The Washington times., 1921-10-30
LEGION WOMEN
Of NATION LOOK
To KANSAS CITY
Thousand Delegates. With
5000 Guests. to Attend
Convention Oct. 81.
PLAN NATIONAL SOCIETY
Name and Qualification for
Membership Will Be Two
) Vital Questions.
By THOMAS WRIGLEY.
International NoMs service.

KANSAS CITY. Oct. 2s.--whiie the
members of the American Legion
throng the streets o< Kansas City to
greet Marshal Foch. Admiral Beatty.
Generals Diaz. Jacques and Pershing
at the organizations third annual
national convention here October 81
November 2. the legion's Women's
Auxiliary viii hold q meeting Of al
most equal Importance.
Organized only ono year ago. the
aux1liary is preparing to hold It's first
annual national convention in con-
Junction with the legion gathering.
guests. representing every State and
Hawaii, will attend. The Kansas
auxiliary has made reservation for a
delegation Of $500.
The accomplishment of a national
organization is the main purpose OF
the Auxiliary gathering. Only a few
months ago the Women's Auxiliary
had no permanent organization; 1t
was an intangible. miscellaneous as
eemblage Of relatives of ex-service
men who desired to aid the American
Legion In it's work In behalf OF vet
erans of the world war. 1t was one
of a number Of similar organizations.
Consolidate Groups.
At the first convention OF the Amer.
lean Legion at Minneapolis, In 1919,
number Of women's organizations
sought recognition as the official lit
tie sister" of the legion. The conven-
ton delegates voted to consolidate
these groups under the name OF the
Women's Auxiliary Of the American
Legion as the official organization OF
mothers, wives, sisters and daughters
of legion members and Of men who
died in the service Its field was de-
clared to be the same as during the
war and it's principles to be based on
those of the legion.
The growth of the auxiliary was so
extensive that greater freedom In us
workings became necessary. The Sec
ond convention Of the legion at Cleve.
land recognized this situation and
voted a hands-off policy, but agreed
10 back it with all the machinery OF
the legion.
Authorization for the formation of
State departments, the holding OF
State conventions, and the. eventual
assembling of a national convention
was granted by the legionnaires.
The result of this action was that
the auxiliary membership has grown
more than two hundred per cent dur
ing the past year, and the number OF
its units has increased since January
/ from 1,342 to $500. 1t Is organized
by departments in thirty-five States,
and ten other departments are in
process of formation.
Argue Name Changing.
Two vital questions which will be
considered at the Kansas City conven-
ton are the name for the organiza-
tion and qualifications for eligibility.
Some departments desire that the
name "Women's Auxiliary" be re-
tanned, but others wish to have the
organization assume the name of THE
Women of the American Legion"
large group Of auxiliary workers feel
that the limitation for membership to
the mothers, wives, sisters. and daugh-
ters is too severe and that the more
remote relatives should be included.
National officers, to serve for the COM
ing year, will be effected and a ma
tional organization effected.
The. delegates for the auxiliary
from the State Department organ
fzations have been determined by
hte size of membership. One dele
gate is allowed for each thousand
paid-up members. Five delegates-at-
lare will be accredited from each de-
partment. The unorganized depart
ments will have five delegates. who
will have the privilege of the floor
but no vote.
Club and auxiliary members in
Kansas City are making extensive
plans for the entertainment of the
visiting women. They will be housed
in the best homes; business and
social clubs will be opened to them;
automobiles will carry them through
the beautiful parks and boulevards
pf tha Citv