The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-09-07
, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DE-
PARTMENT OF THE
AMERICAN LEGION
A Historical Sketch

g AMERICAN LEGION g
9 A Historical Sketch ="
o o o o . o o o o . o o o o . o o
'The American Legion was con-
ceived by practically the entire per-
sonnel of the army, navq and marine
corps" These words from the pre-
face of Wheat's Story of the Amerl-
can Legion express the determination
present in the minds of almost all
service men to foster that idealism
with which our nation prosecuted the
war and at the same time to cherish
comradeships formed during their
period of service.
At a meeting of twenty. representa-
tive officers in Paris on the night OF
the 18th Feb, 1919, organization OF
the evterans association took tangible
form. AS officers 1t. Col. Theodore
Roosevelt, Jr., 1st Div, was elected
tie: porary hartman, 1t. COL, Bennett
C. Clark, 8Sth Div, temporary vice
chairman, 1t. Col. Eric Fisher Wood,
SSth Div, temporary secretary. The
twenty officers organized themselves
into a temporary committee. A eau
Gus of commissioned and enliste dele
gates was determined upon, and the
date of it set for March Is to II
in Paris.
AT this caucus the greatest har-
nrony prevailed. The action OF the
self-appointed committee was endors-
ed and a tentative constitution adopt
ed. After heated discussion the name
American Legion was decided upon.
Col. Roosevelt was not present at this
caucus, having returned home, where
he at once began work on the organ1-
zatlon, and where, due to the return
of troops, the greatest work was to
be done.
An advance committee was ap-
pointed by Col. Roosevelt and his ad-
vices to take part in preliminary work
at home.
Wheat's "Story of the American
Legion" gives the South Carolina
committeeman appointed by Roose-
velt as follows: Sgt. W. C. Coward,
.Cheraw, 1t. Chas. C. Pinckney, Char
qeston, C. T. Trenholm. Charleston,
and Maj. W. D. Workman, Green
vile. Other sources of information
give them as Col. Holmes B. Springs,
Mai. J. D. Frost and Maj. E. B. Can
taE
From South Carolina Mr.. R. B.
FULTON, Mr.. N. S. Lochicotte and DR..
Jno. D. Smyser attended the caucus
held at St. Louis on the 9Th, 9th and
10th of May, 1919, at which an or
ganization was effected, a constltu-
ton adopted and various resolutions
passed, forecasting clearly the actlVa-
ties of the association in the future.
With the attendance of these three
representatives at the st: Louis eau
Gus. the South Carolina department
of the American Legion had its be-
ginning. Upon their return they m
vited prominent ex-service men from
all over the state TO attend state
convention in July for the purpose OF
forming a state organization. This
convention, held in Florence, was at
tended by about forty-hve delegates:
In formulating constitution the
question of admission of negroes ITO
the Legion became acute. Several
delegates from tentative negro or
ganizations are said to have been
present in Florence, ready to :attenc
the convention. Negroes were ef-
fectively barred from admission by
provision that the county posts Should
who should be admitted to
membership and that there should be
only one post to each county.
Officers elected at this convention
were:
Julius H. Walker, Columbia, de-
partment commander.
Guy GuHick, Greenville, depart
ment vice commander.
Irvine F. Belser, Columbia, de-
partment adjutant.
Executive committee:
John J. McSwain, Greenvllle,
Chairman.
w. NJ. Manning, Columbia, vice
chairman.
Geo. w. Wannamaker, Jr., st.
Matthews.
Lloyd Smith, Easley.
c.. B. Edwards, Darlington.
Sergeant-at-Arnls, j. 0. Williams
Liberty.