The citizen., 1920-05-13
Ex-sERvIcE MEN

The great American public, which
has been the "drivce" in so many
intensive efforts Of the last several
years. has cultivated fine taste in
campaigns. II has come to be able
to spot good drive from one that
Is poorly handled. II can distin-
guish points Of variety in cam
paign. II has become a connois-
sour in appeal.
The public, then, will be quick TO
recognize the essential difference
of this American Legion effort.
In the first place, It is not a
drive but push Back in the
dim days Of the war publicity ex-
perls borrowed the word drive"
from the slang Of the day. Every
one who went out after something
fell into the easy habit Of calling
his campaign a drive" Then, when
II came time for the men who real
ly knew what a war drive" was TO
90 out after new members for their
Legion, they found that the word
drive was as punchless as blank
cartridge. They had to dig them
selves up a new word. So they
called their campaign a push;
which is a great deal like a drive"
except that IT goes farther i'm i'm
plying relentless effort and resist
less force.
\ feature that the great general
public should be quick TO realize is
that they, members of the public,
will not be called on TO contribute
anything except good will. Posi-
lively no money contributions will
be expected or received from them.
They will be expected TO exhibit
their friendship, but not their
chcckbooks.
Only some three million men are
eligible TO take active benefit Of the
Legion campaign. The oreaniza-
tion now has enrolled more than a
million and a half former service
men and women. leaving some three
million who can belong but who do
not.
The push" tben, is aimed direct
Is at this minority. All of the COM
bncd efforts Of the million and a
half Of their fellows will be devoted
To bringing the absent into the fold
Which means that every legion
naire will have to take on and
convince two comrades.
Only about one man in twenty is
eligible TO join The Legion. II i,
perfectly safe TO say that hundred.
Of thousands Of loyal Americans
would give a good deal if they were
eligible. by reason Of active army
navy or marine corps service, tC
come into The Legion. But they
cannot and IL is only the three mil.
lion who are privileged TO take ad.
vantage Of the push"
But The Legion has no intention
Of passing up the general public
simply because il is not asking any,
thing from the public. The Legiol
keenly desires 10 interest every
American in its push because j
believes il is TO every American
interest 10 be Interested, which j
not as ambiguous as il sounds.
While only one American il
twenty may be privileged TO com
into The Legion, every American
must support, in his heart Tn,
Legion's platform, For God an,
Country" Leaders in every field O
American life have gladly and spon
taneOusly indOrscd The Legion
aspirations. II is widely recog
nized, although less than flftee
months old, as the greatest fore
for the established order in thes
United States.
That the general public feels tina
this is true is shown by the wa
prominent citizens have come for
ward TO lend their aid. Genera
Pershing has endorsed the cam
paign and urged eligible army me
10 join The Legion. Lieut.-GeI
Robert Lee Bullapi, commanding
the Department. of the East, has in
cluded the same recognition in gen
eral orders.
Various welfare and civic OF
ganizanOns have endorsed Tn
push" and have volunteered Il
lend speakers and equipment
make it success. So the gener;
public shows that il refuses TO sta
out If a citizen cannot come
himself he intends TO do his part
see that the eligible men do con
in.
The Legion intends making spec
, ial efforts to capture those men-ar
there are hundreds of thousands
, them-whO have every facility Il
Joining a post, but who are the vi,