The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-15
AMERICAN LEGION NEWS

Kansas American Legion posts are
| at this time opening up a barrage on
| the Western Passenger aSsoc iation in
| an effort to obtain the same conces-
sions on railroads which the eastern
trunk lines are offering for American
| Legion members attending the nation
al convention in Kansas City this fall.
The eastern lines will carry legion
members and their families for one
: cent mile in Pullman cars, while the
| Western Passenger association rates
| are good in day coaches only. The
and dependent children of legion
naries. The Kansas department will
lendeavor to obtain the rate of one cent
a mile in Pullman cars, good for all
dependent members of the legion
naire's family.
ut is hoped" said Adjutant Frank
| E. Samuel, that every member of the
legion in the Kansas department viii
| see to it that dependent members of
| their families not included in the ruiz
| ing write personal letters and send
| kilograms to the western Passenger
| association, demanding an explanation
as to why they have been discrimi-
! mated against. Mothers, who gave up
| so much when their sons answered the
| call to service, Should by all means be
aneluded in this special tariff on senti-
| mental grounds, If nothing further
Sisters, also, should be included"
| Brig. Gen. wilder S. Metcalf of Law
| renee. the new commander of the
| Kansas department of the American
| Legion, will commute between his
| home and Topeka, visiting state head
| quarters almost daily, he has informed
Adjutant Frank E. Samuel. Thomas
| A. Lee, retiring commander, was able
! to keep in close touch with business
at state headquarters in the Memorial
| building here as he is practicing
| attorney in Topeka.
THE office of commander was I'M
sought by me-" said General Metcaif.
But since have been elected I will
give the work the closest attention
| possible"
I The new Kansas Legion head re-
ceived his, baptism of fire in the
| Philippines as major in the Twentieth
Kansas volunteer regiment of which
the late Fred Funston was colonel.
Metcaf succeeded Funston as COM
mander and was breveted brigadier
general.
Colonel 'Metcalf served on the
! border in 1916 as commander of the
First Kansas infantry. When the regi-
ment was fedetalized for the world
war he became a brigadier general
He was not permitted to go overseas,
aid was honorably discharged in May,
1918. He was retired from the Kansas
National Guard in September, 1919. by
operation of law, after thirty-four
years military service.
Burton A, smead, secretary of the
! S9th Division War Society has Just
announced the plans for the reunion
of the division at Kansas City during
the American Legion national conven-
ton.
The first meeting will be a memorial
service conducted Sunday night, Oc-
tober 80, in Convention hall for mem
bers of the division. The speakers will
be Mai. Gen. William NJ. Wright and
Maj. Gen. Frank L. Winn, both former
commanders of the division; the Rev.
| Otis E. Gray, senior division chaplain;
F. W. O'DonneIf and Charles w. Bart.
| lett. Nine Schumann-Heink, who
| frequently entertained the men at
! Camp Funston before they went over
seas, will sing at the memorial
The remainder of the program will
| be regulated in conformity to the
Legion national convention program.