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History of the |
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CHAPTER ELEVEN |
(126) The Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion was established by an act of the First National Convention of the American Legion, held at Minneapolis, Minn., November 10-12, 1919. Prior to this meeting, the temporary national organization of the Legion had received many requests for recognition from representatives of several women's organizations. These officers felt that they were not sufficiently empowered to grant such recognition to an auxiliary, and suggested that the representatives appear before the first national convention.
When the first convention was held, a committee was appointed to consider the feasibility of such an auxiliary. It was decided that the best way to secure an efficient, affiliated women's organization was to build one. It was more or less difficult to recognize an organization already established and it was felt by many that such a procedure might embarrass the Legion eventually. Then, too, there were several groups desiring affiliation, and to accept one, would cause more or less ill feeling on the part of the others. At this time, the convention recognized in entirely new organization to be known as "The Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion."
At the time of the Second National Convention, held at Cleveland, Ohio, on September 27-29, (127) 1920, there were 1,342 units of the Auxiliary throughout the United States. No department organization had as yet been perfected. At this convention it was decided that an intensive organizing policy should be pursued, and efforts made to get department organizations in every state. Over 11,000 women had already joined the Auxiliary, and it was felt that it was a splendid help to the American Legion in carrying out its great program. This convention also authorized the National Commander of the Legion to call a convention when the proper number of departments had effected organizations. During the period between the second Legion convention and the first National Auxiliary meeting at Kansas City the following year, over 3,653 units were chartered and 131,000 members enrolled.
The first Auxiliary convention was held at Kansas City, Mo., on November 1, 2, 1921. Upon a roll call it was found that there were department organizations in forty-two states and several in insular possessions of the United States. At this meeting a national constitution was adopted, national officers elected, and the name changed to "American Legion Auxiliary." From this time the destiny of the organization was in the hands of its own officers.
Early in 1920, efforts were first made to organize Auxiliary units in Nebraska. The National Executive Committee of the American Legion advised the Department Officers of the Nebraska Legion that such authority had been granted. (128) Commander Cline immediately arranged to charter units as fast as they were organized, and on August 11, 1920, shortly before the Second Annual State Convention of the Nebraska Legion, thirty-three units had been organized in the department, and nearly a thousand members enrolled.
Among the first units to get under way were Scottsbluff, Wilber, Hartington, Fremont and York. It seems that the York women were the first to take up the work, but they did not file their application at State Headquarters until after several others had come to hand. According to the records in the department archives, the first fifteen applications for units received at State Headquarters are as follows:
These applications were sent by the acting presidents as shown below.
Scottsbluff, on Jan. 29, 1920, by Mrs. Jerome H. Smith; Wilber, Jan. 29, 1920, by Mrs. Fred Shimerda; Hartington, Jan. 29, 1920, by Mrs. Lucien Stark; Lewellen, Jan. 29, 1920, by Arvilla Temple; Clay Center, Jan. 29, 1920, by Florence N. Secord; Ogallala, Feb. 9, 1920, by the American Legion; Fremont, Feb. 10, 1920, by Mrs. Henry A. Jess; Bridgeport, Feb. 10, 1920, by Mrs. Irene Neighbors; Plattsmouth, Feb. 14, 1920, by Mrs. H. J. Heneger; York,. Feb. 16, 1920, by Imogene Thomas; Merna, Feb. 24, 1920, by Bernice Douney; Seward, Mar. 3, 1920, by Mrs. J. A. Gillan; Broken Bow, Mar. 10, 1920, by Mrs. C. H. England; Walthill, Mar. 24, 1920, by Elizabeth (129) Davidson; Blair, Mar. 25, 1920, by Mrs. Minnie Williams; Holdrege, Mar. 29, 1920, by Mrs. E. I. Whitehead; Hemmingford, Mar. 30, 1920, by Charlotte M. Erskine; Norfolk, Mar. 30, 1920, by Mrs. Margaret Tinley; Geneva, Mar. 31,1920, by Mrs. J. K. Waring.
At the Hastings convention of the Legion, held
in the fall of 1920, Commander Cline appointed W. P. Bemis, of Grand Island as Chairman of a committee to consider ways and means of promoting Auxiliary activity and organizing units.
This committee made the following report:
"Your committee must submit this report as a suggestion to the convention and not as a report of activities actually accomplished at the committee meeting.
It has been found that the difficulty confronting the various posts in the formation of women's auxiliaries is that the ladies are not able to obtain information as to the duties that are really required of them in the auxiliary. There has never been a definite plan of action submitted to any post or a definite plan of action as to formations and activities sent to various departments from the national headquarters. It is therefore respectfully suggested that this convention take active steps to properly organize a permanent committee on Woman's Auxiliaries.
"As a step to making this a national committee, it is suggested that this convention (130) elect as one of the delegates-at-large a woman member of the American Legion; that this woman delegate be instructed to inaugurate at the National Convention a movement to secure data and information necessary to enlighten the state committee on Woman's Auxiliaries.
It is further suggested that the State Department make the appointment of an organizer. This organizer should be a woman eligible for the Woman's Auxiliary, whose duty it will be to visit the various posts in the state and to establish an auxiliary at that post's town.
"As a furtherance of these plans it is suggested that a committee of six--three men and three women--be appointed to further the work of the Woman's Auxiliary. This committee to function and give aid to various posts after the national convention.
"We make this suggestion to work after the National Convention because it is earnestly hoped that this convention will instruct all its delegates to work for a definite plan of action and for a strong platform upon which to build a Woman's Auxiliary."
Immediately following the meeting at Hastings, Commander Simmons appointed Mr. Bemis as Chairman of a permanent committee to look after the organization of the Auxiliary in Nebraska. The Department Executive Committee placed the
(131) administrative work under the Department Adjutant,
to be handled along with his Legion duties. During 1921 over a hundred units of the
Auxiliary were organized and over three thousand paid members enrolled. Inasmuch as the
organization made such a splendid growth, Commander Simmons deemed it advisable to call a State
Convention of the Auxiliary and let them adopt their department constitution and elect their own officers. This was duly done and the Nebraska
Auxiliary held its first State Convention at Fremont Neb., on September 30, October 1, 1922.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a. m., Friday, September 30, 1921, by Walter L. Anderson, a member of Lincoln Post No 3, of the American Legion, and at the time the Speaker of the house in the State Legislature. Mr. Anderson vas deputized for the occasion by Commander Simmons who had to officiate at the Legion meeting which was in session at the same time. Miss Helen Marr, of Fremont, was selected as temporary Chairman of the convention, and Mrs. W. H. Neumarker, of Columbus, was chosen as temporary Secretary.
Most of the work accomplished by this first convention was in the matter of organization. It was necessary to build the department structure and coordinate the units before other tasks could attempted. However, the organization was perfected in a remarkably short time, and it was not long until the Nebraska Woman's Auxiliary was ready to take its place beside the American (132) Legion to do constructive work in all patriotic endeavors and in the care and relief of disabled veterans.
The resolutions passed by this convention, though few, are interesting, because they show the part in Legion activities that the Auxiliary desires to take. "Be it resolved," reads one of them, "that the Woman's Auxiliary of the Nebraska American Legion use its best efforts to help care for the graves of World War Veterans; that it use its influence in discouraging the desecration of Memorial Day by the holding of athletic contests and games of sport; that the Auxiliary join hands with the American Legion and all other patriotic organizations in the cultivation of a proper respect for the flag."
A department constitution was adopted, permanent officers were elected, delegates to the First National Convention were selected, and State Headquarters established. An intensive membership campaign was planned, and efforts made to get an Auxiliary unit in every community in the state. All possible steps were taken to build a great sister organization to the American Legion--one that would be worthy of the great veteran body and one that would be a credit to the state of Nebraska. How well the delegates succeeded in this was made evident by the splendid growth of the organization during the following year.
The Auxiliary was particularly fortunate in the selection of its first officers. Mrs. Minnie F. Penney, of Fullerton, was elected the first (133) president. Mrs. Penney was a woman of much experience, having been prominent in the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs and active in Red Cross work during the war. She possessed great ability as a leader and as an organizer, and was very sympathetic toward the cause of the ex-service man.
Mrs. Robert G. Simmons, of Scottsbluff, wife of Commander Simmons, was chosen as 1st Vice President, and Mrs. W. S. Holmes, of Hastings, a gold Star Mother, as 2nd Vice President. Both of these women had been active in Legion work from the founding of the organization and were greatly interested in the World War veteran and his problems. Mrs. J. E. Baird, of Lincoln, was elected National Committee woman, and Mrs. W. F. Bryant, of Hartington, as Historian. Both of these officers served with distinction. Mrs. Leah M. Ball, of Lincoln, was named as Secretary. Mrs. Ball was splendidly qualified for the administrative work of the organization, having unusual ability in organization and secretarial work. The following were chosen for District Executive Committeewomen: Mrs. C. E. McGlasson, Lincoln; Mrs. N. E. Johnson, Valley; Mrs. E. C. Warner, Norfolk; Mrs. H. C. Turner, Seward; Mrs. W. A. Prince, Grand Island; Mrs. G. M. Ackerman, Ainsworth.
The administration of Mrs. Penney and her coworkers was most successful from every point of view. The units were increased during 1922 from 10 to 190, and the membership raised from (134) approximately 3,000 to over 6,000. The organization centered its efforts during he year on welfare work among disabled men in Nebraska hospitals, and it accomplished much in this respect. Mrs. C. H. England, was named as Chairman of this committee, and proved to be an efficient and tireless worker, with a kindly interest in all men who returned from the war broken in body and spirit. During the year over 300 Christmas boxes were prepared and sent to the various hospitals; while local units made weekly trips to the institutions located in their respective vicinities where contact with the men was established. A special hospital fund was raised for emergency needs, and a radiophone was installed in one of the large hospitals in Iowa where many Nebraska men are hospitalized. Owing to the fact that Nebraska contained few Government hospitals, the Nebraska Auxiliary contributed largely to hospitals in Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico. A system was perfected whereby large boxes containing magazines, phonograph records, smokes, candy and other articles were delivered to these institutions every two weeks. Great aid was also rendered the Legion's State Aid Committee by the various local units of the Auxiliary.
The American Legion Woman's Auxiliary of Nebraska has a great future. It can become the most powerful woman's organization in the state, and be a great force for better government and Americanism. There are approximately two (135) hundred thousand women in the state who are eligible to join this association. It has four times the potential strength of the Legion, and many times the potential strength of any other woman's organization. The Auxiliary is the Great Sister to the American Legion and its aims and purposes are to work side by side with that organization. What the future holds for it must be left for history to record, but it is not beyond reason to believe that the American Legion Auxiliary is going to help write a brilliant page in the history of Nebraska.
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