The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-09
AMERICAN LEGION news

Announcement of the winning posts
in the state membership campaign of
the American Legion will be made
within the next few days. according to
a statement issued at headquarters
here today by Adj. Frank z. Samuel.
The campaign ended officially
March 81, but remittances are still be-
ing received for new members and the
books are held open a few extra days.
Competition has been keen among the
$50 posts and several are running
neck and neck for the leading posi-
lions. The first prize, which goes to
the post showing the largest percen-
tage gain over the 10 membership, is
a stand of silk colors-
A committee on recommendations
appointed at the state meeting of Le-
gion officials here. March S, will de-
termine the winners. Leonard Toner
of Salina is chairman, Other mem
bers are J. R. Woodhouse, Atchison;
Don Shaffer, Hutchinson; Roy Can
non. Emporia; DIR. A. 3. Buck, An
S. Collins. Manhattan; and j. r.
Shoup, Cimarron.
Service foa the Ex-service Men"
This slogan adopted by the Kansas
department of the Women's Auxiliary
OIL the american Legion. Is DelIk llNeQ
up to in a high degree by units thru
out the state, according to reports
reaching NJ. Izetta Mccoy, state secre-
tary.
Foremost in auxiliary work is the
disqualification program. Donations
have been received from the hospital
fund from five units. Cimarron unit
sent check for 500; Kensington,
Council Grove and Washington. $40
each; and Caldwell, IS. Women in
units near hospitals are giving their
personal attention to helping care for
the disabled, while women in units at
distance are giving money.
Auxiliary members are helping the
able bodied service men by assisting
them in social affairs. in furnishing
club rooms, in collecting dues and in
membership campaigns. The units at
Washington has put $3.50 into a saw
ings account for erection of a perma-
nent club house.
Mrs. Lelah Luther Klein, president
of the auxiliary at Cimarron, used a
novel method of raising money. A
rooster was placed in the window of a
prominent shop in Cimarron with a
known number of grains of corn. The
public was invited to guess the number
of grains the rooster would eat during
a given period, paying 10 cents each
for the privileges. A prize was award
ed to the successful guesser. The pro-
Ject netted more than 800 to the or
ganization.
A warning to American Legion post
officers against using the influence of
the legion to obtain misunderstanding
and other political appointments has
been issued by Thomas A. Lee, COM
mander of the Kansas deartment of
the ex-service mems organization.
Lee declared that while no attempt is
being made to prevent legionnaires as
individuals from using their influence.
all efforts which might appear to in
volve the legion in politics is directly
in opposition to the constitution of the
organization.
Ten thousand 1egionnaires at the
national convention of the American
Legion in Kansas City October 81
1-2, is the goal of the Kan
sas department. Posts at Anthony
and Parsons have promised 100. per
cent representation of their members.
has already chartered two
special cars. Savings clubs are being
in many posts to insure
travel pay for all.
Capitol Post No. l has formed a
''Trumpeters' Corps" of nearly thirty
men which it is hoped will be enlarged
before the Kansas City convention.
Clouds of misunderstanding which
at I1TSL kept many union men 1TOIn
joining the American Legion are being
rapidly dispelled. declares Frank f.
Samuel, state adjutant of the legion.
In proof Samuel points to the activity
of the legion in the mining district of
southeastern Kansas. Organization
work has proceeded at fast gait since
the statement by Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
of Labor, several months ago, that he
could see no reason why union men
should not be legionnaires and. in
fact urging union men who are eligi-
BILE to join.
At Seammon, Cherokee county, the
climax of the annual eight-hour day
celebration by miners of District IA
was a dance staged by the Francis
Ellison post of the American Legion in
the legion hall at Scammon- The
growth of the post at Weir, also in
Cherokee county, is pointed to. The
1920 membership was 81. Now it is
z12 with more to come, according to
the post adjutant.
Community confidence in the ability
of ex-service men to accomplish things
and to successfully accomplish them,
follows naturally on the national rec
IGNITION given the American Legion
in the recent measures passed by ma
tionaI and state legislators. In cele-
brations of Memorial day, the Fourth
of July, Washington's birthday and
other patriotic anniversaries. it is OBJ
vious that the the local posts of the
Legion would have prominent posi-
TONS But in a vast number of COM
munities this leadership extends
further.
Lyceum and chautauqua courses are
managed by the local Legionnaires-
bringing pleasure and enlightenment
to all. a carnival. or exhibition is sug-
gested-and in many instances re-
ferred to the post to be brought to
successful termination. Wrestling and
boxing exhibitions, amateur the
atricals, baseball and basketball and
other athletic activities. Dances NOV
ing picture theaters-all these can be
found in the activities of Legion posts.
Many communities are indebted to the
Legion for allowing their clubrooms
and halls to be used as community
centers-which is a phase of the
Legion Americanization program. A
Ia yrrc Y711YT1 her nf rnzfe hax as