History of the Nebraska American Legion - Chapter Six, the Second Annual Convention

CHAPTER SIX

THE SECOND ANNUAL CONVENTION

(70) Five hundred World War veterans were sitting in a Chautauqua pavilion, listening to a convention report. Most of these men were young, with here and there a head of gray hair to be seen. A look of keen interest was on every face; five hundred pairs of eyes were focused on the man who was reading the report.

It was an interesting study, those five hundred countenances. The drawn and haggard faces and melancholy eyes that were always so evident in war days were gone. A new light had come into each pair of eyes and each countenance beamed with kindly interest. It now had been two years since the end of the war, and time had wrought a remarkable change. The old days of privation and anxiety had been replaced by the more comfortable and pleasant days of peace. Before these men now was the dawn of a new era wherein they might serve their country in a peaceful way and partake of its opportunities. On each face was a look of satisfaction--an expression that can come only to those who have performed a great duty to the best of their ability.

"The first consideration of the American Legion,"read the man on the platform, "is the perpetuation of the memory of those comrades who made the supreme sacrifice in response to their country's call. Though their voices are silenced (71) by death, they must ever live in the hearts of their comrades and compatriots, as a magnificent example of the last full measure of devotion. Therefore be it resolved that the American Legion, Department of Nebraska, make it a paramount duty to see that proper and fitting honors are paid our dead at all times; that their graves be properly and suitably marked; and all things possible be done to impress upon all our people that the country for which these men died must be handed down to coming generations with its honor unstained".

A hush fell over the convention. Almost to a man, the five hundred faces became reminiscent. Perhaps their thoughts had gone back to their experiences in 1918. Some no doubt recalled a scene at Chateau-Thierry or St. Mihiel or in the Argonne where men wallowed in mud amid the thundering of battle, while about them many comrades lay with mortal wounds. Perchance some recalled scenes in the training camps and hospitals where companions were stricken down by disease. There came a look in the eyes of every man that seemed to say, "I understand, I understand".

"Mr. Commander," .he said, "let us stand for two minutes in silent prayer in reverence to those buddies who are not with us today."

The gavel of the Commander sounded and five hundred of Nebraska's young fighting men rose to their feet. They stood with bowed heads, in loving remembrance of those comrades who paid (72) the great price for righteousness and liberty, while in every heart must have echoed the words of McCrae,

"When from failing hands we throw the torch to you,
Be yours to hold it high;
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders' field".

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There you have a scene from the Second Annual Convention of the Nebraska Legion, held at Hastings, Nebraska, on August 26, 27 and 29, 1920. This picture has been brought before the reader that he may better understand and appreciate the spirit of the American Legion. Let us presume that there had been no World War and that these five hundred men had never answered the call of their country. Would it have been possible to get an expression like that? Would they have paused in their deliberations to offer a prayer for those who gave all that America might live? Would they have pledged themselves ever to devote their efforts to see that the graves of fallen defenders would be marked and made patriotic shrines for coming generations? Would they make it their business to see that "the country for which these men died must be handed down to coming generations with its honor unstained"? Would they have (73) associated themselves for God and Country, "to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy?"

This is one of the answers to the query: Why the American Legion? The second convention at Hastings in 1920 was the first opportunity for the Nebraska veterans to answer the question. Up until that time they had been too busy with organization work to heed the more serious purposes of the society. One must first build the temple before he can make use of it. Each post of the Nebraska American Legion had been so busy building its part of the structure, it had been as yet unable to admire its beauty or measure its value. But now that the delegates from the several posts had assembled again and the house was in order, they set to work toward the realization of the ideals for which the organization had been founded.

The convention was in session three days. The Mayor of Hastings, Hon. L. B. Stiner, welcomed the delegates to his city, and other short addresses were made by the Governor of Nebraska, Hon. Samuel R. McKelvie; W. H. Presson, then (74) Department Commander of the G. A. R.; and Otto W. Meier, then Department Commander of the United Spanish War Veterans. On the second day, the convention entertained Franklin D'Olier, National Commander of the American Legion during 1920, who later addressed the gathering.

An amusing incident occurred in the visit of D'Olier that proved very disconcerting to the Reception Committee of the Hastings post. Commander D'Olier was scheduled to arrive at Hastings at a certain hour, and a message received from Omaha reassured the committee that he would arrive as previously planned. However, when the train came, Mr. D'Olier did not appear. The Committee searched the railroad station and button-holed every traveler that resembled the National Officer, but they could not find him. As it was getting late, they returned to the hotel and retired. About two o'clock in the morning, Commander Cline was awakened by someone knocking at his door. Opening it, he found the National Commander looking for "someone with a Legion button". Is seemed there was a new porter in charge of the Pullman car in which the Commander-in-Chief was riding, and he became confused and put Mr. D'Olier and his secretary off at Harvard, which is a small town about twenty miles from Hastings. D'Olier did not discover his predicament until after the train had pulled out, and so had to wait until the next train which was due four hours later.

(75) "In little over a year's time a mere dream and idea of a few has developed into a big organization of 9,700 posts and a membership of well over a million. Such a thing has never before been known in this country, and it could not have been accomplished but for the reason that the ideals of the American Legion are absolutely right.

"You men perhaps do not fully appreciate the fact that in a very few years the ex-service men are going to run this country. They are going to do it not merely because they are ex-service men, but because, in order to get into the service, they were picked men-physically, mentally and morally; and being picked men, plus their service, they are unquestionably going to be the leading men in business, in all the professions, and in politics.

"The American Legion is the only organization in this country that represents every single element in the country; the American Legion is the nearest approach to an organization of public opinion, representing as public opinion does every single element of the country. And the closer the American Legion sticks to public opinion, the more successful it will be in serving our country and in serving our comrades. You know, public opinion does not often speak but when it does speak it speaks with authority. And whenever the American Legion speaks with that authority of public opinion behind it, it will speak in such a way it can be heard.

(76) "You men in Nebraska deserve the greatest credit for the success of the American Legion here. You have been successful for two reasons; you have caught the spirit of the organization and your membership has been successful because you have been careful in the selection of your leaders.

"My message to you today is that just exactly as we stick together in the service we must stick together now, in order that we may serve our country and look after the welfare of our comrades. Let us stick together and see to it that the American Legion has that unselfish leadership necessary to make it the great force it can be; and as we stuck together in the service, let us stick together in our organization to the end that the American Legion may really continue to serve our country and our comrades."

The second and third days of the convention were given over to the business of the organization. The Legislative Committee, appointed by Commander Cline early in the year, made its recommendations to the delegates, and these were carefully considered. The State Legislature was to meet the following winter and it was imperative that the Legion have definite recommendations regarding the needs of service men to offer that body. The more important suggestions of this committee which were adopted were as follows:

"Recommended that the American Legion of Nebraska request the enactment of a law which (77) would provide for ex-service men long-time loans at a low rate of interest for the purpose of purchasing farms and city homes.

"Recommended that the Legion endeavor to secure legislation to the end that ex-service persons seeking official public appointments be given preference.

"Recommended that the Legion secure amendments to existing statutes so that benefits conferred on veterans of other wars would be applicable to world war veterans.

"Recommended that the Legion request the enactment of legislation permitting boxing."

A considerable number of resolutions defining the policies of the organization were also favorably acted upon. The convention endorsed the Americanization work that had been carried on during the administration of Commander Cline. It also endorsed a bill then pending before Congress which was known as the Adjusted Compensation Act, and it voiced strenuous objection to the action of those Government Officials who allowed the notorious war slacker, Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, to escape from prison. A particularly strong sentiment was expressed regarding draft evaders and conscientious objectors. It seems that many of these culprits were given their freedom immediately following the close of the war, and, in some cases, given benefits equal to those received by honorably discharged service men. The resolution reads:

(78) "WHEREAS, executive clemency has been extended to many convicted violators of the draft and sedition laws, and no public investigation has been held, and thereby many who in time of war escaped their obligations as citizens and have practically gone unpunished, and

"WHEREAS, many draft evaders are now at large in the country, and many individuals who made false and fraudulent claims to exemption boards for the purpose of receiving a deferred classification in the draft, are not being prosecuted for their violation of the law,

"BE IT RESOLVED, That we demand that no person convicted and now serving sentence because of violation of the draft or sedition laws be pardoned or his sentence materially reduced without the fullest public investigation, and that we condemn the secretive methods of turning loose upon the public those who in time of war evaded their duties; and,

"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we demand that the authorities prosecute with vigor all those who evaded the draft, and violated the sedition laws; and that they be adequately sentenced if found guilty; and that pardons be refused to them; and

"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we request the members of Congress from (79) Nebraska to favor the enaction of more suitable legislation covering draft and service evaders of the future; and to appoint a committee to investigate the pernicious granting of pardons, hereinbefore mentioned, so that full publicity may be given to that practice."

The election of officers took place on the last day of the meeting, and several lively contests were staged. The election of a Department Commander was the most interesting to the delegates. The Nebraska Legion had now become one of the large organizations of the state, and considerable honor was attached to the office of Commander. Likewise this office was the most important one within the gift of the convention, and one that played a great part in the ultimate success of the association.

After a careful canvass of the delegates, attention was centered on a young man who was a member of the Scottsbluff Legion post, which was situated in the extreme western part of the state. He had a very attractive personality and soon made friends with many delegations. He had been active in Legion affairs from the beginning of the organization, and was highly recommended by his comrades from the west. This was no other than Robert G. Simmons, better known as "Bob", who was selected to head the Nebraska Legion for 1922.

The convention closed with a presentation of a beautiful watch to Commander Cline for the (80) splendid service he had rendered the American Legion. Perhaps these words of Edward P. McDermott, who made the presentation, will best express the high esteem the twenty thousand Nebraska Legion men held for their retiring Commander:

"I have been delegated on behalf of the many Legion posts here represented," said Mr. McDermott," to say something at this time in reference to our retiring Commander. Last year in the annual convention at Omaha you remember that Earl M. Cline, of Nebraska City, was the unanimous choice of that convention. He has now served his tour of duty with honor and with distinction, and it is altogether fitting at this time that we as his comrades present him with something as a token of our esteem.

"Mr. Commander, the duty that has been delegated to me is very pleasing indeed. You will always be known to us as our first Commander. The road over which you have taken us has been filled with many dangerous shell-holes. How well you have performed your duty in all respects is testimony received on all sides at all times. I, therefore, on behalf of your comrades and mine, present to you a gold watch as a token of their esteem and affection.

"Mr. Commander, always keep that watch, for within its case is wrapped up all the love and affection and esteem that we all feel for you."

The other officers selected to serve with Commander Simmons were as follows:

(81) Edward F. Goodrich, Fairbury, 1st Vice Commander.
John T. Bressler, Jr., Wayne, 2nd Vice Commander.
Lyman Wheeler, Omaha, 3rd Vice Commander.
Frank S. Perkins, Fremont, Finance Officer.
Frank B. O'Connell, Lincoln, Adjutant.
Charles R. Tyner, Hastings, Chaplain.

Department Executive Committee
E. B. Chappell, Lincoln.
Varro Tyler, Nebraska City.
William Ritchie, Jr., Omaha.
John Hopkins, Omaha.
H. C. Cusack, North Bend.
C. A. Orr, Wayne.
Marion Shaw, David City.
L. H. Laughlin, Beatrice.
R. G. Cressman, Hastings.
C. M. Sherwood, Red Cloud.
J. B. Miller, Alliance.
J. M. Fitzgerald, Kearney.

National Executive Committeeman
Ed. P. McDermott, Kearney.