The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-30


Bachelor American Legion posts in
Kansas are gradually deserving the
ranks and organizing women's auxii-
iaries. Nearly SO per cent of all posts
in the state now have an auxiliary.
-Four applications for auxiliary unit
charterse were received at state head
quarters in the last week. They are
located at Overlook, Scammon, Kins-
ley and Moundridge.
Reports coming in TO state head
quarters of the American Legion Aux
Hilary show that most of the units
have had a busy and beneficial year.
A brief summary of the activities Of
the auxiliary unit to James r. Cutler
post No. 80 at Abilene. for the year
1921, follows: Participated in observ-
ance of Armistice day, Flag day and
Memorial day; voted to equip and
maintain room III the new Memorial
hospital which is being erected at Abb
lene for eX-service men; assisted the
Good Fellows in their Christmas
work; had charge of Salvation Army
drive; assisted the Legion in two
home talent plays; helped organize
two auxiliary units in neighboring
towns; conducted bazaars and food
sales; sent large box Of magazines to
hospital at Fort Riley; sold peoples
on Decoration day; contributed SIS to
Overseas fund: sent $40 in clothing to.
Wichita hospital; sent box of jellies.
jams, etc, to U. s. z. H. S. hospital
at Kansas City; sold $40 of helmets
and peoples on Armistice day; sent
9 Christmas boxes; bed lamps to
Kansas City hospital and gave $25 to
| hospital fund. At the close of the
year there was still a balance of $500
in the treasury.
For the next decade ex-soldiers win
have virtual monopoly on all gov
eminent lands opened to homestead
| ers. Preference rights have been
granted them under the Sinnot reso-
luton. passage of which has just been
completed by congress at the instiga-
ton of the American Legion.
The measure provides that before
the general public is permitted to APP
ply for public lands thrown open
within the next ten years. men with
| honorable discharges from the mill
tary and naval service shall be given
a preferred right of entry for a period
of ninety days Indian lands are in
cluded within the scope of the reso-
| luton.
Indications are that service men will
/ utilize their preference rights and
| swallow up any lands open to entry.
| The overwhelming demand from re-
| turned soldiers for an opportunity to
| take up homesteads has come hand in
| hand with gradual decrease in the
available tilIable lands. In recent
| openings the leglonS reports show,
| the ratio of applicants to the number
of farms available has run as high as
! 40 to l.
| Widows. mothers. and orphans of
men who died in the service during
| the world war will receive vocational
| training, if congress acts favorabl
/ on legislation now being pressed by
| the American Legion.
| At present the next of kin of a SOL
/ der who lost his life receives $25
| month from the government. Investi-
| cation has shown that hundreds have
| been thrown on their own resources,
| having no trade, profession, or bust
| ness experience with which to meet
| the competition of the business world,
and with no aid other than the rela-
| lively small compensation payment to
keep them going.
J A bill sponsored by the legion pro-
, viding training program to cover
| the situation passed the senate dur
| ing the last session. but died in the
/ house Its resurrection and passage
/ will be persistently urged by its sup
| porters in the present congress.
In the more than three years which
| have elapsed since the signing of the
armistice no steps have thus far been
| taken by the government to lend as
sistance to the dependents of the war