Legion, II
the sake of the organization alon
not the possibility of later prefermel
for themselves along political or bus
ness lines, are the, sort Of men to s
lect to guide the organization for tt
coming year."
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x FINLEY NEWS NOTES