The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-01

~ <W ~ was only
RZ~ & - little over year
ago. Ia Frame iliat all were asking
what Kind of a veterans organization
we should have. corresponding TO the
g. A. X. and the Confederate Veterans.
We had all seen the wonderful spirit
OF those In the service and we thought
u would be more than unfortunate IL
that spirit were allowed TO die out.
IL. 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 a
year ago. In years time from that
small beginning II has become an or
ganiza;ion with an active organization
In every state Of the Union. with some
$500 posts and a membership well
over a million.
Why Is II that the American Legion
IN such short time has grown so rap
idlyf The reason Is simply this: That
Il was formed for the purpose of
keeping alive that spirit of service
which we all know about And thar
spirit OF service Is service TO our coun-
try and service TO our comrades
When we were over there. we saw
ourselves the radical tendencies In
France. We Heard from officers COM
ing from England of the radical ten
denotes In England. and we heard
there was some concern 10 this coun-
try as TO what might happen when
over four million men were demobil-
tied. We made MP our minds the first
service we should render to our, coun-
try as civilians would be 10 see to II
that this government. this country
that we were protecting against the
enemy. we would protect against the
foes within.
You have heard a great deal about
the stand of the American Legion for
law and order That stand for law
and order has done more for our coun-
try than mosI OF rs realize.
was talking short time ago 20
member OF a foreign embassy and he
wa discussing the American Legion.
and be said:
n do you realize most Of the disor-
DEF aud Iawlessness in our country Is
caused by ex-service men. whereas I'm
your country you have your ex-serv-
ice men putting down lawiessness and
disorder?"
III was talking In Washington I'm the
ONCE of the military intelligence of
the war department which In connect
ed with the attorney generals once.
aud they both told me that the great
est central factor In curbing the actfv-
fties OF the reds and the radicals who
would overturn our government by
rar-e WIS the American Legion. Those
who would overturn our government
by force know they can only do 30 by
force and the only great group Of cit
liens who recognize fully the power
| or force are the ex-service men who
were lighting force with force. And
| when they appreciated the fact that
there were $500 posts throughout the
country and not locality Of any size.
but what had an American Legion post.
and thai u was a railying point around
| which the ex-service men can gather
In case OF iawiessness. and that
through the legion all service men
would stop the attempts Of the rad
icals-thaf has turned the tide and
made an improvement since last SUM
mer. gS. --.-.-er - go
Let me give. you an illustration OF the
soundness Of their Judgment. When
the steel strike began In q town In
Ohio. the posts called Q meeting and
they offered their services 90 tina may
or. The mayor Immediately swore IN
abouf rwo hundred one hnndred nc
heId I'm reserve and the other hundred
ne put psfroling the residence section
sThs next day the labor union called
a nesting fsr the purpose OF denounc
ing ths legion Tor strike breakins- Ths
bead Of the American Legion post hap
| pened to b union man and he veni
| to the meeting and he explained JUS
exactly what they were doing. thai
they were taking no part whatever In
the controversy and were simply inter
ested In the protection Of their homes
and those OF the union workers.
you are loyal patriotic American
citizens. So are we We are inter
ested In the same things. and there
fore, this meeting which you hav'
! called for the purpose Of denouncini
. the American Legion when you under
stand what We are trying to do. q