Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-20
LEGION PLANS
BIG DRIVE FOR
COMPENSATION
Continued From Page One. }

tation committee, and Daniel E. Steck
Of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman Of the
legislative committee.
SEPARATE Feelings
IN AFTERNOON.
The first part Of the afternoon was
given over TO separate meetings of the
executive and legislative committees and
department commanders and adjutants
after which a general session was held at
5 80 o'clock.
In his opening talk, Commander Mac
Ntder made 1t plain that in his mind the
strength OF the legion lay in its local
units and national headquarters, under
his administration, would not try to in
stitute any campaigns or drives in any
State against the will Of that department.
Il want it distinctly understood he
said that J. am not trying to dictate to
the department. I am merely going to
suggest some things"
He then took mp the Iowa plan and
went into 1t briefly, explaining the cen
sus was taken largely through the I'M
firing effort OF the women Of the women
Of the legion auxiliary. He did not claim
that the Iowa Plan had worked perfectly
in that State, but he said he was con-
vinced it was q good one, because, al
though it had been conducted with only
what he considered 40 per cent efficiency,
it had succeeded in ging 40 per cent
Of the former service men of the State
into the legion.
FOUND OUT LEGION
VALUABLE TO THEM
The reason they came in was because
they found the legion meant something
to them" he explained This drive was
not a membership drive, but it resulted
In Increased membership because 1t gave
something 10 the men.
81 can not see why we can not make
the legion into something so big that 1t
viii be- able to accomplish what it wants
in regard TO disat led veterans and other
things it advocates. Today I believe
the legion throughout the various de-
partm mrs has the best set Of officers it
ever had, and Il Is with these depart
ments that the real legion work rests.
AT national headquarters we are in
favor OF this service and an adjusted
compensation campaign, but We want It
done your way, the way you men In the
departments want 1t done, and we don't
want IT done If You GO not approve OF
the plan yourselves"
Other things suggested by Commander
MacNider for discussion was the estab-
"Thera are many men, he said. who
10 NOT need bonus OF do not want to
accept one Let them turn the amount
over TO the rotating fund to be loaned
ont to disabled veterans to aid them In
their fght back t. health"
Personal contact, he insisted. Is far
more effective than all the posters in
The world.
"You get in touch With your service
men" he said. TASK them about Jobs,
about the legion weekly. about compen-
Sa-ion, and other things thar interest
him and You viii find that he is far more
Interested than he is by any statements
On posters"
Establishment Of legion athletics on a
largo scale also was favored
AT the convention at New Orleans" the
commander said. Il hope to see a big
athletic carnival with everything from
fiddle De winks 20 football"
He made It very clear thai Re national
headquarters would not int est itself In
political appointments.
II We want to bust the legion wide
open I think we could do nothing more
effective tnan TO interest ourselves in the
appointment ~ a postmaster. as Mandam,
y. d.. for example" be said.
Albert A. Sprague chairman Of the re
hahllitatiou committee. outlined the
plans fo7 the coming year He advocated
the establishment Of a legion orgauiza-
zion o. closely cooperate with the Vet
erans Bureau, and the decentralization
of the bureau Personal contact with
disabled mon and familiarity with their
cases should replace card indexes at
Washington. he said.
Tie also expressed regret that more