The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-01-28

influx of "white plague" victims at
this season of the year. These 400
men in dire need of the care and treat
ment they were not receiving, were
distributed through the community
with such limited housing facilities
and shelter from the extreme cold OF
the desert nights as their weary wan
derings happened to bring them.
Commander Galbraith sent e. j.
Winslett, national vice commander of
the legion, and representative Of the
American Legion News Service to Tue
son to see what could be done to
remedy the situation. Their instruc-
lions were to do all possible to speed
up construction work, coordinate the
efforts of all community interests and
visualize the local situation as an OBJ
ject lesson to thrust under the nose
Of congress" in the legion's national
fight for justice for the nations he
roes of two years ago and the legion's
comrades then, now and always.
Governor Campbell was In the East
at the time and assisted DR.. MacAr-
tan in inducing Director Chomely
Jones of the bureau Of war risk in
surance and other government officials
to bring about the cutting of vast
amount Of red tape. DR.. MacArtan
finally returned to Tucson with author
ization TO spend approximately $780,
600 for the erection of an emergency
hospital, and he brought with him
George e. Kirk, federal engineer to
whom with his assistants much Of the
credit for the mountaineering COM
pletion of the project is due. Cover
nor Campbell placed state workmen,
materials, trucks and tools at the dis
posal of the government and there
was from the beginning a hearty and
enthusiastic cooperation on the part
of the business and professional men
of Tucson, as well as the citizens gen.
orally.
Arriving at Tucson, Mr.. Winslett
surveyed the situation and then called
conference of legionnaires and state
and municipal public officials and
business men,
At the conference he told of the
legion's nationwide fight, just begin
ming, to obtain justice for the derelicts
coming back from the war and ap-
pealed to all organizations and agen-
cies to make a united stand for a
square deal for those who offered
their all to their country In time Of
need and have become victims of neg
lect, inefficiency, red tape and dere-
LECTION Of duty as their reward.
The following evening a mass meet
ing was held in the Tucson armory.
with Governor Campbell, National
Vice Commander Winslett, State Com
mander Ciingan and James r. Dun
seath. prominent Tucson lawyer and
business man, as the principal speak
ers. An informal dance under the
auspices Of the legion post followed
the meeting and Governor and Mrs.
Campbell led the grand march.
The following day was proclaimed a.
holiday by Mayor Parker and every
store, factory and business establish
ment Of every description closed its
doors.
Women and girls Of the community
took an active part in the demonstra-
ton, and members of various women's
clubs and civic organizations entered
intellectually into the spirit of the
event and backed 1t one hundred per
cent.
In every sense, it was a red letter
day in the history Of Tucson, Arizona.
and America, and an exemplifcation
OF the unity and unselfish cooperation
which animated the whole nation dur
ing the war and which rarely, if ever.
has been so conspicuously displayed
in this country since the signing of
the armistice.