The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-12-06
TELLS WHY The
LEGION EXISTS
Villas III. Whaley, State
Legion Commander, Here
Last Night.
SERVICE, THE REASON

Matthews Mems club and the Legion
men at Guild hall last night on Why
the American Legion.
"You men are organizing campaign
for new members" the commander
said. "You are going into the shops,
into the offices and into the homes of
Kenosha, for that is where you will
find the men of II and 18-for they are
cross section of the nations man
hood The high, the low, the rich, the
poor.
81 am told that the heads of your
factories and industries have planned
to make a survey of the men in their
various shops and plants who are
eligible.
Ashamed of the Flag?
Il wonder if there is man in Ke-
nosha who is ashamed of the flag he
followed on the battlefields of France,
who is ashamed of the uniform he
wore? No, | don't think you can find
him.
"The Legion is organized to per-
petuate' the memory of the men who
fell in battle, the men who went
west" and to lend the hand of those
who came back with the empty sleeve,
the sightless eyes, or the brain which
has gone out.
in Appleton few weeks ago they
were holding a drive for the Legion.
There was only one man who refused
to join. For days his old buddies kept
after him to come in. At last word of
it came to the superintendent of the
factory where the boy worked and he
called him to the office and asked him
if he wouldn't join. The lad fatty re-
fused
"When you were in the trenches
after charge over the top, and your
pal lay wounded out by the barbed wire,
or your buddy, wounded out in No
Mans Land, cried for water, did you
went after him at the risk of your
life, for l know your record" the
superintendent said.
"Get Your Time"
''Now you go down to the Office and
get your time. The Legion means moth
ing to me, but there might come a
time here in this factory when / would
need loyal men, men who could stick
to me, and if you won't stick to your
buddies, with whom you fought, march
ed and slept in France, then | can't
depend on your loyal support here."
ts'The man got his time and left
Three days later he came back to the
superintendent office. Il have Joined
the Legin,p he said. Your talk show
ed me the proposition in new light.
But / am not coming back to tell you
this because / want my job back--you
can't get me back But | am sticking
to my buddies, and ] am behind those
who came back 'blighty, l didn't real
ize that the purpose of the Legion was
to help those who came back shot-up
and crippled.
''That man, like some others hadn't
gotten Strengthened out on the purpose
of the Legion. He didn't realize that
its purpose is primarily one of serv-
ice to the man who got the worst of it,
and to bring a ray Of light into the
homes that werea darkened in IT and
10. That is Why the Legion.
Building Greatest Organization.
Here in Wisconsin we are attempt
ing to build the greatest Legion organ
ization in the Nation. At the last con-
vention held in California, first honors
went to a Wisconsin Drum Corps, and
first and second honors went to Wis
consin bands. Wisconsin sent an entire
train carrying $50 people to the con-
vention, $50 Of them musicians. The
railroad fare alone for that company,
IL IL.
ran over $4,000.
Il tell you business men that the
state of Wisconsin has gotten some of
the best advertising through the Leg
ion. Right here in Kenosha, you men
are organizing a band which will
spread Kenosha's fame in the right
way. Two years ago Racine organized
her drum corps, and when it went
south, it was accorded welcome
which spread Racine's fame broadcast.
Your Legion post here has men of
strength and character and you are
building on firm foundation.
Don't forget the families of those
who didn't come back. You boys drop
in those homes occasionally, for those
families need you Don't let them think
their sons died on cold affairs. Be true
to your comrades in arms. Back of your
Legion band there is a real reason
that is Why the Legion"
Band Gives Concert.
The Legion band was on the stage
of the hall when the men came up
from supper. AS the room filed it
swung into several of the popular airs.
After the Legion altar had been draped
with the flag the men stood at salute
while the national anthem was play
ed. After Commander Whaley finished
speaking, several additional numbers
were played
George Whyte, president of the
Mems club introduced his son, Jessel,
commander of the Kenosha post, who
presented the speaker of the evening.