Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-11-02
FHE AMERICAN LEGION.
ITS ORIGIN AND AIMS

late World War and the demoDlh-
.;.0 Of the 4,S00,000 American citi-
i who served with the colors, tbat
Nv organizations of these comrades
srms should spring up here and
= throughout the United States.
these organizations the American
ZION has come to be the organiza-
Z of ex-service men and women in
i country.
n February 18th, 1919, twenty Of
srs of the A. E. f. assembled in
.5s in response to orders from Gen
Headquarters to discuss the new
sditions existing in the army created
tbe sudden let down in military ac-
dtes following the armistice. Be-
syug that they were sufficiently rep
sentative of the A. E. F. to initiate
formation of an organization of
r.seryice men, they elected 1t. Col.
beodore Roosevelt, Jr., temporary
1sirman, and 1t. Col. Eric Fisher
OOd temporary secretary, and laid
ans for the subsequent assembling
Two representative caucuses of ex-
ryice men, one at Paris on March
tb. 10Th and 17th, and the other at
Louis, May 9Th, 9Th and 10th, 1919.
s In accordance with these plans one
Ousand men representing every out
in the A. E. F. and ranging in
knk from brigadier general to ''buck"
met in Paris March 18th, 1919.
he purpose of this meeting was well
zpresed by 1t. Col. Roosevelt when
said, ''We want to crystallize the
brit that made it possible for IS to
Fl into this war and fight it as we
ii" At this meeting were formulated
{ fundamental policies Of the "Amer-
ban Legion" which was the name se-
kted for the new organization by
be assembled delegates. After elect
h committee of one hundred men
carry on the work of organization,
conference provided that all steps
ken in the work of temporary or
aization were to be subject to rati-
ation by constitutional conven-
to be held in the United States in
Tember, 1919.
Ny May 9Th, 1919, the temporary
ganization Of the Legion had pso~
ressed to such an extent that eleven
hundred delegates from all parts of
be country assembled in st. Louis to
ame provisional constitution. This
rst large gathering of ex-service men
sas the cynosure of many eyes. Poli-
cans Of the old school who had been
sting thoughtful, not to say covet-
Is, glances at the progress of the
iw organization, were interested in
proceedings of the convention.
So, too, were the folks back home.
hat was to be the attitude Of the
k-service men toward the government
b which they had fought and toward
Be problems arising in this country
a result Of the war. These queries
ere answered in unmistakable fash
Il Xn by the convention.
The growing rumor that the new
ganization was one largely fostered
the friends of Young "Teddy"
boswell for his political advance
ent was effectively silenced by
eOsevelt's fiat refusal to accept the
estion Of National Chairman of the
egiOn after he had been enthusias-
Eally and unanimously elected to that
nee by the caucus. Mr.. Henry D..
lndsley, formerly Mayor of Dallas,
ezas, and at one time Director of the
ederal War Risk Insurance Bureau,
. elected National Chairman. A
eHslonal constitution for the Legion
= framed. Minneapolis was selected
the location Of the first annual
aventlon. The government of the
esion was left in the hands of an
sseatlye committee cf thirty-four.
e st. Louis caucus passed a resolu-
70 severely criticising and demand
an Investigation of the persons
spOnslble for the renting of pun
lnent due conscientious objectors"
y other "slackers" during the late
Dutlng the summer effective work
Z done by this committee in carry
y Y on the organization of the Legion
y us activities. Among the latter
- 'he establishment of a Speakers
lsaa to combat Bolshevism, and
-sr lorms Of unrest in this country,
employment Bureau to re-estab-
! M me returned service man in civil
me and a War Risk Bureau to
sA1 the ex-service man in straight
~ out the bewildering tangles OF
., etc. Os9'
"A July 4th, 1919, the first copy
erbe Ss American legion Weekly was
ss.i s.isled. This magazine is now the
IA IL. organ Of The American Legion
sss;. y weekly advent is eagerly
~ I'M 4 Oy over one million two hun
M slo1sand Subscribers.
~ ,iHhlle Nv all arrangements had
49,. u'aae Tor the constitutional con-
'sss5 - AZ Minneapolis which was con-
.;os "a November 10th, 1919. The
~ t-s Re made at this convention have
4 ia m n llkened ito a 1919 edition