Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-06-17

0@. ~ ~ niue over year
ago. IN France, mat all We're asking
what kind of veterans organization
we should have, corresponding To the
1 G. A. X. and the Confederate Veterans
We had all seen the wonderful spirit
OF those in the service and we thought
/ II would be more than unfortunate If
thnt spirit were allowed 10 die out
! It, therefore, was decided to form a
great veterans organization tO which
/ every person would be eligible who
was in service regardless OF whether
he were an officer or enlisted man and
whether he served In this country or
France.
The movement was started on the
fifteenth of March. last year. only
year ago. In a years time from that
small beginning il has become an or
ganizatiOn with an active organization
In every state OF the Union. with some
$500 posts and a membership well
over a million.
Why is it that the American Legion
In such a short time has grown SO rap
idly? The reason is simply this: That
II was formed for the purpose of
keeping alive that spirit of service
which we all know about And that
spirit of service is service To our cOun-
try and service TO our comrades.
When we were over there, we saw
ourselves tie radical tendencies In
France. We heard from officers com
Ing from England Of the radical ten
iencies in England. and we heard
there was some concern in this coun-
try ms to What might happen when
over four million men were demobil-
zed. We made mp our minds the first
service we should render to our cOun-
try as civilians would be to see 70 it
that this government this country
hat we were protecting agains, the
Enemy, we would protect against the
foes within
You have heard a great deal about
he stand of the American Legion for
law and order. That stand for law
and order has done more for our coun-
Try than most OF US realize
was talking a short time ago TO
member OF foreign embassy and he
Mas discussing the American Legion.
and he said
do you realize most of the dlsor-
Ter and lawleSSness in our country h
caused by ex-service men, whereas in
your country you have your ex-serv-
.ce men putting down lawlessness and
lisOrder?"
was talking in Washington I'm the
office of the military Intelligence of
the war department which is connect
al with the attorney generals office.
and they both told me that the great
ISL central factor in curbng the activ-
ties OF the reds and the radicals who
would Overturn our government by
'orce was the American Legion. Those
who would overturn our government
~ force know they can only do so by
force and the only great group of cit
zeus who recognize fully the power
" force are the eX -service men who
we're hghliug force With force. And
when they appreciated the fact that
'ountry and not locality of any size
M what had an American Legion post,
md that II was "A rallying point around
which the TX service men can gather
u case OF iaWlessneSs, aud that
through the legion all service men
would stop The attempts Of the rad
calS-that has turned the tide and
made an Improvement since last sum
ncr.
Let me give you an Illustration of the
.oundness Of their judgment. When
he steel strike began in town In
phio the posts called meeting and !
hey offered their services L. the may
~. The mayor Immediately swOre in
ibout two hundred. one hundred he
leld in reserve and the other hundred !
~ put palroing the residence section. |
The next day the labor union called |
; meeting iog the purpose of denOunc-
NJ the legion for strike breaking. The !
lead Of the American Legion post hap I,
)ened 10 he u union man and he went !
o the meeting and he explained just |
Exactly what they were doing. that
hey were taking no part Whatever in |
he controversy aud were simply inter
'sted Ia the protection Of their homes !
md those Of the union workers
you are loyal patriotic American /.
citizens. So are We. We are inter |
,sted In tlrr same things and there |
FORE. this meeting which you have |
allied for the purpose OF denouncing !
he American Legion when YOU under |
stand what we are trying 10 do. To |