The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-07-10

tell of the work of one of the larg-
est organizations of women.
She told how in 1921 the Ameri-
can Legion Auxiliary had men,
bership of $4,000 persons, 36653
units. and today we boast of a
membership of 468 00o-9,0O0 units
and SO departments in as states and
territories which include Panama,
Hawaii. Alaska and British Column
bia On June 10th the Auxiliary
had reached the highest member
ship in its history and 1t is hoped
that the half million mark will be
reached by the Chicago convention.
In speaking of the rehabilitation
work she told how under the Hos
pital Social Service one million dis
abled veterans had been cared for
and like amount of underprivileged
children. The combined forces of
the Auxiliary, Legion, 8 and and
40 and 8 cared for two and half
million.
Mrs. Morris spoke of how the
youth activities were carried on
through the Sons of the Legion,
Juniors, Boys State and Girls Amer
lean Citizenship Club. How the
boys were taught, how the city and
state government were run by elect
ing their city officials, as we'll as
state. Speakers included the Gov
ernor, Judge of the Supreme Court
Mayor, and other high officials. The
boys going to this camp were sell
ected from groups from each city
and sent to the central camp for
one week. 1t is hoped that the same
will be instituted for the girls.
Mrs. Morris has already visited
40 departments and will have visit
ed all of them by the Chicago con-
vention except Hawaii which she
will be unable to visit.
A great many people were able
to hear her talk on National De-
Tense, which was given over K1NY
and in which she said
This is a very happy and in
teresting day for me here in Juneau
as the guest of the Alaska Depart
ment of the American Legion Aux
iliary. I am having the privilege
of coming to know better-the wo-
men who are leading the activi-
ties of this great woman's organi.
cation in Alaska and of learning
more of the work they are doing
To-day find the women here
as I have found them everywhere
my duties have taken me, through
out the United States, thinking
very seriously about the protection
of our American institutions of
freedom and the protection of our
country's peace. The march of au-
tocracy over vast portion of the
world and the return of force in
the affairs of nations, have awak-
ened American womanhood to dan
gers facing our country. AS the
nations largest patriotic organiza-
ton of women-the American Lee
gion Auxiliary has a heavy respon-
sibility in the leadership of women's
efforts to help avert these dan
gers.
I'VE are convinced, and world
history supports our conviction
that freedom can be maintained
only by a people worthy of free
dom. Eternal vigilance has ever
been the price of liberty. People
grown Indifferent to government
and absorbed in selfish pursuits,
have always found their govern
ment transformed into an oppres-
sive dictatorship. People grown too
soft and weak to defend their coun-
try, have always been the victims
of aggression and war.
America must be guarded against
these possibilities. Today, we see
our freedom attacked from within
by invaders from abroad, our form
of government denounced, and pro-
paganda spread to weaken the faith
of Americans in their established
institutions Efforts are made to
divide Americans into hostile groups
to create enmity between the poor
and the well-to-do, between those |
of different races, and those of diff
ferent religion. These things are
In America, the land of
traditional tolerance for all, and of
open opportunity for. all. Unlike
other islms, Americanism Is oppor-
tunity, opportunity by which each
shall freely speak, shall |
freely grow and shall freely advance
Our nation has developed, flourish
ed and grown strong, has vanquish-
ed her foes, and found the answer
to intricate problems, under the
aegis of Old Glory, representing the
ideals of Americanism, and Ameri-
cans will do well to cherish them,
lest we throw away a priceless her
itage, which once los team never be
regained. We must bring an end |
to other isrns in America whatever
they are called. Communism, Ma
ziism, Fascism, or any other name,
or they will bring an end to the
America we know and love.
The strongest means of defense
against these foreign isrns Is edu-
cation. Is there an American who
really understands the provisions
of the Constitution Of tho IInifad n