The Glenwood post., 1920-07-10
vHY DID they locate the
national headquarters Of
wv the American Legion at
IndianapOlis?
Indianapolis?

wv the American Legion at
indianapolis?
This is question that many dele
gates to the Minneapolis convention of
the American Legion are unable to
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 of the convention. result
ing in the election of indianapolis as
permanent headquarters of the organi-
Zation.
Fred Bates Johnson, an indianapolis
attorney and one of the Hoosier dele
gates to the convention, was asked
how the Indianapolis delegation ma
ueuvered to secure the headquarters.
ut was a case of superior salesman
ship. as l see it," said Mr.. Johnson
THAT means. as you know. faith in
the superior quality of the product
you're trying to sell, thorough knowl-
edge of the article. and hard work.
1--WE not only worked hard in try
ng to convince the members of the
committee that Indianapolis was the
'ogical location-we tried to sell the
city TO every delegate we could talk
to. The result was when we found
we had lost out ia committee. we felt
pretty confident we could win by rails
ing the question on the floor of the
convention, and we did.
1--WE had a delegation thoroughly
well informed on the advantages the
city afforded as headquarters cen
ter The line Of argument was. OF
course, shaped to fit the particular
delegate with whom we were dealing,
and all in line with pre-arranged
plan. I'm not saying that the political
bent naturally Inherent in every Hoo
sier may not have helped us in winning
out over the competing cities.
"Our first argument was that 1ndi-
annapolis was the ideal convention or
headquarters city because 1t Is Only
sixty miles from the center of popu-
Iation and thus most accessible to the
largest number of members. We ex-
planned that with fifteen railroads ant
thirteen electric interurban lines this
greatest inland railway center was
easily and directly reached from all
parts of the country.
ave showed them how more cities
of 10000 population and over can be
reached In nights ride from 1ndi-
annapolis than from any other city in
the United States. embracing zone
including Chicago. Milwaukee, Detroit,
Toledo, Cleveland. Buffalo, Pittsburgh,
Columbus. Cincinnati. Louisville, Chat
tanooga. Knoxville Memphis, st.
Louis, Peoria and Springfield. Over
two million people live within two
hours ride of the city and over CO.
OOO. 600 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 Of
national headquarters already located
here, listing among these the United
Mine Workers of America, Internation-
al brotherhood of Bookbinders. Inter
national Typographical union, Inter
national brotherhood OF Transfers and
Chauffeurs, Bricklayers, Mnsons and
Plasterers' international union, Bar
bers' international union. and the In
ternatiOnal Brotherhood Of Carpenters
and Joincrs. This array Of labor or
gnnlzations assured the approval Of
the thousands Of legion members be
longing TO labor organizations.
I'VE said we could assure all ex-
service men Of most cordial welcome
AS Indianapolis had always been most