The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-07-07
SPEAKER GIVES
LEGION PRAISE
Confidence in Organization Express sed
by W. A. CRUDE in Thoughtful
Address mt Banquet.

Confidence in the American Legion,
| Its membership, its purposes and
ideals was expressed by w. A. CRUDE,
secretary of the Oroville Commercial
club, in a thoughtful and impressive
address made at the banquet given in
| the basement OF the Oroville Fruit
company's warehouse the evening of
July 4. The banquet was a delightful
affair, featured by good talks and ex-
cellent musical numbers. The Pentic-
ton orchestra played during the din
ner, and legion members enlivened
the meal with rollicking songs Vocal
solos by Mrs. Powell and Miss Can
field and violin solos by Miss Edna
Schassberger accompanied by Miss
Pauline Schassberger captivated the
diners who repetedly called for en-
cores that were graciously given by
the musicians.
Mr.. CRUDE was the principal speaker
and his address made a deep impress
sion on his hearers. He said that there
are organizations in this country and
throughout the world that. are menac-
ing to society and to orderly govern
ment which present a serious problem
that must be faced and dealt with He
recalled that when the American Le-
gion was being launched here he had
expressed confidence in it and de-
clared that Americans were not afraid
of an organization in the hands of the
ex-service men. Now the legion is ex-
pected to combat those organizations
of evil purpose. many of which are
so yelled and camaflouged as to ap-
pear as panaceas fOrthe ills that the
world is heir to. but which in reality
are founded on foolishness and false
hood The name American Legion in
spires confidence, he asserted, partic-
ularly in this state, because under
Washington sod are buried the bodies
of legion men who sacrificed their
lives to show that there are organi-
cations in this country as dangerous
to its peace and welfare as the enemy
faced on the fields of France.
After the sacrifices the ex-service
men made, he said, the least the coun-
try can do is to say to them here is
your country, take it and do what you
will with it,
If we cannot trust the legion, he
continued, he knew not whom We can
trust. He expressed the personal hope
that eh may yet see a legion man in
the presidents chair.
He also recalled that those who did
not do military service during the
war were no less patriotic than those
who were in the service, a sentiment
that was greeted with approval.
Service in the army, he said, did
one Of two things to the individual, 1t
resulted in either making better
man or a more worthless man of him
who served The fellow who before
entering the army held to the opinion
that the world owed him living,
came out of the army holding that
now the United States owes him liv-
ing. That element, he declared, consti-
tutes one of the problems Of the day
which the legion is expected to help
solve.
But the man who before entering
the service held to the principle that
his country was worth fighting for
came out with confirmation Of his
belief. He knows that his service to
his country did not end with his dis
charge from the army, but, in fact,
only just began.
Mr.. CRUDE said that he refused to
subscribe to the principle that the
world owes every one a living, but he
does hold that the world owes every
one an opportunity to earn living
and that it stands ready to pay on
demand
Brief talks were also made by c.
Warren Reid, of Wenatchee, newly
elected district commander Of the le-
gion; Major Harper, commander OF
| the Wenatchee legion post; Mr. Lowe,
president of the Penticton branch of
the Great War Veterans association,
and Major Andrus of Penticton, men,
ber of the G. w. V. A.