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Show ESSAY CONTEST IS NOW IN PROGRESS The third annual essay contest of the American Legion began April 1 with the chosen subject, "Why Communism Com-munism Is a Menace to Americanism." This contest, conducted by the Americanism Ameri-canism commission of the Legion, is held annually with a view of enlisting a majority of thought in the direction of some vital question facing America's citizenship. Heretofore the contest has closed in the fall, but in order to coincide the work with that of the school year Garland Gar-land W. Powell, director of the Legion's Le-gion's Americanism commission, decided decid-ed to open the contest In the spring and close it with the completion of school terms. According to Mr. Powell, 300,000 school children participated in the last contest held by the Legion, which took as its subject, "Why America Should Prohibit Immigration for Five Tears." A previous contest condncted by the Legion enlisted efforts of 200,000 children, chil-dren, who submitted essays on the subject sub-ject "How the American Legion Can Best Serve the Nation." Each of the subjects chosen reflects some phase of American Legion activity activ-ity and the Legion view of such policies. poli-cies. The Legion believes that by bringing the subject before the children chil-dren of the nation it can cause a discussion dis-cussion in many American homes that will be of vital import to the welfare of America. Prizes aggregating $1,500 are award-, ed the winners. The best essayist receives re-ceives $750 in cash, to be applied as a scholarship in any school, college or university he may designate. Second receives $500 and third $250, each for scholarships. The essays are chosen by elimination. Beginning with the county superintendent of schools in each county, who selects local judges, the three most representative essays are sent on to judges designated by the state superintendents, superintendents of public instruction or school commission. commis-sion. These judges pass on the three best essays submitted in the state. The winning essay from each state is sent Into national competition, from which are chosen the three winners by a committee of judges selected by the Legion. Posts frequently give medals and awards to winners in their own counties, state departments of the Legion Le-gion provide medals for the three winning essayists there and the cash awards are made by the national judges. The co-operation of practically every educational official in the country has been afforded the Legion since these contests have been, instituted. In addition, ad-dition, educational bodies and organizations organi-zations have accorded the Legion a great amount of help. Efforts have been made this year through some of the nation's largest fraternal bodies to concentrate the efforts of school children chil-dren in the contest. |