Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-05-18
AMERICAN LEGION
DRIVE NETS 50 NEW
MEMBERS FOR POST
CAMPAIGN CONTINUES UNTIL
SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN OTTA.
WA EPECTS TO BE ON A 100
PCT RASiS-REPORT ON Pc.
ORiA RALLY.

WIN lldi HuHUItut new SUD
scribers added to its roster, Ottawa
Post, American Legion is certain OF
reaching It's leo per cent goal before
next Saturday night when the present
drive for roster containing every eX
Iank's name comes to close. Re
ports from various booster commit
tees show hatterng results and by
the time the campaign is over ne
former soldier will have escaped so
licitation in an attempt to put Otta
wa on the hundred pre- cent basis
Arrangements are now being made
for a rousing celebration on next Sat
urday night when it is hoped to hold
ii parade with the Liberty Drum
Corps furnishing the music, \ street
dcmOnstrat on was attempted last
Saturday night but because everybody
was soliciting only the drum corls
participated in the march.
Report on Peoria Meeting
Secretary Beart Lcamy. who with
Bart O'Connor, Joe Schihgens Joe
Futtcrer and Theodore Rrufus repre-
scented Ottawa at the American lie
gion rally in Peoria Sunday. today
gave out his report on the meet ,ng,
which was addressed by Commander
DOlier, Mayor Woodruff cX-Lieuten.
ant Governor Garrett OHara and
others.
Mr. Lcamy's report says.
The meeting at Peoria saw gath
cred together some 5000 members of
The American Legion of Illinois to
attend one day convention at which
time the great membership drive for
limos was put in full swing 1t was
great meeting and opened with a
selection by theGrcat Army Band of
Peoria, Colonel Milton ] Foreman
state commander of the American lie
gion presided anw after few re.
marks introduced Mayor Woodruff
who extended a hearty welcome to
the American Legion both of Peoria
and the state of Illinois. He stated
that while the weather was not very
bright that he could see that the FIJI
turc of the American Legion was
bright. He stated that mayoring was
job at the present time and the time
for calling it position had passed
II vas plain to be seen in Peoria as
there was not a street car moving
due to the fact that there were some
differences between employer and EN-
ploye which had not been settled
Following Mr. WOodruffs address
b Of welcome the members in attend.
ance accompanied by the band Joined
in some regular singing songs that
helped pass the weary hours in
France and in the camps, such as
There's Long. Long Trail a " ind ng
and Pack Up Your Troubles in Your
Old Kit Bag We're sung.
"Thc commander then introduced
Barrett Olara. formerly lieutenant
governor of Illinois The Introductory
remarks brought out the facts that
Barrett O'Hara was one of the loyal
supporters of the Legion and the ok.
service man. in getting what they
we're really entitled.
In his address he brought out
many important points concerning
legislation at Washington. He men
toned the opponents of the bonus
and branded some of the fighters as
belonging to the AGGRAVATED Associa-
ton of American Slackers. He stat
ed that while the clerks at Wash ng
ton did not attempt to camouhagc
their wants and went before congress
and asked for bonus the eX-service
man was only asking tor back pay
that was due him While the CustO-
dian Of alien property seized property
he did not do it without just compen-
sation. and yet they seized the time
of tho eX-serviCe mon and felt that no
compensation should be allowed him
He brought out facts showing that
when the American | egiOn went be
fore the House ways committee with
the four-told plan they used it, some
thing as a young boy would use q
football, Just kicking it from one place
to another. How a vote was handled
through the American Legion weekly
showed 5000 soldiers were in favor
of cOmpensat on and only As against
it. He brought out the facts showing
how certain congressman were poison
ing the minds of the public at large
by trying to force the sales tax and
other propositions by spreading it
over several years for payment. so
that the Act would kill itself in a
short time The quest on was asked
How much money would il take to
pay the soldier bonus The answer
was less than three mOnthsc OF var.
"The question was asked, How
much money would be required to
give every disabled voter a vocational
training and fit him 10 take care Of
himself in this great country. The
ansyr was less than three weeks of
war.
Facts were brought out about the
four-fOld plan of the American Lc-
giOn as set before congress. The fact
that has been m.SrepreSented to the
public is that the American Legion
is asking for the cash bonus and the
cash bonus only. while the fact of the
matter is that the cash bonus comes
last of the four plans presented to
congress First comes the land set
tlement; second. home aid; third. vo-
cationaI training and last the cash
bonus.
"Mr. OHara closed by stating that
the American Legion and every ser
vice man could look any man square
in the eye and tell him he was onloy
asking for something that was due