Indiana daily times., 1920-02-26
CITY'S 'SNACTTON
PERILS LEGION
HEADQUARTERS
Removal From Indianapolis
Threatened by Delay in
Providing Building.
BIG MOVE UNDER WAY

A definite movement is under way
to take the national headquarters OF
the American legion to Washington,
it was learned today.
The fact that Indiana has done
nothing definite toward providing a
building for the headquarters has
lent strength to the movement.
So strong has the movement become
that the national executive committee Of
the legion has appointed committee to
investigate Washiugton's plans for the
construction of a memorial ball which
Washington hopes will house the Ameri-
can legion. The committee will meet in
Washington next week.
This committee was appointed at the
insiStence of a committee of Washing
ton members Of the legion who appeared
before the national executive committee
early this month with their plans.
The committee 1t is explained, is not
to report on the availability Of Wash
ington as a headquarters Of the legion.
but simply to recommend the approval
or disapproval Of the construction of a
national memorial there.
TO BE TAKEN UP
AT CONVENTION.
It is known, however. that Washing on
hopes and expects that this hall will
become the headquarters of the legion.
Armed with a favorable report on the
project, legion members favOring Wash
ington plan to go before the national con
vention of the legion in September and
demand that the headquarters be taken
there
indianapolis has an disadvantage on
~ -
hers are from Washington and only one
Is from Indiana. Unless Indiana shows
some inclination Immediately TO do some
thing for the legion it is very probable
that a minority report from the Indian
apolis member of the committee viii have
little force with the national organiza
tion.
Walter Myers is the Indianapolis mem
be- Of the committee. The Washington
members are Kenneth A. McRae and E.
Lester Jones.
That Washington intends and expects
that this building will be the headquar-
ters of the legion is shown by the fact
that circulars have been gotten out de-
scribing the building as the home Of
the American legion"
INDICATIONS THAT
QUARTERS WILL MOVE.
There is every indication that unless
4 special session Of the legislature is
called Immediately and that unless
sum large enough TO equal Washing
toms plans is appropriated for a head
quarters, the headquarters will be taken
from Indianapolis
Washington is asking only for the ap-
proval Of a memorial project at this
lime but it is admittedly asking for
This approval as a means to gaining its
end which is removal Of the headquarters
to that city.
Washington has drawings for a
SlO,o0O,O09 war memorial building and
congress has provided the land When
the land was turned over to the com
mittee in charge of the construction it
was not intended for an American legion
headquarters but arrangements have
Deen made whereby it can be used for
tiis purpose.
eFATE COMMITTEE
EXHAUsTS EFFORTS.
4 committee of Indiana citizens has
oeen busy on plans for the headquarters
and this committee has done all in its
power under the circumstances.
The committee is waiting on the state
10 do something. 1t has been decided
hat the only practical way to finance
the building is through an appropriation
by the state.
This appropriation must be made by a
special session Of the legislature immed
lately if the headquarters is to be re-
tained. Gov. Goodrich has promised the
legion that such q session would he
called. An effort was made to intro
duce an appropriation bill at the last
special session, but it was not accepted
because the Legislature was gagged and
because the state administration has
promised to present the matter at a later
session.
The movement to take the headquarters
10 Washington was started early this
month al a meeting of the executive com
mittee of the legion. A committee from
Washington called on the national com
ittee and placed before it the plans for
the memorial hall, demanding that they
be investigated. This committee was ap-
pointed by the national officers who saw
ut to place on it two Washington men
and one Indianapolis man.
The Washington building viii contain
an auditorium seating 1000 persons It
will also contain a room for each Of
he forty eight states, showing that 1t
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