The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-07-01

IN the history of the world has
/ VI had such remarkable growth
as the American Legion, and
1T is going forward with a speed that
indicates a membership of 100000
before the end of the present year.
Inc Grand Army of the Republic,
founded following the Civil war.
reached its peak in 1900, when the
roster showed q half million members.
With 100000 to draw from, it is pre-
dicted that with the present campaign
for 100 per cent Americanism, the
roster Of the American Legion will be
above the 100000 mark by 1921.
The Grand Army of the Republic
has played an important part in the
life of the republic. Once or twice
politics threatened its total disrup-
ton, particularly in the year preced-
ing the election of Gen. John A. Lo-
gan as commander in chief. General
Logan succeeded in steadying the boat.
The disaffectiOn grew out of reports
that men with bad Civil war records
'NAS ANNOiNAlS III uDDOlIL-
ment to political Offices.
To Maj. Benjamin f. Stephenson of
Decatur, Ill, belongs the honor of
founding the Grand Army Of the Re
public. In 1866, the year following
the close of the Civil war, Major
stephenson called together handful
of veterans at Decatur and established
the first post. Only one charter men,
Der Of the Grand Army still Is living,
Capt. r. A. Smith of Lake City, la.
Major Stephenson, in council with
some OF his comrades, drafted a secret
ritual. 1t was wordy, OratOrical af-
fair and was revised in later years.
The ritual was so pretentious that it
was hard to find printers who could
set the type, but Major Stephenson
finally rounded up Isaac Coltrln and
Joseph Prior, printers who served In
the Union army and entitled to know
the contents of the ritual when they
Joined the Grand Army.
Twelve men constituted the first
post and the hall in which they met
still Is q hallowed landmark in Deca-
tur. The Grand Army at first was
sort of vigilance committee that sought
out persons given to disloyal ut
terances, and soon had them marked
for punishment If they did not de-
sist. The men of the Grand Army de-
manded hundred per cent American
ism, just as the American Legion
makes it plain that only one flag, Old
Glory, will be tolerated in this land of
ours. On through the years the Grand
Army has stood for this same prin-
ciple Of patriotism, but death has been
removing its comrades at rapid rate
and the ranks have diminished until
now only a few more than 100000 re-
main.
The American Legion was born In
France, and it was fitting to have 1t
so, for In Flanders fields repOse thou
sands of American soldiers who died
that the principles of American free
dom might live. On February Is, 1919,
twenty American officers, who had
been assembled in Paris to discuss con-
ditions in the American expedltionary
forces, met at the Inter-Allied club and
there talked of the formation Of an
after-war organization that would look
to the well-being of the men of the
service both on land and sea.
The decision was made at this con-
ference to start an after-the-war Or
ganization, while the men were yet in
France. Thus they would go back to
America with their minds and hearts
centered on protecting the principles
they had fought for. And they came
home to find that the great army of
men in American training camps were
ready, too. They had not crossed the
sea, but they were willing to go and
were equally willing to participate in
any movement that meant a bigger,
stronger America.
The twenty men who met in confer
.ence February 10, 1919, in Paris agreed
Mt that time to call a caucus of men
representing every branch of war serv-
ice and the caucus assembled in Paris
March Is, continuing for two days.