The American
Legion **
Here and There Among
the World War Veterans
(Copy for This Department Supplied by National Headquarters of the American Legion)
* NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF AMERICAN LEGION
One of Indianapolis' Most Attractive Buildings—Why and How the Hoosier
Capital Was Chosen by the World War Men.
WHY DID they locate th«
national headquarters ol
the American Legion al
Indianapolis?
This Is a question that many dele
gates to the Minneapolis convention ot
the American Legion are unable to
answer. They know that Indianapolis
was not one of the three cities re
ported favorably on by the committee,
that a minority report was presented
on the floor of the convention, result
4ng in the election of Indianapolis as
permanent headquarters of the organi
sation.
Fred Bates Johnson, an Indianapolis
attorney and one of the Hoosier dele
gates to the convention, was asked
how the Indianapolis delegation ma
neuvered to secure the headquarters.
“It was a case of superior salesman
ship, as I see it," said Mr. Johnson.
“That means, as you know, faith in
the superior quality of the product
you’re trying to sell, a thorough knowl
edge of the article, and hard work.
“We not only worked hard in try
ing to convince the members of the
committee that Indianapolis was the
logical location—we tried to sell the
city to every delegate we could talk
to. The result was when we found
we had lost out in committee, we felt
pretty confident we could win by rais
ing the question on the floor of the
convention, and we did.
“We had a delegation thoroughly
well informed on the advantages the
city afforded as a headquarters cen
ter. The line of argument was, of
course, shaped to fit the particular
delegate with whom we were dealing,
and all In line with a pre-arranged
plan. I’m not saying that the political
bent naturally inherent in every Hoo
sier may not have helped us in winning
out over the competing cities.
"uur nrst argument was tnat mui
anapolls was the ideal convention or
headquarters city because it is only
sixty miles from the center of popu
lation and thus most accessible to the
largest number of members. We ex
plained that with fifteen railroads and
thirteen electric interurban lines, this
greatest inland railway center was
easily and directly reached from all
parts of the country.
“We showed them how more cities
of 30.000 population and over can be
reached in a night’s ride from Indi
anapolis than from any other city in
the United States, embracing a zone
including Chicago, Milwaukee. Detroit,
Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh,
Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Chat
tanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, St.
Louis, Peoria and Springfield. Over
two million people live within two
hours’ ride of the city and over G0,
000.000 can be reached over night.
“We also argued that the fact the
city was an ideal headquarters loca
tion was evidenced by the number of
national headquarters already located
here, listing among these the United
Mine Workers of America, Internation
al Brotherhood of Bookbinders, Inter
national Typographical union. Inter
national Brotherhood of Teamsters and
Chauffeurs, Bricklayers, Masons and
Plasterers’ International union, Bar
bers’ International union, and the In
ternational Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners. This array of labor or
ganizations assured the approval of
the thousands of legion members be
longing to labor organizations.
“We said we could assure all ex
service men of a most cordial welcome
rs Indianapolis had always been most
appreciative of her heroes. In proof
of this, witness the soldiers and sail
ors’ monument which was erected
thirty years ago, costing then over
$500,000—a monument almost 800 feet
In height—and the patriotic manner
in which Indiana’s sons have answered
the call in all previous wars.
“All were surprised to learn that
Indianapolis has the most complete
electric traction terminal building in
the world, where more than 20,000
passengers each day arrive and depart
on about 800 high-speed electric Inter
urban cars. The fact that we built
the first union railway station in the
world also appealed to many.
“We found few knew that Indi
anapolis was the home city of the late
Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks,
the home city of Vice President Mar
shall, the late James Whitcomb Riley
and the late Benjamin Harrison; of
Booth Tarkington, Meredith Nicholson
and other literary men of national
note.
“We explained that in addition to
our unusual location and railroad facil
ities, the city was well equipped with
many first-class hotels, large auditori
ums for conventions, and everything
in the way of theaters and motion pic
ture houses that delegates to a con
vention might require, 5 theaters and
60 motion picture houses.
“The many buildings of interest
were also described—a post office oc
cupying a city block and costing more
than a half million dollars; a central
library, erected at a cost of more than
a half million dollars, with fourteen
branches and thirty-five other distrib
uting agencies; a state capitol occupy
ing two city blocks; a courthouse of
unusual architectural beauty, and so
on.
“Of course, we bored some listeners,
and we had to permit the boosters of
other cities to have their say, but,
nevertheless, we got across the many
advantages offered by this city of
308,000 population. We tried to ap
peal to the particular interest of the
man with whom we were talking.
“Thus, we told the men from farm
ing and rural districts that the prin
cipal Industry from the value of prod
uct is slaughtering and meat packing.
That last year 1.304,452 hogs, 268,428
cattle and calves, and 15,903 sheep
were killed. They were interested to
know that more than 3,300.000 head
of live stock were received at Indi
anapolis stock yards the year before.
“To the same men we told that 6,
728,750 bushels of wheat and 21,566,500
bushels of corn were handled by local
dealers, and a total of 46.000,000 bush
els of grain handled in elevators hav
ing a combined capacity of 2.4S0.000
bushels.
“None of the college men seemed to
know that Butler college at Indi
anapolis was the first college in the
country to receive women on equal
footing with men. And in the same
way we had marshalled facts to inter
est men of every occupation and in
terest.
“I venture there was not a delega
tion at the convention so well in
formed on what their city had to offer.
Certain men were assigned to work
with the delegations from the different
states. We took with us a motion pic
ture film showing the city, but had
not an opportunity to use it.
“But, as I said before, I believe the
fact that we landed the G. H. Q. of
the legion was due solely to superior
salesmanship.”
NOTICE TO PIANO OWNERS
The system of tuning pianos cannot
be learned through any correspond
ence school. It is a highly specialized
work, notwithstanding the fact some
people thing there is nothing much to
it. There is not any short cut to ac
quiring a thorough knowledge of the
technical construction of the modern
piano.
If you wish services that twenty-five
years of practical and theoretical
knowledge can give you, better have
Anderson attend to your piano, both
for the good of your pocketbook and
your piano. In town yet for a few
days. Phone Windsor hotel.
P. S.—Agent for Kohler and Camp
bell pianos. Pianos for sale and rent. -
Graham Bread fresh every day at
the City Bakery.
Professional kodak finishing. Scar
borough. Agency at Cordova drug
store.
—--—
Cordova
Adjustment
Company
K. G. ROBINSON, Mgr.
Collections, Reports,
Insurance
Ostrander Bldg., Corvoda, Alaska
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WHEN IN
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STOP AT
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TH0MP80N & CHADWICK
HONG KONG i
RESTAURANT
CHINESE NOODLES
CHOP SUEY
All Kinds of Light Lunches
Tray Service Our Specialty
CHARLEY CHONG
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THE PEARL IS THE BIRTHSTONE
FOR JUNE
WE HAVE PEARL STRINGS FROM $15.00 TO $30.00
PEARL RINGS. EARRINGS AND LAVALIERES
PAUL BLOEDHORN’S
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. • . > : v ' -
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ON
SPRINGS AND COTS
SELLING BELOW COST
CLOSING OUT THIS LINE
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Boat
Dance music
on'the Victrola NORTHFRN
With a Victrola in your home 1 1 \J j[ 1 iJulU I
you can have a dance at a mo
ment’s notice. Start right in when- ¥\ Il| If 1 jfv if „
ever you feel like it, and dance y ||% 11 ^
as long as you want. All the Jf W % ij|
latest dance numbers—beauti
fully played in perfect dance time. THE DRUG STORE OF
Come in and hear some of the new ALASKA
dancct on the Victrola. -Service” is our Motto
* 1 .. -.—— —1 ' 1 - --- -
CITY BAKERY LUNCH ROOM
Special Carefully-Prepared Lunch served from 11:30 a. m. Our Fine
French Rolls with every meal
Big Variety of Pastries and Cakes, Always Fresh
Sanitary Machinery of Latest Vlodel. Patent Brick Oven. Best Ma
terials used by Expert Workm^* producing our Famous Cream Loaf
Best Coifee in Town
French Bread Rye Bread
t— - —. ~
THE NORTHERN CLUB
FRED HAEF, PROP.
It'awa, m --*■■•>. A I I I I . J- 1
r I I -| jg I mm nmm
POOL, CARDS, TOBACCO
Soft Drinks of All Kinds
The Popular Corner
PHONE 47 CORDOVA, ALASKA
FRED M. SCHAUPP
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Steam-Fitting, Marine Pipe and Tank Work
Sheet Metal Work
SECOND STREET, NEXT DOOR TO FEDERAL JAIL
PHONE 72
Sixty Steam-Heated Rooms, Electric-Lighted
Hot and Cold Water in Every Room
With or Without Bath
Cordova House
DOOLEY & GREENIG
Headquarters for Railroad and Mining Men
Satisfaction Guaranteed :: Rates Reasonable
v—..—---'- I
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