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Show OFFICERS VISIT WOUNDED MEN AT CHICAGO HOSPITAL Left to Right seaman Clarence McGee, National Chaplain Francis H. Kelly, Horseshoer William Hughes, Chief Nurse Meta C. Cook, National Commander Franklin D'Olier. National Commander Franklin D'Olier, national chaplain Francis A. Kelly and Commander Milton J. Foreman Fore-man of the Illinois department of the American Legion recently visited the United States Public Health Service hospital No. 30, Chicago, 111., where 600 wounded and disabled soldiers and sailors are patients. The legion officers were conducted on a tour of the ward after which Commander D'Olier and Father Kelly addressed a number of the wounded in the recreation hall "Service," said the national commander, com-mander, "is the sole aim of the American Amer-ican Legion service to our country and our comrades. Our first and foremost fore-most duty always has been .and will be to the disabled, those who gave their health and strength In battle and the dependents of those who died while with the forces. "The American Legion put through congress the bill that raised the disabled dis-abled men's base pay from $30 to $S0 a month. It has aided in the nfljust-ment nfljust-ment of thousands of compensation, allotment, al-lotment, allowance, back pay and Insurance In-surance claims. It Is working to remedy rem-edy the vocational training situation. Our first duty is to you men and your comrades. You can always bank on that." Father Kelly, wearer of the D. S. C. for heroism In action on the British front with the Twenty-seventh New-York New-York division, made a vigorous reply to ihe foes of the ex-service organization organiza-tion who have charged the American Legion is a militaristic body. "I have heard It said," declared Father Kelly, "that the aim of the American Legion is to impose upon the United States a government of the soldiers, by the soldiers and for the soldiers. The American Legion is a million miles away from any such Idea as that. We crossed the sea to put an end to such forms of government and certainly we do not intend or strive or will not tolerate the setting up at home of what we went to war to destroy abroad. "The American Legion stands solely sole-ly and simply for the things that make for a better Americanism. We call ourselves Americans. We call ourselves our-selves a legion. We are both, and wo unite the two In an organization which shall stand for all that Is best In our national life for our country and for the flag." |
