Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-09

the fact that it had tcen long time
since there had been such a represen-
tation of Grand Army men and called
for the audience 20 rise in their hon
or, which request was acceded to With
enthusiasm.
In introducing National Command
er MacNider. Post Commander Weeks
said tat the American Legion was
conceived in service and dedicated to
service. That being true. the aims
and endeavors Of the Legion could
not be far apart from the aims and
endeavors of american men and wom-
en-. He called attention to the fact
that Commander Mac\iGer had ris-
tied only four flacos in Maine and he
was gratifted that :"atcrville was one
of them. He said shat the American
Legion has a membership of million
and a quarter Of man.
TO be leader of such a body of
mon is q tremendous undertake 1t
requires every hour and day, the sac
rifce of time and money. it requires
executive and business ability and
also moral and physical courage. 1t
is but natural that the American
Legion should choose Il man, who
possesses these qualities. He was
born in the adventurous vest, edu-
Gated at Harvard in conservative
New England, served on the Mexican
border and in the World War where
he was cited three timese in general
orders and decorated nine times. He
is 4 business man, founder of a
banking institution and now its
president. BY no sterner tests could
his fitness be proven. Such a man is
Hanford MacNider, national COM
mander of the American Legion.
Commander AiacNider said that he
should be bold indeed to come to
Maine who instructs e.le nation in
what it should do and how to vote
with a message. Instead he had
come to get inspiration from this
been sold out at Watcrville that Wa
tcrvillc had left him almost breath
less.
I'VE think we do much in the
West" he said lit would do my state
good to see the way YOU have re-
sponded in this affair. / haven't
words to tell YOU what l think OF
Waterville.
an this Legion of ours We have
got a splendid thing. | think YOU can
see the opportunity for service this
organization has. We are going to
see that this country stays the way
that we fought that it should stay
and with the community behind it
and the auxiliary behind it we can
do many things.
The American Legion is a ire
mcndous thing. Our program is first
to see that the men who came back
blind. manned and broken in health
get square deal from the country
they fought for. 1t remains for us to
sec that he gets this square deal. l
don't believe that YOU know that
every bit of the legislation that has
been pushed through for those men
has been written ami pushed through
by this Organiza ton
He fold of the features of the
bonus bill. First the paid up insur-
ance. in 20 years; second. farm and
home aid: third land settlement
which gives him land: four. the cash
feature which allows him $50 once
every three months until his dollar
a day has been paid. We believe
that this Will do more to build up the
economic structure of this country
than any other bill. The American
people want it done and before many
months the bill is going through
We're not begging for money, it is
Just an economic stepping stone.
This is not a bonus. 1t is the pay
ment of A just obligation. The auaS-
ton is simply this: Would YOU take
one Of two mon equally paid in your
employ ard send one out on a particu
larry dangerous mission which he
gladly undertakes out of his Loyalty
to YOU, risking his life. leaving his
family. ready to encounter or slr-
mount any difficulties gladly to serve
you-meantme multiply many times
the wage of the man retained home IN
Safcty-and on the first mans return
not give him at least an even deal
with the other? OF course you
wouldn't. even if YOU hadn't promised
him that you'd see he got squa:e
deal when he returned. Yet that it is:
what the opponent of the Adjusted
Compensation Bill is asking the Unit
ed States TO do. 1t is not a question os
sentiment. of paying for mans serv-
!cc or his patriotism. because no man
can put price on that. nor can any
man pay for 1t. 1t is an insult 20
even suggest it. But there is no rea-
son for penalizing the man for offer