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History of the |
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CHAPTER FIVE |
(61) On November 10, 11 and 12, 1919, just a month after the Omaha state convention of the Nebraska American Legion, the first great national convention of the American Legion was held at Minneapolis, Minnesota. This meeting brought together the delegates of the A. E. F. caucus and the St. Louis meeting, as well as hundreds of Legion representatives from every state in the Union.
This convention was a great event. It brought the two large groups of World War veterans to a common understanding. It was conclusive evidence that the American Legion had forged ahead of all rival societies and was destined to be the great veteran organization of the world war--the Grand Army of the Republic of the future. Anyone who attended the meeting at any time during the three days could easily see that this society had already grown to be a mighty force in America. Posts had sprung up in nearly every community throughout the country almost over night; thousands of service men in every walk of life had become members and were keenly interested in the development of the organization.
Nebraska sent twelve delegates and twelve alternates to Minneapolis and took a prominent part in the proceedings. Those resolutions endorsed by the state convention were duly presented and the delegation worked earnestly in getting (62) favorable action taken on them. Each state was allowed a member on each convention committee, and the Nebraska delegation held daily conferences so that all members would be informed regarding the convention activities and plans.
The proceedings of the national convention show that Dr. R. G. Cressman, of Hastings, served on the Credentials Committee; Earl Cline of Nebraska City, on the Rules Committee; Alfred L. Larrivee, of Lincoln on the Emblem Committee; Allan A. Tukey of Omaha, on Eligibility; R. A. Canady of Bridgeport, on Auxiliaries; Guy C. Chambers of Lincoln, on Political Restrictions; J. T. Bressler, Jr., of Wayne, on Finance; Hird Stryker of Omaha, on Constitution and Organization; T. J. McGuire of Omaha, on Legislation; E. E. Kiplinger of Omaha, on Place of Next Meeting; J. R. Sullivan on Post Activities and Memorials; J. M. Young on Employment; E. K. Hammond of Omaha, on War Risk Insurance; John A. Lawler, of Hastings, on Beneficial Legislation; Frank A. Warner of Norfolk, on Military Policies; and Dr. E. C. Henry of Omaha, on Americanization.
While the Nebraska delegation did not go to the convention expecting to have one of its members selected as a national officer, nevertheless the opportunity presented itself and Allan A. Tukey of Omaha, was offered as a candidate for the office of National Vice Commander. He was elected by a large majority.
The high points of the first national convention were the adoption of a constitution for the Legion,
(63) the determining of the eligibility to the organization, the recognizing of a Women's Auxiliary, the selection of Indianapolis, Indiana, as the permanent headquarters for the national organization, and the passing of various resolutions setting forth the position of the organization on beneficial legislation, Americanization, punishment of alien enemies, conscientious objectors, service slackers and persons convicted of violation of the Draft Law.
As soon as the national convention was over, Commander Cline and his fellow officers returned home to Nebraska to begin in earnest the work for the year. It was felt that the organization work must necessarily be given first consideration and posts established in every community in the state. Likewise a means of acquainting the public with the Legion would have to be developed and well-directed publicity furnished to newspapers, news agencies and public speakers. A service bureau must be established and maintained for the many veterans who needed assistance in getting their government claims properly adjusted. A Department constitution must be prepared and submitted to the posts for ratification; legislation to present to the next session of the state legislature must be recommended; efforts must be made to carry out the convention instructions regarding Americanization, the building of war memorials, and other important public problems.
Therefore, the first task to be taken up was (64) the organization of additional posts and the enrollment of members. It was felt by Commander Cline and his associates that the most important work for the year would be to increase the membership. Nebraska had furnished approximately 55,000 men for military and naval service, of whom nearly 50,000 would be eligible to join the American Legion. It would be vitally important to enroll at least a goodly percentage of these in order to keep other organizations from getting a foothold and interfering with the plans of the Legion. At the time of the convention at Omaha, about 8,000 names were on the membership rolls of the 110 posts then organized. It was decided that at least 20,000 members must be secured and a Legion post established in every town that had a population of five hundred or more if the American Legion were to live and accomplish the work it had before it.
This program was an ambitious one to be carried out within one year, and, in order to put it over, would require a great amount of publicity and a strong bureau of public speakers. A department for the dissemination of information regarding the Legion was established early in 1920. The publicity created by this department was divided into two classes: (a) Information regarding the American Legion that would be of interest to service persons, and (b) information regarding the American Legion that would be of interest to the public at large. News stories ready for the printer were prepared and sent to (65) the newspapers throughout the state. Posts were urged to establish Legion news columns in their local newspapers. A weekly bulletin service was put into use and all posts kept in close touch with the activities of the state and national organizations. During the early months of the year and during the time the posts were busy collecting dues, it was felt that some means should be provided whereby the department officers could get in direct contact with the thousands of service men throughout the state who knew little, if anything, about the American Legion. Therefore a newspaper known as "The Nebraska Legion News" was published for five months and over 100,000 copies of the publication scattered over the department.
At the same time a Speaker's Bureau was established and a list of public speakers sent to the posts. These Legion representatives appeared at many gatherings in communities throughout the state and told the story of the American Legion. Commander Cline visited many posts and spoke at length on the aims and purposes of the organization. Particularly good work was accomplished in this respect by Vice Commander Frank A. Warner, of Norfolk, who neglected his personal affairs to visit many communities in the northeastern section of the department where he carried the Legion message. Meritorious service was also rendered by Department Chaplain Harold C. Capsey, of Lincoln, whom Commander Cline appointed following the Minneapolis convention (66) where it was decided that each department should have such an officer.
In due time this steady flow of well-directed publicity began to bring results. The newspaper editors throughout the state took very kindly to the new veteran organization and gave very liberally of their space. Some of these editors even went so far as to organize posts for the boys in their communities, and helped the veterans get the necessary funds to carry on the work. The posts soon began to report new members joining their units by the hundreds, and shortly the applications at State Headquarters began to be counted in the thousands. Likewise requests to organize local posts began to come into the state office, so that as many as five posts were chartered in a single day during the late summer of 1920. During the year over 19,000 members were enrolled and the posts increased from 110 to 270. Within six months time the Nebraska American Legion had been made into the largest veteran organization in the state.
The second phase of work carried on by Commander Cline was the welfare work among service men. A service bureau was opened at the state office and, in cooperation with a national bureau, hundreds of claims of every kind were handled for all service men regardless of whether or not they were affiliated with the Legion. Myron D. Noble was appointed director of this department and, in cooperation with the workers at State Headquarters, these claims were given (67) prompt attention and every effort was made to get these matters settled to the entire satisfaction of both the government and the claimant. At this time the governmental agencies charged with this work were not properly organized, nor did they have the authority or funds to care for the disabled and sick veterans. It seemed that Congress had forgotten the man who had returned from the battlefield broken in body and spirit. Hundreds--yes, thousands--of these unfortunate men were unable to support themselves and were yet unable to get assistance from the government. Realizing the serious situation, the American Legion was not slow to go to the aid of these men who had paid so dearly for peace. The national organization of the American Legion had recommended badly needed legislation and had had the same introduced in Congress. This was known as the "Sweet Bill", but the legislation had met with endless delay. In an effort to bring before Congress the serious situation that confronted the disabled, National Commander D'Olier asked that representatives from each Department of the Legion gather at Washington and appear before the lawmakers. Commander Cline delegated T. J. McGuire of Omaha, who was a Legionaire of much force and ability and who had made a thorough study of this problem, to represent Nebraska at this important conference. Mr. McGuire went to Washington and remained right there with some fifty others until the Sweet Bill was passed and the Bureau of War Risk reorganized.
(68) The third goal of Commander Cline was to organize a Woman's Auxiliary for the Legion. The national convention had authorized each Department to issue a charter to each post, allowing the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of Legion men to form an auxiliary organization to help carry on the work of the Legion. The Nebraska Commander was not slow to see the value of such an auxiliary. The patriotic women of the state had played a very important part in helping win the war, and they could play an equally important part in helping the Legion to carry out its great program of Americanization and service to the veterans. Commander Cline made W. P. Bemis, of Grand Island, the Chairman of a committee charged with this work, and by August 11, 1920, thirty-three Auxiliary units had been organized and nearly 800 Nebraska women enrolled in the society.
At all times during his administration, Commander Cline kept in close touch with his Department Executive Committee and placed all important problems before them. This committee was very faithful and promptly responded to the call of the Commander. In order to carry out the instructions of a large convention, it is always necessary to appoint a number of sub-committees to investigate and make recommendations on specific matters. Noteworthy among these committees for 1920 were the Legislative Committee, made up of Bernard G. Westover of Lincoln, Chairman, John A. Lawlor of Hastings, Robert G. (69) Fuhrman of Pender, and Earl Meyer of Alliance; the Americanization Committee with Dr. E. C. Henry of Omaha as Chairman, and Robert G. Simmons of Scottsbluff, and Walter L. Anderson of Lincoln. A Memorial Committee, an Intelligence Committee and a Constitutional Committee were also appointed and given specific tasks to do. All of these committees took a great deal of interest in their work and rendered valuable service to the organization.
In summing up the achievements of Commander Cline and his associates in their administration, one at once notes that the outstanding feature of their service was organization work. Beginning with a small group of local units none too well organized as yet, Cline welded them into a great statewide system of posts that reached into every community of the state. He brought into the organization hundreds of veterans of every race, creed and station in life--nineteen thousand men with a common purpose; to better their community, state and nation, and to serve in peace as they had served in war. Cline gave the Nebraska Legion stability; he made it an organization that was respected and admired by the public at large. In the course of a year, he had builded on the foundation laid by his predecessors a splendid organization that took its place as a great power in the Commonwealth and one that was destined to play an important part in the history of the state.
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