Show JUST WHERE LEGION STANDS influence of organization not on decline asserts douglas county neb legionnaire the influence Indu ence of the american legion Is on the wane avers a a correspondent spon dent of a western newspaper discussing the decline in membership of this organization since the peak years of 1020 1920 and 1921 following the war tho the legion was recognized as a powerful torce force particularly ticul arly in ia politics national state and community points out the correspondent spon dent today the legion Is not discussed much it Is our humble opinion that one or two things Is hs to matter with this correspondent says the douglas county neb legionnaire either he Is oot not well informed on the status of the american legion with the home folks or else he Is using ills his hammer with the apparent intent to belittle americas largest and strongest organization of veterans the antrican Aoe Ane rican legion Is not to be linea measured by mere numbers the spirit of service the spirit of fellowship the spirit of self sacrifice for their needy buddies the spirit of loyalty to their country and its ansti these are a few of the thin thing by which the legion should be meas mea ared the accomplishments of the legion la in the ad of service are a refutation of the charge that the legions influence is wandering for without the confidence of america without the support and operation cooperation co of its citizens the legion would be unable to carry on its program of service a program has been so successful and so BO unselfish that the organization coin mauds manda the respect and admiration of every right minded person in the land america looks to the american legion as the organization which speaks speak tor for the brave men and women who mho fought the nations battles in n the greatest war of all time either by active or passive consent practically nl all of the service men and women of america recognize the aims abins of the legion its principles and n nd its program as their own when the american legion speaks it Is the voice of americas war veterans so long as the legion mant maintains ains its present ghigli igli ideals its present lofty conception of the organizations duty to its country and to its buddies the volee voice of the legion will be heeded membership in the organization offers little to the individual but the right to help shoulder a burden the right to help carry a buddys buddes pack that buddy who because of the war Is unable to meet the economic conditions of the day no luxurious club rooms no benefits of any sort are offered to the men and women who unselfishly join hand through the american legion to per the fellowships of the hie battle field the camp and the training slip ship yet it Is our humble opinion that thai the legion whenever it makes up its mind that it wants to can go out aind increase its membership nationally to the million mark the people of america have faith ta in the american legion that ther thea confidence has not been misplaced 6 I 1 proved by the legions unselfish de dc to the principles of american ism and serille sen ser ice ilce a service for the file most part extended to nonmembers non members of the organization the legion may not be discussed much in the particular circle in which the correspondent correspondent of the travels cut but when the home folks think of the service man they think of the legion they have come to look upon the legion as the mouthpiece of tiie the nations defenders there Is little to back up the statement that the legion 13 losing iffla ence today the legion stands as the nu au thor of practically all of the leg legeia iIa tion pertaining to the veterans of th world war most of the early tives lives have been attained |