Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-14

March Z. There was an attendance of
LOO veterans at this organizing meet
ing and full organization was formed,
under the title of the John j. Pershing
Post" This was one week before a
similar meeting March 15) was held in
Paris, engineered largely by Col Theo-
dore Roosevelt, jr The principles still
maintained were fully expressed in the
original preamble written by Col. Jones
and his pioneer associates.
Months later, a national meeting was
held in st. Louis. where. after some dis
cussion, it was decided that no post
should use the name of any living per-
son and SO the name of the pioneer post
was changed from John j. PerShing
Post" to George Washington Post, No.
l." and the first post charter was then
issued under that revised name and
came to the National Capital.
Il X X X
While the national headquarters; of
the Legion are in Indianapolis, the
pivotal point of legislation bearing upon
the vital interests of veterans is in Con-
gress and of relief administration in
the Veterans Bureau, the director of
which, Gen. Frank T. Hines, is also a
member of the pioneer post. Here is
Vic CCIltCI "a dCbIN1ty III Liz 4dWo
such as the veterans preference law,
developed especially by Comdr. Wood,
who has been making a study of civil
service in connection with preferential
ratings for those who served in the
war.
All veterans legislation is under the
direct guidance of Lieut. Col. John
Thomas Taylor, vice chairman of the
legislative committee of the American
Legion, who devotes his whole time to
the cause of legislative interests Of the
veterans and keeps in touch with Con-
gress and the departments of Govern
ment, cooperating with other patriotic
organizations in such matters as con-
Germ not merely veterans as such, but
all patriotic interests.
For example, at present the whole
force of the American Legion, together
with other reStrictionistS, is supporting
the national origins" law for immi-
grafton restriction, to foster and per-
petuate a 100 per cent Americanism."
With Col. Taylor and his staff on
guard it has been impossible for alien
influences to miSrepresent the Legion'S
position in protecting America from an
overflow of undesirable aliens, regard
less of political partisan bias and n.y.
phenated interests.
Under the direction of Col. Taylor the
influence of the 100000 LegionnaireS
was expressed in support of both the
Kellogg nultilateral treaty outlawing
war as national policy throughout civ
ilization and the cruiser bill making for
national preparedness of defense.
While the Legion is anti-militariStic
it Is emphatic in support of national
preparedness for defense and watchful-
ness against subversive activities jeop-
ardizing the Nation.
X X X
Another branch of Legion work CEN
tering in Washington is the rehabilita-
ton committee, of which Maj. Watson
B. Miller is chairman. This work Is in
the years go by and veterans succumb
to their disabilities. The committee
maintains an organization in the Bond
Building, which acts as liaison between
individual veterans and the Veterans
Bureau, advising the claimants of their
legal rights, pushing their just claims
before the Veterans Bureau and seeing
to the proper disqualification in hun
dreds of cases every month.
While the Veterans Bureau is de-
centralized, with hospitals in various
parts of the country. the headquarters
remain in Washington, and to this city
come thousands of claimants despairing
Of more relief and justice. The reha-
Utilization committee secures the neces-
sary evidence or advises the veteran
what steps to take.
Through the combined efforts of all
departments of the Legion, the insur-
ance law for veterans Is now being
amended, and will reopen and extend
the term for veterans life insurance ap-
plications, so that those who desire in
creased insurance, or even veterans who
have not yet applied for any of the
Government insurance, will still be able
to do so after next week. The legal and
rehabilitation departments of the Legion
na.n 4 4.