The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-27
DESIRED TO SHARE
MEMORIES OF WAR
With HIS BUDD|ES
Had Part Honor of Drafting pre-
amble to Constitution of
Organization
RECOGNIZED AS GREAT TASK
First Call of Veterans in Jones'
Handwriting Preserved
by Members
RECOGNIZED AS GREAT TASK
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN

WASHINGTON. d. c., Jan. 27.-A
dozen years ago next month was be-
gun the digging of the trench into
which was to be laid only three
months later the sturdy foundation
of the American Legion. In February,
1919. e. Lester Jones. colonel in the
United States army and scientist Of
note, called a meeting of the Veterans
Of the World war to be held at the
Cosmos club in Washington. D c. a
man Of action as we'll as an idealist.
he saw the need of proper direction
of the energy and emotion called into
play by the wal and left suspended
as if in mid = air by the coming of
peace.
Like any other soldier who has eX-
pe~ienced the ups and downs Of life
at the battlefront and who has wit
messed the mingling of the sublime
and the ridiculous in the actions Of
men under fire. he wished to share
memories with his comrades by con
tinued association. However, Colonel
Jones had no idea OF encouraging a
kind of enduring Mardi Gras which
would punctuate the lives Of eX-sol-
diers with convivial occasions. His
own words bespeak the desire that he
and his associates everywhere might
have before them always the ideals
for which they fought. He vas aware
also that an organization OF the kind
he advocated might be a menace il
ignohly fpstered and he proposed that
the men who should be its members
.-;-l,+ Lr;,,y tn ~ fhpir par 1,nCt and
thoughtful cooperation.
On March 7, 1919. at the meeting
held in France known as the Paris
Caucus a name was selected for the
new organization and its future was
mapped out. It was during the fol-
loving month III the midwest OF the
United States that the foundation OF
the American Legion was securely
laid. The St. Louis caucus opened
on Nav 8 and before the meetlng adj
lourned the constitution of the LIE
gion was adopted.
Colonel Jones had a part in shap-
ine this document which sets forth
the and ideals Of the organ
ization formed by the men VINO
served with the American forces duf-
inc the World war. As head of the
delegation from Washington, D. c.,
he submitted a draft of a constitution
preamble which was incorporated
with the one drawn UP by a sub-com-
,nittee of the committee on constltu-
ton ard bylaws.
Thought For Future
With George N. Davis, Delaware.
Hamilton Fish, Jr., of New York. n
John G.. Greenway. Arizona, he shares
the honor of drafting the preamble
of the American Legion constitution.
This pledge which is the inspiration
of the Legion has received worldwide
appreciation because of it's ideallsm
and feasibility.
When Colonel Jones called g meet
ing of Great War veterans at the Cos
mos club in February. 1919. he APP
preciated the potentialities Of the Or
g~anization which his idealism and
Observation-Disclosures envisioned. The
request in his own handwriting that
he made for an Organization OF vet
Grams of the late war;" has been pre-
served.
In opening his address to the men
who came he said: Comrades, l
have asked you to gather here tonight
for the purpose of discussing the CUES
ton of beginning Or laying q founda-
ton for a national organization Of vet
Grams of the late war. I am not I'M
mindful Of the great undertaking
which I have the temerity 70 sug-
gest, on the contrary I am fully alive
to the stupendous task, and also the
Importance and seriousness Of the I'M
dertaking. I do feel very strongly
that we should bear in mind, first,
that whatever we do we must consid-
err our comrades who are still over
seas, and not overlook their coopera-
ton, but ask through proper chan
nelS that they too begin the work
from their end, and as soon there
after as possible representatives from
abroad and at home can get together,
compare notes, and then further pave
the way for a permanent Organlza-
ton. In the meantime we must be
cautious, most carefully and thought
fully so that none of our comrades,
wherever they are, can think that We
are creating an organization without
their counsel and cooperation. There
fore. I would suggest that we talk
the matter over frankly and thor
oughly, and my last thought-which
largely inspired me to call this meet
ing-is to e~ndeavor-if possible-to
prevent or ward off the creation Of
any organization, societies, or what
ever we might call them which might
seriously injure the perpetuaSion of
the ideals for which WE fought, and
to preserve the memories of Dur as
sociations in the Great War"
Realized Magnitude Of Step
When he signed with his initials
this rough draft of his greeting he
was aware that an organization which
could comprise such a large member
ship. and which should combine both
purpose and pleasure must not be
hastily or carelcssly proposed or Gre
STI(kfRS
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49, EBAW1 - ~ = - ME%fMEN. ~ ~ ~ L5F&N9