The Mankato free press., 1921-04-15
LEGION IS PAID TRIBUTE
A. II. VERNON ON AMERICAN
ORGANIZATION
Minnesota State Commander
Addressed Civic-Commerce
Association

evening when members of the Man.
kato Civic and Commerce association
and Lorentz Post No. IL, American
Legion, held joint meeting follow
ing $3.50 o'clock dinner served BY
the ladies Of the Eastern Star The
tables were beautifully decorated
with baskets <of tulips and jonquils
and the ladies received many com
pliments for the excellency of the
food.
The meeting was presided over by
w. A. Streater. president of the Man
kato Civic and Commerce associa-
tion. Mr.. Streater in opening the
the members of the association had
decided to hold a joint meeting
with the members of the American
Legion, for it would give an oppor-
tunity to show the legionaires that
interest in their welfare had no,
stopped on Armistice Day. Follow
ing this Mr.. Streater introduced the
speaker of the evening, Attorney A.
H. Vernon OF Little Falls. state COM
who gave a spirited, patriotic and
eloquent address Of the American
| Legion in the community"
Before taking up the regular bust
ness Of the evening the entire as
| semblage took part in singing the
| national anthem, led by Mrs. H. A.
| Patterson.
Mr.. Vernon in the opening remarks
| said that he was indeed glad to again
visit Mankato. He has done SO on
previous occasion at the State Bar
| association meeting. He said that
while he realized that now after the
passage of a certain amendment to
the national constitution, that it is
impossible to furnish some of the
features of the bar association meet
ing held some ten years ago, he was
| confident that the spirit is just as
willing as ever.
Means of Better Understanding
The speaker was very glad to- see
| that the members OF the Mankato
Civic and Commerce association and
the members of the American Le-
gion had seen fit to hold joint
meeting. Such meetings will be the
means Of better understanding be-
| tween the business men and the Le-
gionaires. 1t will be an insight in
Legion is an organization of active
service men. They were the men
when sent to the front proved that
| they were superior to any European
soldier. There was something in
| their make up which drove them on
| when others hesitated. This was
sheer spirit and devotion to country
| and ideals that drove them on and
made them invincible, although poor
iy equipped and scarcely trained.
The boys knew that back at home
they were backed up by citizen
ship just as loyal to American prin-
ciples. This is the spirit that made
Americans better than any other ma
don in the world crisis. 1t is the
aim and object Of the American
Legion to carry on. 1t wants to
keep alive that spirit of devotion to
| country in private life. The Ameri-
ner on patriotism, but it does claim
the right to keep on trying to mould
public opinion in this country along
| the right lines.
Knows No East, West, North or South
The Legion knows no east, west,
/ north or south, 1t has no political
affiliations and no creed. 1t takes
in every citizen. 1t can be termed as
complete cross section of the
thoroughly an American organization
made up of young men who served
| their country in time of need. II is
| made up Of the best type of Ameri-
cans of this age, both physically
and mentally. They are also perfect
in a sense of loyalty to country.
The yellow backed Stacker is strain
ed out of their ranks. 1t is COM
posed of men who loved their coun-
try, and were willing to serve it to
| the last ditch.
Here the speaker took occasion
to go into the details Of how the'Le-
gion was first organized.
The speaker called attention to
the support of the American Legion
when the /. w. w. were threatening
TO become menace to the country
1t was then that the Legionaires
lorganized for God and country, and
for the purpose of upholding the
constitution and maintain law and
order. In doing this the American
Legion had written an insurance
policy for the SAFETY of this nation,
and the premium on this policy was
paid for by the service of the men
both living and dead who served
their country in the world war.
With this organization back Of the
government, there is no more danger
to this beloved land than there was
years ago, for the Legion will see
that law and order are maintained
Purpose Of Organization.
| There is another purpose Of the
Organization, and that is to inculcate
in the people a responsibility to
community, state and nation. Be-
fore the war, America had come to
take the government as a matter of
course, but now it will be the aim of
the American Legion to inculcate
that same interest and patriotism in
the minds Of the people that existed
during the war. While politics will
never enter into the workings of the
American Legion, its members are
urged to get into politics and vote
as they think right. There is some
thing else, which counts in life, and
that is whether or not the commun-
| ity in which we live is a good place
to live. Whether or not anything
can be done to better the education
and influences for good. The fors-
tering and perpetuating Of 100 pre-
cent Americanism should never be
lost sight Of. This can only be
brought about by cooperation. This
is what the American Legion is try
| ing to bring about.
The speaker took occasion to laud
the work of the G. A. R. in past