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History of the |
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CHAPTER TEN |
(116) The success of an army depends greatly upon the ability of its commander to organize his units in such a way that every man has something to do and knows just when and how to do it.
It might be said that the success of the administration of William Ritchie, Jr., was attributable to this ability. No department of the American Legion has ever produced a leader who had greater capacity for hard work or greater ability in getting every member of his organization to take an active part in its activities. Ritchie was ever at work devising ways and means of promoting the Legion; ever at work pushing, encouraging, demanding that each of his fellow officers do his part in making the Nebraska American Legion a great organization. Though suffering from a physical disability caused by his military service, he never ceased his activity nor allowed his handicap to interfere with his work. He was the driving power behind a group of ardent workers.
Early in his administration Ritchie outlined his program for the year to his Department Committee. Several days were spent in going over these plans and assigning specific duties to each member. The Commander made it plain that he considered the great objective of the year a development of comradeship within the American Legion. He pointed out the need for a better (117) understanding of one another on the part of the individual members, and a keener and more sympathetic appreciation of their duties on the part of the officers. He believed the time was at hand when the American Legion should become a great fraternity in fact as well as in name. Not only must the disabled be cared for, but each member must continually be on guard for the welfare of his comrades and help them when the opportunity presented itself.
"We must try to weld the thousands of Nebraska veterans into a great fraternity," Ritchie told his committee. "We should strive to create a greater bond of comradeship among the members. This cannot be done unless each post is a fraternity in itself, and unless each member is willing to carry out the real spirit of the Legion.' Our preamble says, 'we associate ourselves together to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness'. Let each of us try to live up to this during the coming years."
Another thought that Commander Ritchie desired to bring before the various posts was the need for each member to have something to do. In most organizations there are a few faithful servants who are always willing to carry the load. Those who, through lack of interest or want of experience, do nothing for the good of an order, are very often likely to shift all responsibility and leadership to the faithful ones. The Legion was no different from other organizations in this (118) respect. A few hard working members in each post assumed all the duties. It led to the belief on the part of some of the new members that the organization was undemocratic and was controlled by cliques. Ritchie tried to impress upon all Post officers the danger in such a situation and urged them to use every possible means to get new members to take an interest in the post and help carry on the work. There was no better way to do this than to give each man a specific task and help him accomplish it. This not only resulted in getting more members interested in the organization but it developed new leaders throughout the department.
In order to make it possible for each post to have an idea of the aims and purposes of the Legion, and just what part each post was to take. Ritchie and his associates compiled and published a book which was known as "The Campaign for 1922". This was one of the finest programs ever put before Legion posts in any part of the country. National Commander Hanford MacNider was very enthusiastic in his praise of this book and had the National Adjutant send a copy to each department of the organization. The pamphlet contained the suggestion of the Commander and Department Executive Committee for all activities which they believed would stimulate an interest in each post and give the American Legion a high standing in every community. This book was followed by a number of smaller publications each of which went into detail regarding (119) each particular subject. It was the intention of the state officers that the Campaign Book should be in the possession of the Post Officers, while each of the little pamphlets should be turned over to the chairman of the committee charged with carrying out a specific part of the program.
The suggestions of this book regarding Americanism and post activities were especially illuminating. Many posts had been organized only a short time and did not know just how they were to go about this work. The suggestions on post activities explained to the unit just how it might co-operate with the public in civic affairs; how it could assist in obtaining employment, emergency relief, and federal compensation for its members; how the post could look after the graves of the dead and carry out ceremonies that were expected of it. The program on Americanism was especially helpful to every post. In explaining the objects of the Legion's work in this respect, we find the following:
"The object of the Legion's Americanization work should be to inculcate a love and respect for American institutions, principles and ideals. It should impress upon all citizens and other residents of this country the fact that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are the foundation stones of the best method of government which had ever been devised by man, and that, if there are faults in the body politic, these were due mostly to the human agencies to which are delegated the (120) enactment and enforcement of our laws and not to the Constitution. It should impress upon all Americans the fact that faults in government should be corrected by an orderly process under the Constitution and not by destruction of that instrument, a disregard of the laws of the land, nor a disrespect for the courts of the country."
Another outstanding accomplishment of Ritchie's leadership was the co-operation furnished the national organization in relieving the unemployed of service men. During the winter of 1921-22 many men were thrown out of work by the depression in business throughout the country. The situation was especially acute in the eastern part of the country where dozens of factories, mills and mines found it necessary to close down. Nebraska, being an agricultural state, did not suffer so keenly, nevertheless a considerable number of men were without means of livelihood. Commander Ritchie made every effort possible to secure positions not only for Nebraska men but for Legion members of other states. Hundreds of men were assisted in this way, and a great deal of suffering and distress was remedied.
During the first part of each year, new officers are elected in all the American Legion posts throughout the state of Nebraska, and it becomes necessary for the Department Officers to help these men become familiar with duties. In order to reach as many of these Commanders and Adjutants as possible, Commander Ritchie held a series of district meetings, held at points (121) throughout the state that would be advantageous to the largest number of posts. Twelve of these meeting were held and much good accomplished. All the Legion officials would gather around a table and in a very informal way discuss their problems and offer testimonials for the good of the order. At these meetings Commander Ritchie insisted that his fellow officers call him just plain "Bill", and by such name is he now best known among Nebraska veterans. A somewhat amusing incident happened at one of these gatherings. A post official was telling some of his troubles and mentioned a certain individual who it seems had made matters very trying for the Post Commander. In describing this individual, the Legion officer mentioned that he belonged to a certain college fraternity and was a minister. Inasmuch as Commander Ritchie was a member of that fraternity, everybody laughed. The Post Commander, very much embarrassed, turned to Ritchie and said: "I didn't know you were a minister, Mr. Ritchie!"
A considerable part of the Legion's activities during 1922 was devoted to work among the disabled men. The Veteran's Bureau, but newly reorganized, needed a great deal of cooperation and advice from the American Legion in smoothing out the many difficulties that arose in the administration of its duties. These problems were taken up by the Nebraska organization of the Legion and thoroughly considered. Conferences were held with Government agents and every (122) effort made to look after the interests of the men who needed rehabitation. It will be remembered that the State Aid Fund Committee did not start to function until late in the fall of 1921. The administration of this act needed much help from the Legion and a great deal of time was devoted to helping the committee give the best possible service to the needy veteran. The posts throughout the department responded very enthusiastically to this task, and very valuable assistance was rendered Chairman Fisher and his committeemen by the Post Commanders and Adjutants.
Commander Ritchie did not overlook the value of publicity, and the splendid system for the dissemination of information followed in previous administrations was continued. A department newspaper for veterans was endorsed and utilized in carrying messages to the posts and the public in general. News of a general interest was gathered and forwarded to the national news service. A radiophone was installed late in the year and information regarding Legion activities was broadcasted weekly throughout the state. The Legion used every possible means to acquaint the veterans and the general public with its activities.
Steps were taken by Commander Ritchie to obtain a more general observation of Armistice day and greater respect for the flag. A resolution was passed by the Department Executive Committee, calling on all citizens of Nebraska to observe this day, but at the same time urging posts to create public opinion in favor of the observation (123) of this day rather than demanding that the people observe it. A week was designated in February as "Respect the Flag Week", and efforts were made to get a more general appreciation of the necessity of respecting the national colors on the part of loyal citizens.
Last, but by no means least, the Ritchie administration gave attention to the membership of the department. In spite of very depressing financial conditions, the Nebraska American Legion was one of the very few organizations in the state which held its membership. Not only did Commander Ritchie end his administration with a slight increase in membership but he succeeded in establishing a number of new posts that will materially increase the membership of the department in later years.
It is always a difficult matter to make an historical record of an event that is close at hand. As this book is written, Commander Ritchie's administration is drawing to a close. It is still too near at hand to look upon it in the proper perspective. However, one does not make an extravagant claim when it is recorded that Ritchie has played a very important part in the history of the Nebraska American Legion, and accomplished a particular work that has rounded out the organization and increased its power. Ritchie carried the message of comradeship to his fellow Legion members; he "humanized" the organization, if one may use that term. He planted the seeds of interest and activity that are bound to bring out new (124) leadership in the organization. And the organization that is watchful of its leaders of tomorrow, need have no fear of the future.
It must be said that Ritchie was surrounded by a goodly number of hard working fellow officers. Particularly valuable service was rendered by Charles W. Andrews, of Arlington, in post activity work. Father John Palubicki, of Stanton, assisted greatly in handling the speaker's bureau. Henry W. Fouts, of Fairbury, Roy L. Cochran, of North Platte, and J. B. Townsend, of Chadron, assisted greatly in membership and activities. Harry H. Ellis of Holdrege and Charles V. Chadwick, of Cambridge, did much in promoting athletics, while Lester Dunn gave a great deal of attention to employment matters. Likewise Frank S. Perkins, department finance officer, rendered valuable service in financial matters. In fact, every member of the Department Executive Committee gave liberally of his time and helped to make the Nebraska American Legion an organization worthy of its membership.
The Department Officers who served with Commander Ritchie are as follows:
Harry H. Ellis, Holdrege, 1st Vice Commander.
Lester Dunn, Lincoln, 2nd Vice Commander.
Arthur Bell, York, 3rd Vice Commander.
Rev. R. S. True, Syracuse, Department Chaplain.
Frank S. Perkins, Fremont, Department Finance Officer.
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Frank B. O'Connell, Department Adjutant
Earl M. Cline, Nebraska City, National Executive Committeeman.
Department Executive Committee
Samuel W. Reynolds, Omaha.
C. W. Andrews, Arlington.
E. B. Chappell, Lincoln.
Dr. Edgar Cline, Auburn.
Father John Palubicki, Stanton,
C. A. Orr, Wayne.
Marion Shaw, David City,
Henry W. Fouts, Fairbury.
Dr. R. G. Cressman, Hastings,
Chas. V. Chadwick, Cambridge.
J. B. Townsend, Chadron,
R. L. Cochran, North
Platte.
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