Seward daily gateway., 1923-09-20
F|RsE:CUN FIRED IN | ...|L LEGION PRi0eRA|M
 INTERPRETATION

VI nk
 The first gun of the Legion's Amer icanization program for Seward was fired today noon at a luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce. It was the largest gathering in the history of the organizat tion, the accommodations be- ing taxed to capacity. Chairman w.. H. Whittlesey presided and amongst the visitors from out of town were B. H. Barndollar, accountant for the gov ernment railroad at Anchorage, and M. o. Snodgrass, head of the agricul- tural station at Fairbanks.
 MT. A. E. Fucker, adjutant of the Seward Post of the American Legion, introduced the speaker, Captain s. N. Dancey, Americanization officer of the Legion. Capt. Dancey prefaced his re- marks with tribute to the magnifi- cent spirit he found in Anchorage, and the splendid response of the people of the northern town to the Americaniza- tion program.
 The speaker characterized the American Legion as the greatest or ganization in the United States, an or ganization, as he put it, Whose mem bers saved America in days of war; an organization whose members are destined to save America in days of peace; an organization that, if it means nothing else to you people of Seward, must symbolize the sacrifice that made possible the liberty and freedom you enjoy in this community, today"
 Americanization was heralded as the greatest problem before the peo- pie of America today. There were some who regarded it as problem confined, exclusively, to those of for eign birth, but Captain Dancey made it unmistakably plain that Americani- zation involved every man, woman and child living on American soil, be he native born or foreign born We, who are engaged in Americanization work, are convinced that, it is first necessary to Americanize our own Americans before we reach out to the so-called foreigners"
 ''There are some who say, The war is over; let Us forget the war Let me tell you that it is our very per sistent effort to forget the war and the sacrifice associated with that war, that is causing most of the trouble that we have in this world today. Rather than endeavor to forget the war, should we concentrate in a study of the magnificent object lessons the war taught, lessons in whose heed ing is wrapped up the peace of the world"
 Here, Captain Dancey launched into the story of the building of the Allied W cl 0tOl CS SOl1ISho- ed, holding world of inspiration for every American citizen. Emphasizing the great value of esprit de corps, or, as the world knows it, pride in your self. That, with morale, made the force of human endeavor The matter of having a three-fold confidence, in ones self, in your cause, and in your leaders, was stressed in a manner to make it's local application most effec- tive. The need of discipline, in the home, the church, the school, every department of life, was pointed out in manner that brought it home.
 There are some men," he declared, "who blush with shame when they are asked to show a spirit of discipline. Never blush with shame; step out in spirit of pride. Every time you show your discipline, you are proving your Americanism. Incidents were portrayed in an effort to show the dis aster that follows lack of discipline.
 Efficiency is another great need of the day. The story of Petain, at Yer dun, in 1916, gave this argument a TO- mantle touch. Loyalty was regarded as the foundation of all things. Capt Dancey told the story of Clemenceau. the Tiger of France" the man who placed his country first. "If America IS to succeed, as nation; if you peo pie of Seward are going to be of any service to America or the cause of hu- manlty or civilization, you are going to stand on one rock foundation where you realize that your Flag and your Country come first. Ii matters not how big we may be, or any move ment we may represent, remember that our Flag and our Country are bigger than both" he declared.
 Captain Dancey closed with stir ring tribute to those principles and deals in which is wrapped up real Americanism, service above self; hu- nanity above nationalism, and God tbove all. The American that rises