The Wrangell sentinel., 1924-04-03
AS;'%Sfican AS%Sfii { Q Legion tcopy for This Department Supplied by the
 American Legion News Servics.)
JUST WHERE LEGION STANDS
Influence of Organization Not on De- cline, Asserts Douglas County
 (Neb.) Lsslonnalre.

1 The lnnuence or the American Le- zion Is on the wane, ayers a core spondent of western newspaper. dis cussing the decline in membership of this organization since the peak years of 1920 and 1921
 Following the war, the Legion was recognized as a powerful force, par ticularly in politics, national. state and community" points out the core spondent. To-day, the Legion Is not discussed much"
 It is our humble opinion that one or two things Is the matter with this correspondent, says the Douglas coun- ty (Neb.) Legionnaire. Either he is not we'll informed on the status of the American Legion with the home folks" or else he is using his ham mer" with the apparent intent to be- little Americas largest and strongest 1 organization of veterans
 The American Legion is not to be measured by mere numbers.
 The spirit of service, the spirit of fellowship, the spirit of self-sacrifice for their needy buddies, the spirit of loyalty to their country and its insti- tutions-these are few of the things by which the Legion should be meas ured.
 The accomplishments of the Legion | in the field of service are a refutation of the charge that the Legion's influ- ence Is wandering. For without the confidence of America, without the support and cooperation of its citi- zens, the Legion would be unable to carry on it's program of service-a pro gram which has been SO successful and so unselfish that the organization con- mandS the respect and admiration of every right-minded person in the land.
 America looks to the American Le- zion as the organization which speaks for the 100000 brave men and wom- en who fought the nations battles in ! the greatest war of all time. Either by active or passive consent practical ly all of the service men and women of America recognize the aims of the Legion it's principles and Its program as their own.
 When the American Legion speaks, 1t Is the voice of Americas war vet erans.
 So long as the Legion maintains its present high ideals. its present lofty conception of the organizations duty to its country and to its buddies, the voice of the Legion will be needed.
 Membership in the organization of- fers little to the individual, but the | right to help shoulder a burden, the right to help carry a buddys pack that buddy, who, because of the war, is unable to meet the economic con ditions of the day.
 No luxurious club rooms, no benefits of any sort are offered tp the men and women who unselflshly join hands through the American Legion to per petuate the fellowships of the battle field. the camp and the training ship. Yet it is our humble opinion that the Legion, whenever 1t makes up its mind that It wants to- can go out and increase it's membership nationally to the million mark.
 The people of America have faith in the American Legion. That their
 
 proved by the Legion's unsefsh de yotion to the principles of American ism and service, service for the most part extended to nonmembers of the organization.
 The Legion may not be discussed much in the particular circle in which the correspondent of the newspaper | travels.
 But when the home folks" think of the service man, they think of the Legion They have come to look upon the Legion as the mouthpiece of the l nations defenders.
 There Is little to back up the state ment that the Legion is losing infiu- ence.
 Today the Legion stands as the au- thor of practically all of the legisla- tion pertaining to the veterans of the World war. Most of the early objec- ti