The border vidette., 1930-08-30
NATIONAL COMMANDS BOOeN-
HAMER ADDRESSES LEGION

The splendid achievements of
the American Legion in legisla
ton on behalf of the disabled, j,
and in the Legion's program of
service this year, we're due in
large measure to early support
which the record mem bership
gave the organization last fall
and winter, O. L.. Bodephamer,
national commander, said here
Monday, when be spoke at the
annual convention of the Depart
ment of Arizona. plans are
underway now to continue this
policy of early enrolment" be
said, "aud l hope to see every
1880 member re- enlist for the
Legion's 1881 program by the
end of American Legion Week,
Armistice Day, November H."
The address, in part, follows:
To-day The American Legion
stands at it's highest peak in
mem bership. The preceding
high total of more than 845, 900
in 1920 was surpassed on July
21. At the start of my admins
tration all the forces of the LIE
| gion were coordinated in mem
oership work, 10 order to ges
that problem out of the way as
quickly as possible, so that un
divided attention could be given
to the Legion's program of ser.
vice.
I'VE are close enough to the
end of the Legion year to recog
nize the fact that this early
membership last year strengthen
ed the Legion in it's efforts for
Legislation on behalf of the dis
abled, and in its varied program
of service to community, state
and nation. Plans are under
way now for a continuance of
that policy of early enrolment
of 1880 members for the 1881
work of the Legion, and [ hope
to see this accomplished by Ar
mistice Day, the end of Ameri-
can Legion Week, which has
been designated for this effort. !"
| Reviewing the legislative
achievements in the session of
congress which adjourned July
| 3, the national commander said,
in part:
The first legislative proposal
of The American Legion was
enacted into law during the clos
ing days of December. 1929.
This was the Rogers Hospital
Bill which authorized an appro.
priation of more than fifteen mil
lions of dollars for hospital con.
struction, thus providing for the
building of some forty five hun
dred beds. Never before in the
history of soldier legislation has
q measure of such Importance
been pushed to such a prompt
conclusion at the beginning of a
legislative session. 1t was in
deed a splendid Chistmas gift for
our disabled men.
Based upon the recomenda
tions of the Louisville conven
tion, there is needed an addition
al appropriation to provide for
the construction of some forty
five hundred more beds in order
to take care of the waiting list
of disabled men. The Legion
has bills before congress for
this constr truction, and they
should be enacted into law if
these disabled men are to receive
the hospital treatment from
the federal government for
which they fought and in whose
behalf they became disabled"
The national commander an
nounced the Legion's policy re
garding future hospital construc
ton, as follows:
In view of the unfair neglect
of the disa bled, and in view of
the fact that it is poor economy
for the government to wait until
au acute situation confronts it,
the Legion favors a hospital
policy which contemplates a go
vernment agency to anticipate
the need. and to provide facili.
ties at any future date, as in 19.
35, 1910 or 1915, in order that q
man can get just and fair care in
time, perhaps, to give him q
fighting chance for recovery"
! Mr.. Bodenhamer asked all
veterans to urge their comrades
who have not yet applied for the
benefits of the adjusted compen
sation act to do so at once.
The closing date for appli-
cants was fixed as January. 9,