Evening star., 1926-04-18
American Legion.

A meeting of Lafayette Post, No. 8.
was held at the American Legion
headquarters of the District of Co
lumbia, Friday evening. Six new
members were admitted to member
ship. Comdr. Bartl appointed the fol
lowing committee, Messrs. Wilson
Lubn and Peters, to investigate the
advisability of organizing a ladies
auxiliary in order that the wives and
daughters of members of the post
could take advantage CT the trip to
Paris next year.
The post discussed at length the
present condition Of the legion in the
District, during which it was pointed
out that despite it has been In exist
ence for seven years, II has been a
failure. The fact that Col. James A.
Drain, former national commander.
and Capt. Watson b. Miller, chairman
of the national rehabilitation commit
tee. are members of the District OF
Columbia division was pointed out as
evidence of the good qualities OF the
local division.
It was decided to send suggestions
10 the department executive commit
tee for consideration. They are as
follows: Appoint a committee of nve
members of this department to go
before the next national convention
and request that the District of Co
lumbia be given three department
charters, one Of which will consist
of a department composed OF white
male veterans of the World War, and
which department shall consist OF not
more than four duly organized posts;
one depa rtment shall consist OF white
females eligible for membership to the
American Legion, and the number of
posts in that department be limited TO
four posts; one department which
shall consist of colored World War
Veterans and that department shall
consist of not moro than four posts.
In the event of there being enough
colored females eligible to membership
in the American Legion and residing
in the District of Columbia. they will
be given the privilege of applying for
a department charter under like con-
ditions."
In this connection it was pointed
out: This plan will consolidate the
activities Of the % posts of this de-
partment and lead to a more concen-
trated effort to accomplish something
worth while. If this consolidation of
the varied interests of the Is posts
would be reduced to three unit heads,
we think we could, by concentrated
action, secure a State building in
which all three units could have sepa-
rate headquarters in one building.
We believe that the civic pride of our
District Commissioners would induce
them to make a liberal donation to-
ward a permanent building for the
American Legion and that Congress
would be more liberal providing SIN
cere and united effort would be made
by the three units mentioned above.
1.-THE three-department plan would
obviate the friction that develope at
every State convention over the
proper recognition Of the colored sol
diers.
THE three-department plan would
relieve the white female posts from
overwork at any departmental affair,
in which they are rewarded by the
election of one of their members to
the position of second or third vice
commander"
A petition was also sent to the COM
mittee urging that steps be taken to
have the Pension Office Building main
tained 'as a memorial to the valor,
fidelity and fighting qualities of the
American soldier. Have a governing
board appointed composed Of five mill
tary men to be selected from five of
the principal military organizations,
allow all American military organiza-
tfonS to have suitable headquarters
in the building. and use the grand
court for conventions, balls or festiv-
tiles of any kind, the use for which
must be approved by the governing
board.