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Show IS IN FAVOR OF SALARIES' Jsrrr.s Vlc'tcr, Jr., Director Arrrican Legion Tour of Europe, Urce-s Pay for Commanders. James J. Wicker, Jr., director of the Americau Legion tour of Europe, l U 1 U h S UCJ'Ul l- ment commanders of the Legion should be paid salaries. Jii3t before sailing from New York on the S. S. Presi-d Presi-d e n t Koosevelt, which carried the party to the bat-tlef bat-tlef lelds of France. Wicker sent a message to his comrades In Virginia, refusing to permit his name to be mentioned as department commander com-mander in the election by the state convention. His letter follows: "The department commander should devote his principal time to the Legion its work, its growth, Its welfare should command his mind, his heart and soul, and should always be uppermost upper-most in his daily life. The position of department commander is a very high office and it Is worthy of the very best men In the Legion. It Is a man-size Job, requiring the very best efforts and the hardest work to handle It with the greatest success. "Given a commander who would practically surrender himself to the Legion, and who could make Its progress prog-ress and success his chief aim and objective during his term of office, we would see this Legion of ours expand and grow In membership, Influence and healthy activity almost beyond conception. con-ception. I am of the sincere conviction convic-tion that If the Legion called a man to serve as leader asking him to give practically his whole time and providing provid-ing for his support he would, if of proper caliber, consider that call as leading him to a wonderful service, Just as serious, as noble and as patriotic patri-otic as that which brought him into uniform against the enemy." The question is one which has been much discussed over all the country by Legionnaires, and probably will come before the national convention at New Orleans. |