The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-07-09
COOLIDGE HEARS
OF LEGION PLANS
Legion Head Tells Coolidge
Kenosha VIII Observe
Defense Day.
MANY TO BE IN LINE
Organization Report Enthu-
siasm for Legion Plan in
a Monster Parade.

That Kenosha is still in accord with
executive and war department procla-
nations urging the nation to observe
Defense Day, is indicated today in a
message sent to President Coolidge
by Elmer G. Rhenstrom, commander
of Kenosha Post 81, American Legion.
He announced his intention of carry
ing out the Legion's plans for gil
gantic muster and parade in the
morning and the patriotic program
and celebration in the evening in
spite of Governor Blaine's edict that
the state would not take part in any
such federal observance.
The message to the president reads
rs follows:
Hon. Calvin Coolidge,
President of the United States,
Washington, D. c.
The Kenosha post of the American
Legion, department of Wisconsin, IS
heartily in accord with the spirit and
purposes of the observance of Defense
Day as announced in executive and
war department proclamations, and
depIores the action of our governor
in repudiating Defense Day tests in
this state.
The American Legion here is spon-
soring an extensive Defense Day
muster and parade in connection with
the patriotic program for the day.
Elmer G. Rhensrtom,
Commander, Kenosha Post No. Fl,
The American Legion.
A report of the days activities will
be sent to the war department to-
gether with messages from all other
communities and cities taking part in
the muster and these will detail what
has been done in the nation. 1t is
expected that Kenosha's part will be
among the most significant considering
the handicaps the Legion here is over
coming in staging the observance.
Get All Interested In Parade.
Commander Elmer Rhenstrom, Of
the American Legion post here, to-
day announced that he was sending
individual invitations to the organ
izations in the city, asking them to
cooperate with the American Legion
in staging the Defense Day parade
here and in taking part in the festivi-
ties of that day. Several of these
organizations have already signified
their intentions of being in the
parade in body, and others are yet
to be heard from iris afternoon.
Acceptances of the Legion's invita-
tions have already come from the
Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the
Nurses association, the Moose drill
team, the Ladies Marching club of the
Eagles the Mems Marching club of
the Eagles, the Eagles Drum and
Bugle corps, and the Eagles Wiscon-
sin State championship drill team, the
American Legion band of 20 pieces,
and the entire membership of the
American Legion-close to five hun
dred strong. Rhenstorm Is making a
special effort to reach every Legion
naire, every ex-service man, all C. M.
T. G. students, and as many of the en-
listed reserve corps men as can get
into line, so that all of these may be
in the line.
The invitation has also been ex-
tended to the Fred S. Lowell Post,
G. A. R., the Spanish War Veterans,
the Italian-American society and its
famous drill team, the Italian boys
band and drill teams, the Modern
Woodmen team, the Elks' Marching
club, the Knights of Columbus, a
squadron of police, the Polish Boys
band and other similar organizations.
Acceptance by these waits upon hur-
riedly called meetings of special COM
mittees and officers of these various
units Tor consideration of the invita-
tion.
Present plans call for the gigantic
parade to assemble at Market Square
and the side streets leading into the
square at nine-thirty o'clock Saturday
morning and the parade starting
promptly at ten o'clock, to continue
in its line of march until noon when
it will disband after march through
the downtown district and the hub
of the west side.
Any organizations that are ready to
volunteer to join in the parade are
urged to get in touch with the Ameri-
can Legion headquarters and there
they will be given place in line.
Celebrate Over the Air Too.
Information received in Kenosha to-
day from the war department. at
Washington gave out details of the
elaborate preparations that are being
made from Washington for celebrat-
ing the occasion of National Defense
Day over the air. A nationwide
broadcasting program will form part
of the national program. The Vice
president of the United States; the
acting secretary of war, Honorable
Dwight F. Davis; General John J..
Pershing; the chief of staff, Major
General John L. Hines, w. S. Clifford,
president of the American Telephone
and Telegraph company; and Major
General Charles Mex. Saltzma
chief signal officer of the army-all
these will take part. They will broad
cast from some twenty different
broadcasting stations for one and a
half hours beginning at ten o'clock
Kenosha time. The Chicago station