On the question of eligibility of Americans who had served in other armies, Mr. Palmen of California, announced as a bit of information that an Act approved by Congress on October 15, 1918, provided that such men must repatriate themselves.  “We must go before a judge qualified to give citizenship back, taking with us our honorable discharge and credentials to show that we were American citizens at the time we enlisted,” Mr. Palmen declared.  Mr. Palmen was with the Canadian Army for three and a half years.  “This question has been debated and the public at large is much confused about it,” he continued.  “I am told all that I must do is to go before a judge and that I will immediately be made a citizen again with all the rights and privileges which that implies.”

There was no “hero stuff” at all at this caucus, no names of heroes, as such, were mentioned.  The name of the President of the United States was not called nor any member of his Cabinet nor was any reference made to them either direct or indirect.  This was done to avoid the appearance of politics.  General Pershing’s name was mentioned once and that was during the discussion of the sixth section of the constitution which provides that “no Post may be named for any living person.”

Major Leonard of the District of Columbia delegation obtained the floor and said that his delegation was in an embarrassing position because they had already organized a post and named it “Pershing Post No. 1.”  Major Wickersham of New York, stated that a number of posts were already in the process of organization in his State and that the names of living men had been adopted by them.

After all why not call these posts after living men?

Delegate Harder, of Oklahoma, offered the answer: 

“With all due respect to the gentlemen who have already named their posts they are subjected, as are we to the action of this caucus,” he said.  “We know positively that in due course of time those names will be used, at least to a certain extent, politically.  Let us find some other way to honor these men and make it impossible for the people of this country to get the idea that this is a political organization.”

There you have it, the real reason.  Delegate Harder was only one of the hundreds who not only wanted to keep the Legion out of politics now but for all time to come.

Mr. McGrath of New Jersey also took an amusing fling at article six.  As originally drawn it stipulated that the local unit should be termed a billet.  “I object to the word billet,” he said.  “It has too many unpleasant associations as those men who slept in them in France will testify.  A billet meant some place where you lay down and slept as long as certain little animals would let you, and the American Legion isn’t going to do that.”

Just about this time the afternoon was drawing to a close.  Everybody realized that a monumental task had been performed.  Sleepless nights and nerve-wracking days had been endured.  Many pocketbooks were running low.  Everybody felt it was time to go home.