Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
FIRST LEGION POST
NOTES FOUNDING
Senator Truman Tells Unit
World Knows U. S. to
Fight for Rights.

THE world knows that we can mo-
bilize, that we can and will fight for
our rights, In spite Of q small and
vociferous pacifist group" Senator
Truman Of Missouri last night told
members OF George Washington Post,
No. l, celebrating the organization of
the first post in the American Legion,
at the Club Admiral.
We fought for liberty and honor,
just as we always have and just as we
always shall when occasion demands
1t. hope that we shall never have to
tight again, and the best way to keep
from 1t is to be adequately prepared
for all contingencies"
Senator Truman, who attended the
Paris caucus March IS, 1919, paid
tribute to the late Col E. Lester Jones,
one Of the founders of the American
Legion, who was the first post COM
mander Of George Washington Post
and the first. department commander
in the national organization.
Senator Truman was requested by
Senator Clark to take his place as
guest speaker. owing to being confined
by illness at his home.
Message Sent to Pershing.
Comdr. John F. Dull acted as master
OF ceremonies and lauded the work i
Col. Jones. who was confronted with
many handicaps in founding the vet
eran organization. Past Comdr. WAL
lace Streater presented a telegram
which was sent to Gen. John J..
Pershing, charter member Of the
post. who is recovering at Tucson,
Ariz. The post extended wishes for
his speedy recovery and many years of
continued health and usefulness to his
country.
Representative Gearhart Of Cali
fornia, a past department commander
of California, stressed the wish of all
veterans to avoid another great con-
f1ict and referred to the disabled men
as the result Of the World War. He
made a strong appeal for peace and
urged the post to back his bill de-
claring Armistice Day a national holi-
day.
History of Post Related.
Past Comdr. Howard S. Fisk, the
first post adjutant and the first de-
partment adjutant in the American
Legion, related briefly the organization
OF the post on March Z, 1919. in the
Cosmos Club, and of events that fol-
lowed. With L. Clarkson Hines, who
later addressed the meeting, they we're
the only two members OF the is sign
ers Of the application for the post
charter present last night.
Gen. Amos A. Fries, past department
commander and member of the post,
told Of the cooperative and instructive
work being accomplished in the public
schools by the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation, under the auspices of the
American Legion. Other speakers OF
the evening included Gen. Albert L.
Cox. president Of the District of CO.
lumbia Chapter Of the Military Order
Of the World War: Past Dept. Comdr.
Benjamin S. Fisher of Oregon, Vice
Comdr Jane Cox of the District of
Columbia Department. John Thomas
Taylor. national legislative director
Of the American Legion; w. S. Slocum
OF the Department of Maine. Mrs. E.
P. Ellis. president Of the George Bald
win Mccoy Unit of the American
Women's Legion; Harold K. Phillips,
former publicity representative of the
Legion: Past Comdr. J. J. Murphy
and Gist Blair, a charter member Of
the post.
At the conclusion Of the program
Dept. Vice Comdr. Fred Money cut q
large birthday cake with a cavalry
saber as signal for refreshments
and dancing.