The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-01-20
WHAT THE AMERICAN !.
LEGION STANDS FOR.
There Are 110,734 Legion Posts
With Departments In All Our
Overseas Possessions.
(By DR.. c. H. Smith, Of Athena -Wes-
ton American Legion Post.)

(By DR.. C. H. Smith, Of Athena -Wes-
ton American Legion Post.)
Many former service men, as good
good and true patriots as any do not
belong to the American Legion be-
cause they have been misinformed
about it. The following are some OF
the salient facts concerning the Le-
gion.
The Legion Scope.
There are 110,734 legion posts; de-
partments in every state in the I'm
ion, in all American overseas possess
sions and in 19 foreign countries.
The American Legion received inter-
national recognition at the third an
nual Legion convention at Kansas
City, October 1, 1921, by the presence
Of Marshal Foch of France, Admiral
Sir David Beatty of England, Baron
Jacqes of Belgium, Armando Diaz OF
Italy, representatives Of foreign Lee
gions from France and England, Vice
President Coolidge Of America, Gen
eral Pershing, Admiral Rodman, Ma
jor General Commandant Lejune
and other distinguished guests and
Governors from many states of the
Union.
The Purposes Of The Legion
These are set forth in full in the
preamble of its constitution as fol-
lows: For God and Country, we asso-
ciate our selves for the following
purposes: To uphold and defend the
constitution of the United States Of
America; to maintain law and order;
to foster and perpetuate one hum
dred per cent Americanism; to pre-
serve the memories and incidents Of
our association in the Great War;
to inculcate a sense of individual obli-
cation to the community, state, nation
to combat the autocracy Of both the
classes and masses; to make right
the master Of might; to promote
peace and good will on earth; to safe
guard and transmit to posterity the
democracy; to consecrate and sancti-
fly our comradeship by our devotion to
mutual helpfulness." The Legion has
no aims, policies or activities not
covered by this preamble. The pur-
pose of the Legion is thus two-fold,
service to its country and service TO
its comrades. The organization is ex-
erting all it's influence and strength
to the end that all ex-service men, es-
pecially the disabled and their de-
pendents and the dependents Of those
who paid the supreme sacrifice, shall
receive that just and fair treatment
which they have reason to expect
In serving the country the organiza-
tion is endeavoring to keep alive that
spirit which induced all to respond to
the country's call in time Of need.
This is being done by assisting in
Americanism, based on fair play and
square deal for all,
What Accrues To Members
Among the material things are: an
American Legion button-the nation
respects it, everybody can't were one.
Any of the benefits derived from the
billion dollars worth Of legislation the
Legion has secured and to which the
exservice man may be entitled. The
American Legion has secured more in
the way Of beneficial legislation in
the past two years than the G. A. R.
secured in twenty. Fifty two copies
Of snappy, bright and interesting
magazine, worth the membership fee
alone. The American Legion is now
pushing the federal adjusted compen-
sation bill. 1t obtained the state bonus
for Oregon and some sixteen other
states in the Union. Don't ever
think that people would have pass
ed it. 1t was an uphill fight by the
Legion all the way. The Legion has
secured nationally seventeen laws and
rulings beneficial to ex-service men,
especially the disabled. All states
have passed a number Of such meas
ures. In Oregon the Legion has Sc
cured eighteen Of such measures for
their buddies.
Among the less material things are:
First chance to help all see that
their disabled comrades. and the de-
pendants of those who didn't come
back, get taken care of and overcome
the usual government red tape and
other obstacles besetting their path
Again, membership in the greatest
! patriotic organization Of all the time
Opportunity that their own organiza-
ton and the fellowship Of young mer
who answered the call to the colors
when they did. to foster and uphold
certain principles and ideals which
their forefathers thought enough to
die for. Help to put few American