Evening star., 1929-06-30
Veterans of Great War

/ ment, has yielded to the last position in
| the big parade, but takes its earned po-
sition in the convention hall and hous-
| ing assignments. BY yielding fifth po-
sition in the parade the Department OF
Alabama moves up from sixth place to
that to which Kentucky Is entitled.
Even though the Department of the
District of Columbia finished in second
place there is every prospect that 1t will
lead the parade, as the Hawaiian Islands
may not send delegation to the con-
vention by reason of the long distance
| to be covered.
National headquarters advises that ''tt
| is obvious that there may be delayed
mail from departments in this country
bearing the proper post mark, June 10,
and that we will not have the final
mail from our farthest outlying depart
ments for several weeks. While posi-
tions will likely change very little, the
final and definite results cannot be an
nounced with accuracy until the latter
part of July" In this connection the
Department of the District of Columbia
has not only passed its 1928 paid-up
membership, but also the quota allo-
Gated to this department for the current
year.
Dan Sewers, national director, Ameri-
icanism Commission, has advised De-
partment Comdr. Harlan Wood that the
organization work of the 1929 Junior
base ball program is now practically
completed. In speaking of the work
Chairman Sewers has this to say:
THE Legion has done fine job on
this great activity. The movement has
been organized in every State in the
Union and the boys in thousands of
communities have been given an oppor-
tunity to get into this big citizen-build-
ing sport. Now it remains for US to
carry through with the activity. to carry
it out in a real spirit of craftsmanship
and to drive home the great lessons of
Americanism which the activity holds
for the youngsters.
The successful organization of the
junior base ball program this year is
due to the enthusiastic work of many
thousands of Legionnaires in the diff
ferent departments and posts. The
department athletic officers have car
ried the burden of their departments,
formulating the department rules,
stimulating the organization of teams
and planning for the District and de-
partment tournaments. The District
athletic officers have done similar work
in their. districts, and the Legionnaires
in charge of the junior base ball ac-
tivities of the local posts have done the
actual field work of organizing the
teams and starting the local competi-
ton. A fine job has been done all
along the line.
Public support for junior base ball
has been very generous and widespread
this year. The success of the activity
last year. and the wide publicity which
it gained naturally resulted in an en-
| larged public interest this year, but the
continued endeavors of the leaders in
rkV M m
movement before the public have been
necessary to bring the support that is
being received. None of the Legion's
activities have a more general appeal
| than Junior base ball, and this Will be
| increased if the activity becomes more
of an established institution.
Now that we have the boys enrolled
the teams formed and competition
started we have half the battle won
| Our work now is to keep the boys play.
| ing and the program moving forward
steadily through the local, District ano
| State competitions to the regional and
sectional tournaments and the junior
world series.
/ For the real success Of the program
| the teaching of Americanism, the re-
| sponsibility rests on the men who are
actually leading the teams and adult
managers. They should be real Ameri.
cans themselves, men who en1booy tht
best qualities of Americans and who
can be an example to the boys. Ir
their contacts with the boys they have
| an opportunity to plant ideals anc
principles in the minds of the youngster'
!, which. win stay there throughout life
I This can be done without any conscious
teaching or preaching, but by merely
being constant example of good
sportsman and good citizen and al
ways holding the highest ideals Of