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Show American legion (Copy for This Dtphr'.rnent Supplied by tha American Lexlon News Survice.) MEMBERSHIP RECORD . SURE TO SET PACE There were 70,030 more members paid up In the American Legion for -1927 on February 1 than the total number on the same date last year, the books of the national treasurer at Indianapolis, Ind., show, according to James F. Barton, the national adjutant. adju-tant. There were 50,000 more on the same date last year than on February 1, 1925, the first year In Legion history his-tory that such an Increase was shown. "This healthy membership condition Indicates the Legion will go Into the nest convention in Paris In September Septem-ber with another record similar to the one last year, when, for the first time, an increase In total membership for the year was shown over the preceding preced-ing year," Barton said. "In other words, the Legion, which started- to grow In size last year, is continuing that growth. " Campaigns for renewals and new memberships started throughout the country Immediately after the national nation-al convention In Philadelphia last October Oc-tober decreed "that It should be n major objective this year. Numerous contests have been held, and others will continue until the Paris convention. conven-tion. Many of the states have made rapid advancement In this work. Florida, Flor-ida, particularly, hung up an early record, having SS.8S per cent of Its quota,, as set by national headquarters, headquar-ters, on January 31. 'Thirty-five of Florida's 86 posts had a 100 per cent or better membership, as compared with 1926, before the first month of the new year ended. Other departments that had exceeded, exceed-ed, or were close to 50 per cent of their quotas on January 31 were: Arizona, Canada, Idaho, Illinois and Minnesota. One of the spectacular events In membership work was the holding of a state-wide radio Initiation ceremony by the California department, February Febru-ary 22, at which several thousand new members were inducted Into Legion service. Three broadcasting stations were used, one In San Francisco, one In Los Angeles and one on Catallna Island. |