The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-09-07
Mr.. A. D. Oliphant was

| at nrSt requested TO cooperate III OF
ganizing the posts throughout the
state.
After month or so of excellent
service Mr.. Oliphant was replaced by
Mr.. S. L. Latimer, Jr., of the Column
bia State whose untiring activities in
the line Of publicity kept the Ameri-
can Legion constantly before the
public. Practically two new posts
were organized every week during
the period from September, 1919. to
May, 1920.
At the convention of the Legion
held in Columbia fair week, 1919,
Representatives in the next national
convention were selected as follows:
II. F. Belser, chairman; J. H. Walker,
j. Monroe Johnson, John J. McSwain,
Henry Johnson, John T. Sloan, Geo.
W. Wannamaker, w. A. Malone, j..
NJ. Mcbride, w. D. Workman.
Local option as to membership OF
negroes in the Legion and a condem-
nation of bonus agitation were the
two main planks in the platform OF
the South Carolina department, and
that platform was maintained in the
national convention at Minneapolis,
Nov. 9, 10, II, 1919. This action
with regard to the bonus was in strict
keeping with the high standard set
during the solemn hours of the st.
Louis caucus. But the allurements OF
the bonus, dangling as a constant
temptation before the eyes of Amer
ican Legionnaires and other ex-ser-
vice men, began to prove too strong,
and it was as concession to more or
less general pressure that the nation
al executive committee introduced IN
the spring of 1920 the bonus pro-
posal, in fragrant violation of former
resolutions on the subject.
In view of this tergiversatlon on
the part of the national executive
committee, the South Carolina 7execu-
tive committee sent Messrs. l. F. Bel
ser and J. Monroe Johnson to Wash
lington i'm March, 1920 to enter pro-
test with the national committee. At
this time it was found that, by vote,
the states of Arkansas, Florida, Miss
lissippi, and South Carolina were OPP
posed to the soliciting of a bonus.
The South Carolina executive conn
..nittee went so far as to threaten sep
aration from the national organiza-
| tion over this issue. This threat,
however, met the disapprovaf of the
state convention held at Spartanburg
lin June, at which time, nevertheless,
! strong resolution, offered by Judge
iMendel L. Smith, was passed, con-
the action of the national
executive committee in soliciting a
bonus. Thus through it's last action
on this question the South Carolina
| Department has shown itself worthy
of the best traditions of tie common
wealth, and firm and steadfast in Its
punpose not to chatter in patriotism
nor to sell its ibirthright for a mess of
pottage. :;
The present officers 1920-21 were
elected at this convention, and the
inewsadmiinistration, pursuant to reso-
lutions passed by the convention de-
voted it's time to the relief of men
disabled in the service.
All other work was made secon-
dard to this task and work was be-
gun first around the U. S. P. H. S.
Ihospital No: 26, where some thousand
disabled men, coming from every
county in the state, were stationed.
The work then extended over the
state through a splendid cooperation
of the local posts.
A closer hason was established
with the bureau and finally two rep
resertatves were secured from the
bureau for work in South Carolina
and hundreds of unsettled claims were
isettled. Later the Legion brought
Colonel Forbes, director of the bu-
reau, to South Carolina SO that he
,,could he acquainted with the true
conditions.
A campaign to clean up ten entire
state is now under way, every county
in the state is to be visited by the
cleanup squad, and every ex-service
person hvaing claim Of any KIND
! against the government is to be seer
and his or her claim settled.
The present administration has add
ed eleven new posts and has gone
| ,bo,,t ;'te 1coicol tock of c11Stenoa liz