New Britain herald., 1922-01-13
Preamble of American Legion Constitution and General History Given in Treasurer's Review-Ma- lone and Bulkley Approve Letter.

When we came back from the oth- CT side, or were discharged from the service here, some of us devoted our selves to the organization Of the American Legion, projected several months before at meeting in France. It was a hard task for it is not a mu- tual benefit association but an organi- zation created to carry on the high purposes and duties of soldiers and citizens, continuation Of the service which soldiers and many citizens had learned to be their duty to their God and country Soldiers who had al- ready come back from the other side or from duty here were gathered to- gether from different parts of the state in temporary organization and finally representatives were sent to the caucus to be held at St. Louis in June, 1919. In order that our representa- lives might not be limited to those who had money, some of us raised or advanced funds for comrades who would have been unable otherwise to make the trip. At that St. Louis eau GUS the principles and aims of the American Legion were enunciated and q constitution adopted with the fol- lowing preamble:
 The Preamble.
 "To uphold and defend the Consti- tuition of the United States of Amer. ica; to maintain law and order; tc foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incndents of our associ- ation in the Great War; to inculcate sense of individual obligation to the community; State and nation; to com bat the autoCracy of both the classes and the masses ito make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth: to safeguard and transmit to posterity principle: of justice, freedom and democracy; te consecrate and sanctify our com radeship by our devotion to mutua helpfulness."
 And those great aims and principles were some months later ratified anC amplifed at greater convention helc after most of our comrades had re. turned to our country. They are tht creed of our organization.
 Legion Organization
 The Legion in Connecticut grew against many obstacles. Almost al soldiers were poor, poorer indeed thar when they left this country, and many felt unable or unwilling to join or tt pay even the small dues of such ar organization. They were inclined tt believe that there was a debt owing them which was not being paid, il which mood they would not lister kindly to the suggestion of serving their country further and of payin, for the privilege.
 Everyone remembers the dfficul ties of readjustment to the old life Indeed, it was not wholly that prob lem that confronted us There was in volved an adjustment to a new life one of different activities. Econom, and frugality had, for the moment disappeared and there were all around us high wages, huge profits and ex travagant expenditures and also growing reaction from the spirit O service which had inspired the coun try. It wasn't the old life those il service had left on their way to cam and trench and even the grave bu another one which even now is stil undetermined and unreSOiVed.
 The c. A. R. Example
 It wasn't strange, therefore, tha an organization with our principle should have it's difficulties; they sa that the c. A. R. went through simi lar ones. One man after anothe gave as much time as he could to it organization and then handed tn torch on to someone else to carr forward; but it steadily did go for ward until we had about some thirty or forty American Legion Posts abou the state. All this time there wa constant talk of the much promise aid from the government or state C citizens to the soldiers and bite criticism of the terrible neglect of tn disabled, sick and stricken. Tn government, spurred by the America Legion, did make some effort bu were so bound up with red tape an general inefficiency that nothin seemed to issue from it except count less letters serial numbers, reference and delays Some of the states wer passing acts giving a bonus to so diers and other states projected sim lar action, involving in every instanc many millions of dollars. The Stat of Connecticut, however, had passe two acts, including the one in whic we are particularly interested, whic