The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-10-17


disabled service men as its first re
sponsibility and that with regard to
the adjusted compensation act we've
Just started to fight" we're outstand-
ing points in the address of Hanford
MacNider, national commander, de-
livered before the fourth annual con-
vention of the legion at its opening
session at New Orleans Monday.
with regard TO adjusted compen-
sation legislation" the report deciar-
ed, we've only just started to fight.
The adjusted compensation legisla-
tion is right-we know II is right
and right always prevails in America.
"A great well financed attack by
interests which we cannot help but
feel are sordid and selfish has given
us one little setback. But those who
represent the people in Washington
are with us by great majorities. No
one man, untouched by the war, with
out kith or kin to those who served
no one group, financial or other
wise, can stand between the wishes
of the American people and the full
fllment of what they believe to be a
just obligation.
THE American Legion is gathered
here in convention assembled to
build from its experiences of four
years Of existence its program for
the legion year which lies ahead. The
legion is recognized as the voice of
the men and women who served with
the colors during the great war. a
whole generation. II must be our
duty to so build it that its tremen-
dous power and possibilities may be
directed that it shall be as it was ded-
icated-the highest service-to our
God and to our country.
Every eligible man and woman
must be made to realize that il their
best effort is not In the legion, they
are just as much slackers as those
who hid when the country's life was
at stake.
ITO avoid that duty is to uetray
our right to citizenship.
Never before in the history of
America has such great force in
our national life appeared-never has
such power and prestige been grant
ed. / quote to you the words of one
of the greatest soldiers of modern
times. the American Legion is the
cradle of the whole future of Amer
ica.'
"In relating here one of the en-
deavors and actions of the national
organizations there is no thought of
personal pride in accomplishment
What has been accomplished you
have accomplished.
This year started auspiciously.
The reception for our distinguished
guests at Kansas City and all over
mendous undertaking splendidly per-
formed. The Foch tour as a public
service not only to our country, but
to our allies, gripped and held the
public mind.
Starting a year of membership
during one of the greatest industrial
depressions America has ever exper-
fenced, the American Legion has
grown. Its posts are active and func-
tioning in 40 departments in this
country and 23 others scattered over
the globe number eleven thousand.
two hundred. Not an hour of the
day passes that the American Le-
gion posts are not in service-thou-
sands of them all over the world.
81 am well aware that the very
definite stand which has been taken
in carrying out your commands has
not aided in recruiting or holding
those who place financial gods as
their gods. or who are not willing. as
good Americans to forget their per-
sonal prejudices to help serve the
whole.
Those men have lost the best
thing the service ever gave-the con-
ception OF their duty to serve those
who served with them-to stick with
the lad who had not their advantage,
who labors under an unfair handicap.
He was the finest man under adver-
sity and hardship that God ever ere
ated--just the average young Ameri-,
can service man. He gave. all he
had.
while In the early years of legion
activity men joined, some only out of
curiosity or because others, joined
because in the great wave of enthu-
siasm 1t was the thing to do-the
membership now, in this fourth year.
is the solid substantial, actual light