Evening star., 1929-04-14

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occurred last Tuesday morning, 1t was
declared by Legion officers, removed
from the ranks of this veteran organ1-
Zation another outstanding Legionnaire,
whose activities and sacrifices will live
long in the memory Of those who were
associated with him in laying the
foundation of the American Legion.
It was his idea that the comradeship
and sacrifices made by those who par
ticipated in the World War should per-
petuate those memories in the shape
of q national veteran organization, ana
on February 5, 1919, a small group was
called together by him ct the Cosmos
Club in this city and plans discussed.
A call was sent out for caucus to be
held on March 2, 1919, in the assem-
bly, hall of the same club, and S75 vet
erans responded and participated in
the activities of the meeting. In view
Of the fact that q large number OF
veterans were still overseas, 1t was de-
cided not to form any permanent or
ganization, but to organize the flrSt
unit and elect officers, which was done.
E. Lester Jones, who served as colonel
in the first Army Air Service, was elect
ed the first commander, and, at the re-
quest of the unit which was called
Gen. Pershing Post, No. l, ne sent
the following cablegram to Gen. PERISH
ing: 81 have the honor to inform you
that on March 7 the first vevteran
post of the World War was organized
in the Nations Capital, which was
unanimously named Gen. PerShing
Post. No. /. Delegates were named to
confer with representatives from our
forces overseas, looking toward early
formation of national organization"
On March Is, eight days after the
caucus in. the Cosmos Club. a caucus
was held in Paris, France, and the
name american Legion" tentatively
adopted. A committee representing
those overseas came to this country
and joined a like committee and plans
were formulated for holding a caucus
at st. Louis. Mo-, May 8, 8 and 10, 1919.
Col. Jones headed the delegation from
the District to the st. Louis caucus.
At this caucus there was adopted,
among other things, the preamble to the
constitution of the American Legion,
the groundwork for which Col. Jones
drafted and submitted to the conven-
ton through the District delegation. A
comparison of his original manuscript
with the present preamble shows how
his original ideas were embodied in the
preamble and finally adopted. Follow
ing the return from overseas OF the
major portion of those comprising the
A. E. F. the first national convention
was held in Minneapolis, Mimi, Novem-
ber 10. II, and IL, 1919, where the pre-
amble and constitution was permanent
IL adopted. Col. Jones was chairman OF
the District delegation to this conven-
ton also.
At the st. Louis caucus authority was
granted the District to form depart
ment and at a largely attended meeting
in the Central High School Col. Jones
was, on May 19, 1919, at that meeting
unanimously elected the first depart
ment commander in the history OF the
American Legion. George washington
Post holds charter No. in the nation
al organization and the Department OF
the District Of Columbia department
charter No. /, due largely to the efforts
Of Col. Jones. Up to the time OF his
death he continued his activities in the
Legion and his death will be keenly felt
by his associates In this veteran organ
tZation.
The death Of Col. Jones marks the
first break in the line OF department.
commanders since the organization OF
the local department. The American
Legion turned out to attend his funeral
last Thursday In Arlington National
Cemetery, where he was buried with
military honors.
A special American Legion escort
the remains from his late
residence to his final resting place, COM
posed Of Department Comdr. Harlan
Wood, Past Department Comdrs. James
A. Drain, John Lewis Smith, Paul ].
Watson B. Miller, Frank L.
Peckham, julius I. PeySer, Amos A.
Fries and ]. Miller Kenyon and Depart
ment Adjt. Howard S. Fisk, who served
as adiutant to Col. Jones when he was
commander of Gen. Pershing Post and
afterwards department commander.
In the Kentucky Derby membership
the Department of the District OF Co
luYnbia continues to hold first place, with
an average percentage Of the American
Legion and American Legion Auxiliary
ment of Hawaii winner of the Henry d.
centage of 1928. The Department Of
wyoming Is third, with 92.70; Mississip-
pi Department fourth, $3.50, and the
Department Of Panama fifth, with 87.85.
Frank E. Samuel assistant national
adjutant, has advised Department
Comdr. Harlan Wood that in the Ken
lucky Derby membership race both
cards and dues must actu-
ally be In hand at national headquar-
terS in Indianapolis on Saturday, May
18, at 2 O'Clock, which is the closing
time for the event This will enable ma
tional headquarters to announce the
winner of this event simultaneously
with the actual running of the fifty
fifth annual Kentucky Derby in Louis
vile on the afternoon of May 18. With
in a few hours after the time set final
results of the contests will be sent
throughout the country to every depart
ment. This also applies to the Kentucky
sweepstakes as well.
In the department race Victory Post
Is leading the field with a percentage Of
112, with the Bureau of Engraving Post
second with 80, Vincent B. Costello
Post, third, with 70 per cent: James Il.
Walker Post, fourth, rs per cent, and
Kenneth II. Nash, nth, with "a per
cent.
In the field Of American Legion AUX"
tIiary units in the District Vincent B.
Costello, George e. Killeen and Kenneth
H. Nash are each SO per cent paid UP
and tieing for first honors, with Henry
C.. Spengler unit 40 per cent and James
Reese Europe fifth with 80 per cent.
Henry C. Spengler unit OF the Ameri-
can Legion Auxiliary has extended In
vitations to delegates to the d. A. r.
Congress to attend testimonial recep-
tion tomorrow from to 6 o'clock at
the Rochambeaut, 815 Connecticut ave-
nue., exemplifying the resolution adopted
by the American Legion Auxiliary ma
tional executive committee extending to
Mrs. Lowell Fletcher Hobart, first ma
tional president, success for the office OF
president general of the D. A. r. Mrs.
Amos A. Fries is president of the unit.
The following are hostesses: Mrs. Wiz
liam Wolff Smith, representing the
American Legion Auxiliary; Mrs. Charles
C. Kearns, Ohio State Society, and Mrs.
Dorothy B. Harper, the Eight ct
Forty"
At the last meeting Of Jane A. Delano
Post Senior Vice Comdr. Woodzell pre-.
sidad in the absence of COmdr, HUM