The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-09-30

who are financially unable to care for
themselves. have your Post Commander
write a statement of the case 10 Cover
nor Morgan. This statement should be
sent TO the governor through tho De-
partrent Headquarters, in order that
tho Department Commander may ap-
provo or disRpprove It. This money 10
available for the ex-service men and
W men whether their disabilities or
rr.."nt embarrassment Is Of service
origin or not 1t Is the desire Of the
state 70 relieve temporarily any one
who was IN tho service and I hope the
Legion will do it's part in carrying this
message TO the fellows who are In need,
Unless our organization Is inspired
by motives ~ unselnsh service 10 9TH
ers we have no right to exist. and am
satisfied. In concentrating our EFFORTS
mainly this year TO the care ot our dis
aided comrades. your Department off,
rialS have acted in accordance with your
wishes.
Since the American Legion has waGcd
its very necessary and cessful fight
for the disabled. many az Uses are now
beginning to arise. Hundreds OF men
throughout the nation are applying for
compensation who have no worthy
claim and no Just right to receive It.
: j
been out Of employment during this
year. has caused many OF them to man
ufacture ailments and diseases TO which
they would never have given thought,
had their minds and bodies been busy
with active employ mcnt. \ number OF
other men. tn" lazy 10 work. have seen
an opportunity for tho government to
support them for a long time TO come.
We must face the fact, however dis
tasteful Il may he. that many men who
wore the uniform. are using that fact
as a basis t. claim a living from the
government and the public for the re-
maInder Of their natural lives. The
Legion. with its great record Of patriot
IT, srrvlrr in war and peace. and an
nouncimg 10 the country It's high aims
aid ideals, must see to II that grafters
among our ranks are not allowed 10
prey upon the government which II was
our common privilege To defend. We
stand ready at all tines 10 90 the limit
to obtain justice for any r"nradc who
has Just claim. We must he equally
as viEilant in preventing men with no
Just claim from securing money intend
cd for tho real disabled. The primary
responsibility rests with the medical
Examiners They must have our back
Ing and support when they are conscfen-
tIously trying to do their duty. Every
local post must keep watchtul eye
on this condition In their own Commu-
nifty. and assist the Federal agencies
In blocking the path to men who have
no real claim. II We fail in this We
shall soon lose our good name. and de-
generate into an organlLa ton OF graft
breeders.
Through the efforts Of the Legion and
the hearty cooperation Of certain MEM
hers Of Tho Senate and House. justice
will finally be done for those men who
suffered so long and gave so much. In
this convention, cannot permit this
your attention TO the work OF the senior
Senator from this State. Hon. Howard
Sutherland, FOR the relief OF the eN-Ser-
vice men To Senator Sutherland. more
than 10 any other one man. belongs tho
credit for our increased hospital fac'li-
ties. ! personally know that he has
fought long and hard for the increased
appropriation that was made 10 hos
pItala in which to care for our disabled
men. Hc has done all that any human
being could do to help those who served
in the World War. and 7 count II priv
ilege at this time tn publicly acknowl-
edge az your Commander. our debt to
him.
We were quit. fortunate this year IN
securing the eerviccs Of Dr. Harry Sill
YER as our Department disqualification
officer. Through his vigorous efforts tho
men In hospitals In our State have all
been receiving splendid care and attcn-
tion from the personnel Of the hospitals
and tho Legion Posts IN the rirlnlty OF
those institutions.
Amsr1canisn
The Legion's lack Of finances this year
lat No. q
for us to do much In promoting our
Americanism program. At the recent
session Of our Legislature. We asked
Cor the passage Of a law making Armls-
tice Day q legal holiday. We also asked
that law he enacted. making It COM
pulsory to teach the English language
and civil government IN all schoo!s
within our State. The bill providing for
this also carried with provision that
ten minutes OF each day be devoted 10
patriotic exercises III our schools. and
that an American flag should fly over
every school house in our state. Be
cause the huge corporations OF West
Virginia had filled our state Capitol
with their agents, and because these
mon were continually bounding The
members OF the LEGISLATURE. our niIla
20 promote Anerlcan!sm In the Noun
tain State were cast aside. Gentlemen
Sou and ] know some OF the CphHi'i'is
surrounding our State Legislature. and
YOU must he aware that the only way
we can accomplish anything In Charles
ton Is for II. TO organize and fight for
our deals. hope this Convention VIII
provide for the appointment or I.egls-
laiive Committee To BE- organized for
period Of at least four years. hone you
will give that Committee power 10 speak
for YOU, and to draft and have presented
10 the Legislature such bills as will be
of hrneht Ia the State and TO Its cx-
Service men II this Is done. and II We
viii hack up that Committee with all
our strength. our suggestions will be
enacted into law. Until you handle your
legislative program In q business-liks
manner YOU will fail 10 accomplish your
purpose.
Nationally we witnessed In the early
part Of this year an active revival or
German propa Eanda. Evidently cncour-
aged by the power the German &pte.
the propaEandistS SGT about to rNiHe
the old German machine patterned az
Tor the one directed a few years MO by
ON" Won Rernstorff. THOR purpose was
10 drive p dividing wedge between our
country and our great allies In tho re-
cent war. Mass meetings were 10 he
held in tho principal American cities.
TN" only was held. and that IN New
Norl; city They were ostcnshly known
IS "iicrrors on tho Rhine" meetings.
Immediately tho Legion got into action.
l'rdcr The leadership Of the great Cal
hr',ith. monster mass meeting wae ny
u'rdIat"iv held In New York a. which
these insiduous propa Gand'sts wer" NO
tined that tho Legion would no longer
, tolerate their .nsnlenCc and their arrn-
CANT effonrcry. rs one great man said.
~ k,, ~