Evening star., 1922-03-06
Members Of American Legion
Want Building Of Own Here

~HERE is renewal OF agitation
by AmerfcanA Legion officiais
Tor obtaining q home and
= headquarters for the Amer
lean Legion posts IN this city. De-
partment officers OF the District OF
Columbia, headed by Watson B. Mil
Ter, commander, are united In their
efforts Tor this project and are backed
by the officers and members of the
twenty-eieht posts OF the city.
1t Is believed at the legion's head
quarters. now held In a small room
on the fourth moor OF 1923 New York
avenue, that such a building. whether
erected as q war memorial to those
who made the supreme sacrifice. a
victory memorial perpetuating the
triumph OF American arms on foreign
soil or q clubhouse where legion
held, is a necessity in Washington
and would enhance the interests and
help to promulgate the ideals OF
Americas foremost veteran organiza-
tion.
At present the legion in this city
numbers about 5000 men. which is a
rapid growth from the small number
that applied for q che rter more than
three years ago while they were still
in France. The legion in this city
has grown. its posts are fiourishing,
but the membership would be greatly
Increased If a home was procured
The District had some $4,000 sons and
daughters In the service. Including
the yeoman Fs and the marinettes
and II q real clubhouse could be had,
the membership Of the legion un.
doubtedly would be greatly increased
The poses now meet In widely scat
the District building. 'several at this
present headquarters on New York
avenue, some in the New Ebbitt
Hotel, some at the various local Clubs
Some at the armory, and others In
halls and clubs all over the city
Most places are Inadequate. When Q
dance or entertainment is to be held
some organisation or flrfn for use OF
a hall and a large fee paid. The
need is apparent. but seldom recog-
mixed.
*&kA
Those in charge at the present
headquarters make the best of 1t. but
feel humiliated when strangers finally
struggle up the rickety. worn step,
that lead to the fourth floor and COM
ment on the surroundings. Among
the first things q visiting legionnaire
does is to make a comparison between
the Washington Offices and the ofi1ces
Of his home town. There isn't really
any comparison. it is Just a pointing
out OF differences. The visitor asks
why is it this way?" to which the
man in charge can only answer, III
bite: why is it?"
The reason is hard to explain
Other cities by various means have
erected splendid buildings for the
legion. Small cities and towns have
not been remiss. Funds have beer
obtained in many ways. Some build
ings have. been erected through pub
lie contributions, others are gifts
from rich merchants and other resi-.
dents. and still others are the result
Of appropriations. In washington
there have been 50 many OF these
donations and gifts to every cause
that the people look askance at the
proposal Of another.
= 4 =
Cleveland, New York. Chicago. De.
troit and other large cities have fine
homes for their leeion posts. York
Pa, post owns . home valued at $685..
eco. According to an announcement
in the American Legion Weekly. the
fund was started at 5000 and 4
buy brick" campaign was initiated
the public being sold bricks at dol
lar apiece, These were not gold
bricks, either. but Of clay. and In q
short sine the bricks began to rise