Evening star., 1921-10-31

twelve months, and the number Of
units grew from 1889 to 3.6ls.
The report Of the national Judge
advocate announced that every posst-
BILE precaution has been taken to pro-
tect the legion's emblem from In
frinEemeat.
A profit Of s55.s72 was shown in the
report Of the Legion Publishing Com
pany. which gets out the American
Legion Weekly.
Thousands OF spectators came early
and Allied the arena balcony and the
gallery, while the door OF the hall vas
given over to the delegates. Repre-
sentatives from Alaska, the Canal
Zone. Hawaii. the Philippines. Porto
Rico. Turkey. Africa, France. Spanish
Honduras and the British Isles raised
their standards on the floor. in addi-
tion to the delegates from every state.
Greetings Arouse Cheers.
Greetings from. Marshal Foch of
France and Gen. John J. PershinS, en-
route to Kansas City to attend the
legion convention. were read by the
ma tional commander.
read:
ITO my brave comrades of the
American Legion: Today you are as
sembled in your third annual conven-
ton. ] send you greetings that come
from the heart of one soldier to
another. as you begin your delibera-
tons. My prayers go up not only for
all men and women who did their
duty in the world war, but for those
who. having returned to the pursuits
Of peace. have banded themselves to-
8ether to preserve these traditions of
liberty. truth and Justice for which
We fought. 1t will be an added mex
pressive pleasure soon to be with
you"
Gen. Pershing sent the following
message:
Greetings to the American Legion
on the opening day of its convention
and congratulations upon it's spirit,
which is to stand always for those
things for which we fought"
Emery Urges Compensation.
The issue of national-adjusted COM
pelsation for the ex-service man has
not been at all settled. Commander
Emery of the American Legion de-
clared in his address opening the an
nual convention.
such means as were used last sum-
mer to beat adjusted compensation
cannot ultimately succeed" Com
nander Emery told the legion. Moth
ing Is settled until II Is settled right.
The American people are the court
Of last resort, and wherever the
American people have by the ballot
passed judgment on the matter of ad-
justed compensation that judgment
has been an Endorsement Of the le-
Eion's stand.
Il cannot conceive Of q Congress so
derelict In its duty, so unmindful of
it's Just obligation to those who served
their country at great financial loss.
or 50 blind to the wishes Of our people
as to be misled again into refusing to
adjust the economic balance between
man who did not"
Legion Growing in Strength.
Commander Emery reported that ''in
tions. which have hit the ex-service
men harder than any other class, the
legion has gained in strength and its
financial position has steadily i'm
proved"
He suggested that the political
clause in the legion's constitution
which will not permit any one who
public office to hold ONCE in the legion
or in any department or post thereon
be extended to include appointive Of
fees. He added that he felt that mo
person in public life, in community,
state or nation, should be allowed to
speak for the legion, and that the
legion must be allowed to continue to
speak for itself when issues involving
service men are concerned. and then
in terms which all the world will un-
derstand."
The greatest legion achievement of
the year. Commander Emery said, was
won for the disabled service men, its
vigorous efforts resulting in creation
Of the Veterans Bureau.