The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-04
AMERICAN LEGION NEWS

A state wide service census" to
reach all the 10000 ex-service men
in Kansas, will be inaugurated at once
by the American Legion, Frank f.
Samuel, state adjutant has announced.
The general purpose is to find out
who needs compensation adjustments,
disqualification, employment and 50
forth, and to help them. Those can
vassed will be asked to join the Amer
lean Legion, but only on the basis Of
what the Legion can Dc for them and
not merely to increase the member
ship of the organiza ton.
Each county in the state will be or
ganized and the actual work of the
canvass will be under the direction of
the local pests The American Legion
Auxiliary will cooperate with the
LegionnarieS.
The plan was first tried out in Iowa
last year when Hanford MacNider,
now national commander, was state
comma nder. Tt proved successful in
that state, according to Adjutant Sam
uel. State officials who met at In
dianapolis recently voted to adopt the
plan for the purpose of reaching EVERY
ex-service man in the country.
The detectives are officially stated
as follows:
To make a complete ex-service cen
sus of the country, each post to be re-
sponsible. for its own community, list
data concerning every ex-service man
and woman: Personal service statis-
tics; employment needs, disability
compensation status; complete infor-
nation on whether the government
still owes any obligation to the per
son interviewed, and the present ex-
tent and status of that obligation (hos-
pitalization, back pay, victory medal,
discharge bonus, insurance, liberty
bonds, etc.)
To learn which option the person
interviewed will select under the Lee
gion's adjusted compensation bill, or
whether he is willing to turn over his
share to rotating Legion fund to be
lent to needy and disabled ex-service
men.
To explain to every eligible man and
woman what the Legion is trying to do
for them and for the country.
To impress on eligible men and
women the advantages of mem bership
in the Legion. based on the practical
service to be rendered on the basis of
replies made in the personal canvass.
To. enable the Legion to tell congress
and the country in what proportions
the options under the adjusted COM
pensation bill will be selected by ex-
service men and women, and to plan
for the operation of the rotating Lee
gion fund for needy veterans.
How members of the American Lee
sion auxiliary may serve is revealed
in the annual report of the auxiliary
unit at Council Grove received at state
headquarters here.
A partial list of activities follows:
Cleared 5000 at a stand during county
fair, the money going into a sinking
fund for the memorial building; sold
$25 worth of helmets on armistice day
for the disabled soldiers who made
them; sold s55 worth of peoples on
Memorial day for the American
Franco Children's league; contributed
$40 to hospital fund and $40 to over
seas memorial fund; sent at Christ
mas time two boxes of jam and check
for SO to Wichita hospital also a
bed lamp, six pounds of yarn and sew
eral pairs of pajamas to Kansas City
hospital; made one complete layette
for the Red Cross; gave Auxiliary
Legion party at Christmas time with
loo membe present; was represented
by two delegates at state convention
and by eleven Representatives at ma
tional convention at Kansas City;
bought and made curtains pillows and
table runners for club rooms; assisted
in patriotic programs; held several
food sales; increased membership
from sixteen to sixty-one.
This report is one of the best that
has come to~the attention of depart
ment headquarters, according to Mrs.
Emma Haddorn, state secretary. Miss
Margaret Simpson was president of the
Council Grove auxiliary last year. Mrs.
Katie Dreese has been elected presi-
dent for 1922