Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-04-01
PATRIOTIC organization /

N 70 PATRIOTIC organization in
the history of the world has
had such remarkable growth
as the American Legion, and
II is going forward with speed that
indicates membership of 2.0OO00O
before the end Of the present year.
The Grand Army of the Republic,
founded following the Civil war,
reached It's peak in 1900, when the
roster showed half million members.
With $500 OoO 10 draw from it Is pre-
dictcd that with the present campaign
for 100 per cent AmericaniSm. the
roster Of the American Legion will be
above the 2.OO0O00 mark 10y 1921.
The Grand Army Of the Republic
has played al important part in the
life Of the republic once or twice
politics threatened its total disrup-
tion, particularly in the year proceed
ing the election of Gen. John \. 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
were receiving preferment In appoint
ment to political offices.
To Maj. Benjamin F. Stephenson OF
Decatur, H., 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 q handful
Of veterans at Decatur and established
the first post. Only one charter mem
her of the Grand Army still is living
Capt r. A. Smith OF Lake City. Ia.
Major Stephenson. in council with
some Of his comrades. drafted secret
ritual. II was n wordy, oratorlcal af-
fair and was revised IN later years.
The ritual was so pretentious that II
was hard 20 find printers who could
set the type. but Major Stephenson
finally rounded M Isaac Coltrin and
Joseph Prior, printers who served in
| he Union army and entitled 10 know
ne contents OF the ritual when they
Joined the Grand Army.
Twelve men constituted the first
post and the hall IN which they met
Stll Is hallowed landmark in Deca-
tur. The Grand Army AT first was n
sort Of vigilance committee that sought
out persons given To disloyal ut
terances. and soon had them marked
| for punishment II they did not de-
sIst. The men of the Grand Army de-
manded hundred per cent American
| ism. lust ms the American Legion
makes IL plain that only one flag. Old
| Glory. will lie tolerated in this land OF
ours ON through the years the Grand
! Army has stood FOR this same prln-
ciple ~ patriotism. hut death has been
removing IFS comrades az rapid rate
aud the ranks have diminished until
now only few more than 100000 re-
main.
The American Legion was born In
| France. and IL was fitting 10 have II
-. for IN Flanders fields rcpoSe thou
sands az 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 10 discuss con
dltions I'm the American eXpeditlonary
forces, met at the Inter-Allied club and
there talked Of the formation Of ar
after-war organization that would look
10 the well-hcing ~ the men of the
service both on land and sea.
The decision was made ~ this con
ference 10 start an after-the-war or
ganlzatIon. while the men were yet IN
France. Thus they would 90 back t.
America with their minds and hearts
conferred on protecting the principles
hey had fought for And they came
home 10 find that the great army OF
men I'm American training camps were
ready, too. They had not crossed the
sea. hut they were willing To 90 ant
were equally willing 10 participate II
any movement that meant bigger
stronger America.
The twenty men who met In confer
ence February IL. 1919, in Paris agreed
M that time to call a caucus of mel
representing every branch 0f war serv
cc and the caucus assembled in Paris
March IL. continuing for two days