New Britain herald., 1916-09-11
GENERAL STRIKE OF 75O,OOO UNION WORKERS IN N. Y, IS
 PROMISED TO AID CARMEN
FRENCH SOCIETIES IN
 SESSION HERE TODAY
Delegates from Conn. Cities Meet in Biennial Con-
 ventiOn.

New Britain today extended to the | French people the freedom of the city
 in the characteristic manner that has featured so many conventions and 1 gatherings here, when over 15O dele l gates from various societies and clubs l gathered for the twenty-second bien- | nial convention. It was the first at tempt of the local organizations to handle so important an affair and to the credit of the local French people
 it may be said they acquitted them
 selves admirably. The day was ideal
 ly adapted for such a purpose and
 with Old Sol throwing forth his most
 brilliant rays and the beautiful decor ations floating from various business
 houses the city presented warm
 greeting to it's guests for the next two days.
 At g o'clock the Philharmonic band
 lined up in front of the headquarters of the delegates at 34 Church street and immediately the delegates and members of the local societies joined in procession to St. Peters church where a solemn high mass was ceIe- brated by Rev. Charles Coppens of this city. Rev. Father Plunkett of New Haven was deacon; Rev. Father Decelles of Hartford was sub-deacon and Rev. Father Veillard of Parkville was master of ceremonies Rev. John T. Winters, Rev. Patrick Daly and Rev. J. Leo Sullivan also assisted in the mass. An able and interesting sermon was preached by Rev. Father Chartier of Hartford.
 tIoo 1J0
 was resumed. The procession pro- ceeded to Main street as far north as St. Mary's church then counter marched back to the Church street hall. A platoon of police and mem bers of the general committee headed the line One of the striking features of the parade was the appearance of ] the Laval Guards and the St. Jean de Baptist Guards of Waterbury, mili- tary organizations whose work was given much applause. At the close of the parade these organizations gave drill in Holmes & HOffman's hall. Other societies represented in the parade were from Willimantic, Waterbury, Hartford, Putnam, Bristol, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Moosup, Stafford Springs and New Britain. The regular business session open at 3 o'clock with President AL eide Dery of this city presiding. Mayor George A. Quigley welcomed the dele gates on behalf of the municipality. Routine business was transacted until late this afternoon and the convention adjourned until tomorrow morning at o'clock when a mass will be cele- brated at St. Peters church.
 This evening a banquet will be held at the Beloin Hotel at o'clock M D. Dube will act as toastmaster and the following will speak on the subjects assigned to them: N. Bisonette of Springfield, 3The Women;" William F. Roy of New Britain, '"The Dele gates" Dr. A. c. Buribault, tOur Convention:" H. T. Ledoux of Nashua, N. H., "Our National so- cieties;" Henri Langelier of Man chester, N. H., "Canada;" Joseph Lussier of Holyoke, Mass, '"The United States;" Revs. Chartier of Hartford and Coppens of New Brit ain, Remarks in the interests of French-Americans." MT. Lussier is the editor of La Justice" 8 news paper that devotes it's interests to the French-Americans. Following the banquet, open house will be observed in St. Jean de Baptist hall where a, program of various kinds of enter tainment and speeches will be carried out. One of the leading numbers will be a piano duet by Fred Beloin, IT,
 and Everett Arbour and a song by Miss Eva Charland