Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-01
AMERICAN LEGION MEET
OPENS IN KANSAS CITY
Foch, Pershing and Other
NotabIes to Be Present.
Women's Auxiliary to Con-
vene Tuesday

American Legion. in national con.
vention here today, renewed its bait
tie for assistance for the financially
disabled veterans.
John G.. Emery, national COM
mander of the Legion, told the open
ing session Of the convention Of the
efforts made by the organization in
behalf Of the physically disabled sol.
diers during the entire year, and
then declared:
Our great fight now is for an.
other class of disabled veterans
the financially disabled.
Adverse industrial conditions
have hit the ex-service men harder
than any other Glass; Mr.. Emery
said. He scored the senate for its
action in turning down the read.v
justed compensation bill.
president Harding was misled by
the anti-compensationis Mr.. EN-
cry declared. "The senate in act
ing unfavorably on the bill bowed
to the will of the chief executive ana
not to fact or reason"
In sounding the Legion attitude
and declaring the fight for the bill
would be carried on, Mr.. Emery call
ed upon the Legionnaires to "act as
fearlessly toward congress as our
brothers acted when they died in
France"
Mr.. Emery paid high tribute to
the late Commander Galbraith. He
again called upon the Legion to keep
independent of politics. but declared
on matters affecting the Legion that
the Legion could speak for itself
and in terms that the world will
have no trouble in understanding.
Vice President Coolidge appeared
at the hall Immediately after Mr..
Emery completed his report, and
was given an ovation lasting several
minutes.
Messages of Greeting
Messages of greeting from veterans
of the other allied armies brought by
sageS of greeting from veterans Of
the other allied armies brought by
famous leaders of the European
fighting men, were outstanding Incl
dents on the three-day' program OF
the convention opening.
General Armando Diaz, of the
Italian armies; General Baron
Jacques, of Belgium, and Vice Presi-
dent Coolidge. who is representing
President Harding. were spectators
and speakers today.
Admiral Earl Beatty, of the British
grand fleet, was expected to arrive
during the late forenoon, and this
contingencies Marshal Foch. Of
France, commandments of the
allied armies, and General John j.
Pershing, of the American expedi-
tionary forces, acting as Marshal
Foch's aid.
The proceedings began with "The
Star-Spangled Banner" sung by
Nine. Schumann Heink, whose
voice cheered American boys far
from home during the darker days
of the war.
The invocation was pronounced
by the Rev. John liner. Of
Chattanooga, Tenn. national chap
lain. Addresses of welcome were
made on behalf of Kansas City and
responses given by Legion officials,
after which committee reports Were
requested.
Memorial for Galbraith
Memorial services for the late NJ
w. Galbraith, of Indianapolis, who
was killed in an automobile accident
last June. was the noon-time feature
of the convention, while at the after
noon session General Diaz and Gem
rral jacques were to address the vet
Grams. Major General LeJeune, OF s.
the United States marine corps, will
be another afternoon speaker, ana
this evening Admiral Earl Beatty
will speak. Efforts made by the
American Legion to combat the un.
employment situation as it affects
the former service man and the
suggestion of remedies for the prob
lem were set forth at length at the
annual report of Adjutant Lernuel
Bolles to the convention.
Mr.. Bolles suggested stimulation
of public works, a more rigorous ex-
clusion of aliens and systematic
effort on the part of local posts and
departments to find work for the
100000 former soldiers said by the
report to be jobless. s
incorporated in the adjutant's re.
port was lengthy review of the &C.
tiVities of the organization and
showed, the report said, a healthy
growth during the last twelve
months.
Finances Gratifying
Especially gratifying, it was stated
in the report, was the financial
showing as presented by the national
treasurer, Robert H. Tyndall. 1t
showed the present financial worth
Of the organization as $608, 1889 as
against S461.71 at the time of the
o national
The organization was extended
materially during the year, according
to the report, more than 1850 posts
having been added. Departments
were created in Mexico, Panama, the
Philippine Islands, France, British
Isles. Argentine Republic and Can
ada, while posts were extended to
twelve additional countries.
The Women's auxiliary, an auton-
omouS organization, but closely re-
lated. Mr.. Bolles reported, increased
In membership from 1866 to III, 440
In twelve months, and the number of
units grew from 1882 to 3,618.
The report of the national Judge
advocate announced that every pos
sible precaution has been taken to
protect the Legion's emblem from in
fringement.
A profit of SIS, 672 was shown in
the report of the Legion Publishing
which gets out the Ameri.
can Legion Weekly
Many in Uniforms
Convention hall where the con-
veItion opened its session, was early
today astir with delegates. Bands
and drum corps were blaring out
music and a haze of to-
bacco smoke lent an Indian summer
touch to the bright-colored decora-
tons.
The ''buddies," apparently in no
way discouraged by a night Of mill
ing" shouting. singing. street cor
ner reunions to the tune Of motor