The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-03-03
Amer icau
u Lee9rl1oee,
Bully for MacNider.

sSac;ai nride in National Command
ar MacNider because he is son
of Old Iowa and led his state TO
the top of the Legion ladder potn
in national membership and nation-
al leadership in 1921. But II is
imnossible for them to regard MN
with feelings of greater loyalty ana
pride than do Legionalres Oh Mih-
pesota. who are out to show MN
that they know real leader Wnen
thew see one, and are ready TO 1oi-
low him over the top wherever ne
may lead in 1922.
Gopher Legionaires have always
felt that way about MacNider, not
merely today, but way back in 10.
100 and '21. However, it gives
them a thrill of special pride and
sat;sfactiou to see their faith in
him so well rewarded. Perhaps
the following from the Seattle Star
viii best express what we would
"Hanford MacNider, the Star
takes off its hat to you because it
seems to us you have shown the
country you are big man. You
turned down an offer of lowa's
governor to appoint you United
States Senator. Your refusal is
corking fine American act.
'You, Hanford MacNider, had
been entrusted with the highest of
fee in the American Legion. If
you had deserted it now for polit-
ical preferment you would have
made the Legion appear in the
light of political organization.
A weaker man in your place might
have yielded.
"You did the big thing. You
turned down a senatorship for
which smaller men would have paid
a kings ransom in money and have
mortgaged their souls. You came
clean. Three or four million of
your buddies understand and APP
preciate."
The Star might have added that
the temptation was the greater be-
cause Hanford MacNider would
have been the first world war vet
eran to go to the United States
Senate and one of the youngest
men ever sent to that body. But
the offer was no sooner made than
it was rejected. There was no in
decision. 1t is National Command
err MacNider now and not Senator
MacNider. And the man who bears
that name and title has set pre-
cedent in the American Legion, a
precedent that will become a tradi-
ton.
At community meeting ar
ranged by Saltwater, Mimi. Legion
aires in honor of local members of
the G. A. R., State Commander
Powell, in behalf of ''the boys in
blue" thanked "the boys in Khaki
for their goodwill. Commander
Van Dyke of the Gopher Legion
assured the boys in blue that Lee
gionaires will do their best to carry
on the great work of patriotism so
ably launched by the Grand Army
of The Republic.
- -
again the local Legion has
shown it's keen interest in worthy
community activities. Biwabik high
school students will regard the new
Legion scholastic and athletic medal
as perhaps the highest reward they
may strive to attain. Every stu
dent would be proud to wear it
and keen rivalry is likely to result"
declares the Biwabik Times, refer
ring to the medal offered by the
Biwabik Legion post to the high
school boy and girl graduating with
the highest scholastic and athletic
record each year.
Forty years ago when j. j. Blue
drove wool and yarn wagon thru
Wisconsin he was champion
dancer. Last week, while celebrat-
ing his 18th birthday, comrade
Blue heard that the Galesville Lee
gion post was holding it's annual
dance, so just to show 'em his feet
were still light, he took in the
dance and treated the crowd to an
exhibition well worth travelling
miles to see.
When Legionaires of Appleton
Minnesota recently gave COM
munity party admittance to which
was obtained by presenting a sack
containing penny for every year
of the applicants life, birthday
cake was offered as prize to the
Oldest person present. j. n.
Pierce, 80 years old, a Civil War
veteran, had narrow escape from
losing the prize to Grandma Michel,
81 years old, widow of a Civil War
veteran, mother of a Rainbow Di-
vision veteran, and grandmother of
four boys who did their bit in the
big fight.
The Mayor of Cokato. minnesota