Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-05
THOMAS EVANS
On America anization Plans Of American
eoion

Legion
0NE Of the most important Of the oppor-
" tunities now before the American Legion
is that Of spreading as widely as possible
canization work. says Thomas Evans. who
has taken very active part in the Ameri-
canization program of that organization.
and who Is State chairman of the Committee
on School Awards.
'This idea originated with the Pcnnsyl-
vania LEGION said Mr.. Evans. land in
each Of more than 200 schools in the state
n boy will achieve during the present month
the distinction of receiving the first annual
award OF the Legion. The idea has received
the enthusiastic approval of the Pennsyl.
vania school authorities. and is known all
over. the country as the Pennsylvania plan.
1t is designed to stimulate the study of
American institutions rs we'll as Of ideals
and will make very largely for character
building.
''Thc American Legion as organized is
capable of being II very useful factor in the
country. and it represents more faithfully
than any other organization the real Senti-
ments Of the American cX soldiers of the
great war. The membership of the Legion
IL. roughly. 900 900 out of the 4,OOO. 900
soldiers from our country who saw service.
Many Important Questions
''Of the many important matters before
the American Legion. that of bringing about
the greatest amount of education and the
most thorough understanding of American
ideals Is perhaps the greatest. Only through
education can the general relations between
peoples be betercd, and this applies both
to the relations between ourselves and for
eign countries and to those between man
and man here at home
''lt may even be that the Legion can be
an important factor In making future wars
impossible by making the people understand
just what war means When they do un-
derstand this as a whole there will be no
more war. because in every country the
leaders. both political and military. are
pOweress against the expressed wishes of
the nation.
"Education will solve this problem, for
as long as there is widespread ignorance
there will be strife. II the American Legion
lives up to it's high purposes of better edu-
cation and better living conditions, 1t can
exert beneficial influence which will be
felt for scores II not hundreds of years.
VIII Extend the Work
"For the present. at least. we shall work
along the AmrrcnnizatiOn plans as thus far
outlined. II better nsSthoIl develops it will
be adopted and carried through. We hope
to extend the work later to start night
schools whrrr they are needed, and we are
also working on plan to revise the natural
ization laws. so as to demand higher plane
of inte elligence and literacy before admitting
foreign born person to American citizen
snip.
AT present We require our own youtb IN
attend school until they are at least six.
teen years Of age. but we will take n man
from another country who cannot even sncnL
| our language and with mOdicum of ednrn
| tiOn admit him to all the rights and nriv;.
| leges of American citizenship
| Certain events have deyelOpcd re,o,,I,
| which have led the public to believe thnt tbc
| Legion is largely composed of men who ara
seeking selfish end but do not thinL for
| moment that this Is true of the vast ma
| jorty OF its members. In this, as in all
| other matters. the country is the iurv' and
all must chcerfuly abide by its dec sion %m'
| Educate the Youth
"The American Legion has certain o,,u
! rent aims which II is pursuing--thc cnnlnr
mcnt Of the rx- soldiers. the training of tbo,,
| for fitting occupations, the care NJ ,hI'n
| disabled in the war, the care of tho ,,,ae nUoe
| Of the dead but far beyond all these ,,,a, a,rs
.the fundamental principles and purnoso. ~
the organization. VI
'''rhe great guiding star of tbe Jo.,,,
| the promotion Of education in ollr cnnn,. ,s
| for 1t is only through this that AmanilE'
! life can be made the frncst and tbe hnnniann tnn
that any nation has ever enjoycd, 'P'e't
- believe that one Of the most import,nt II
phases IN the accomplishment of these e"hs
lies In this work among the boys in m.
schoOls-to cultivate In them a desire 'to ,o
excel In the qualities Of honor, servic.
c9cSnge, leadership, and last but Rrs.ts.s
In 10wledge and scholarship. "A = -