Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-10
LOYAL lEG|0N'S ANNUAL
Vermont Commandery Elects
Officers and Enjoys Banquet.
Captain Horace French Of Lebanon,
N. H., the New Commander
Speeches by Governor Graham,
Colonel Rivers and the Rev.
G. w. Davenport.

Ao t"Ohty luCcthS VA Sho
Commandery of the State of Vermont.
Military Order Of the Loyal Legion Of the
United States, was held Tuesday, fol-
lowed by the annual banquet. which was
served in the main dining room of the
Hotel Vermont. At the business meeting
Captain Horace French, u. S. ", of
Lebanon, n H.. Junior vice-commander
Of the commandery, was elected COM
mander. Covers were laid for about 100
al the banquet which was preceded by
reception in the hotel parlors.
Captain French presided at the bust
ness meeting, held at the commandery
headquarters in Stannard Memorial hall
at six o'clock. Colonel Joseph T. Dickman.
the commander of the commandery. being
absent on duty with the machine gun
board Of the United States government.
The annual reports Of the various officers
were presented and accepted. Selah Reeve
Homie Tompkins. colonel of United States
cavalry. now stationed at Fort Bliss,
Texas. was elected hereditary companion
of the first class. eligibility for member
ship being derived as the eldest son of
General Charles H. Tompkins. late of the
United States army. General c. p Miller
gave report of the congress Of the COM
mandery-in-chief. held at Philadelphia
on April 10, last. Following are the officers
elected:
Cominander-Captain Horace French,
L. S. ", West Lebanon, n. II.
Senior -Commander-Captain George
W. Burleson, u. S. W, st. Adams.
Junior Vice-Commander-Co
Harvey r. Kingsley. Rutland.
Recorder-First Lieutenant Carlos D.
Williams. U. S. ", Burlington
Registrar-Companion Joseph T. Stearns,
Burlington
Treasurer-Companion Charles E. Beach.
Burlington.
Observation-Disclosures Henry H. Hagar
Burlington.
neutrality-suspicious. Rev. Isaac C.
Smart, Burlington.
Council-Companion Charles L, Wood.
bury. Burlington, Companion Elisha May,
St. Johnsbury. First Lieutenant Robert
p Porter. West Burke. Second Lieutenant
George p. Drury Essex Junction, Com.
panion George s. Howe, Burlington
The officers were installed by Past
Commander Theodore s. Peck
RECEPTION AND BANQUET.
The reception was held between the
hours Of 1910 and eight in the parlors
of the Hotel Vermont, those in the re.
ceiving line being Governor Horace F
Graham. Commander French, the Rev
]. c. Smart, commandery chaplain, Mrs
Smart, the Rev. and Mrs. George w
Davenport and General and Mrs. C. p
Miller Romeo's orchestra furnished
music at the reception and also at the
banquet.
Commander French made a shor,
speech previous to introducing Genera
Miller who acted as POSTMASTER Can
tain French spoke of his great appre
citation of being commander of tn,
Vermont Commandery and also paid {
tribute to the city OF Burlington.
Governor Graham was first intro
duced by the POSTMASTER He calle<
attention to the fact that while a cen
fury and half ago our forcfather,
wrested this valley from the French
to-day the people of Vermont, with tn
rest of. the United States. are unite,
with France and Great Britain in try
Ing to preserve tho government 1.
which we all believe. When the oc
casion comes for the men of Vernon
to fight they will be found to have al
the patriotism which their father
showed. Thi. country is the granar
Of the WORLD and the present war will
not only be fought by the soldiers Il
the held but by the farmer in hi
fields.
Colonel Rivers commander of tn
:nd cavalry at Fort Ethan Allen. wa
crviting at the post, and he also spok
of the oriccrs' school which Is soon I
open at Plattsburgh. There never wa
q time. said Colonel Rivers. except 1
'93 when graduates of West Poir
formed a majority Of the army officer
After 'SS. when the army was increase,
they again fell into the minority. A
present an attempt Is being madc I
create an army OF a little over a ha
million mon of eighteen division
There are no officers for this army an
for this purpose about eighteen camp
one for every division. are being star
ed in various points Of the country, II
object being to train men as Office
for this army. BY the time the on
GERS have received their training. whie
will cover n period OF three months. II
required men will have enlisted ar
the ncwly-made officers will ira
them.
At Fort Ethan Allen there are sew,
troops There arc vacancies OF officers
tho ranks OF first and second lieutenant
which wero made last June. when Il
army was increased. Men are being sc
TO the post. following enlistment at I
various stations OF the country. at 4
rate Of frum one to four hundred a ds
There is an overflow In tho barracks a
many are lodged Ia tents. ThG men a
frst taken care of as to health and 70
end are, as rapidly as Is possible. bell
nut through training Following exam
nations given at tho post. Ill sergear
and corporsIs have been recommended