Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-06
JOHN N. THOMAS
LEGION. COMMANDER
Vermont Ex-Service Men Hold
Their First Convention in
Burlington

and in the reserve camps of Europe and
America, held the key to the city Of Bur-
lington Thursday. Representatives of
these heroes Of the world war gathered
ut the armory for the first state conven-
ton of the Vermont Branch of the AM
erican Legion. It is doubtful whether a
more enthusiastic assembly was ever held
in the Queen city. For spontaneous ac-
ton and real red-blooded Methods this
convention Of 325 young Vtrmonters, com
prising the flower of the young men of
the state. put the edge on any other
meeting which has attracted men of the
Green Mountain State in many decades.
The program included business meet
ing in the morning, lunch at noon. sery-
ed by community service Of Burlington,
and many assistants, an address In the
afternoon on "Americansm' by Major
Murch b. Stewart Of Washington. d. c.,
followed by remarks from PercivLl W.
Clement governor of Vermont. and an
other business session. The work was
completed shortly before six O'Clock. at
which hour the delegates were served
with an excellent clambake on the low
er floor of the armory. Tee Burington
Chamber Of Commerce furnished the
dinner and Tom Quincy was in charge,
assisted by II. c. Powers and T. w. Da-
Wis, the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, etc A
victory chorus of young ladies' sang
Barre was unanimously chosen az the
place for the 1920 convention of the Lee
gion.
John NJ. Thomas. president of Middle
bury College, WAS elected commander
of the Vermont Branch of the Ameri-
can Legion for the coming year by a
unanimous rising vote. lie was l. .mina-
ted by Stephen s. Gushing of ST. Adams.
efter H. Nelson Jackson of this cit had
refused the nomination by Guy Narnum
of Barre.
Other State officers of the Legion elect
ed Thursday were LIST vice commander
tarmy, John +. Sullivan Of st. Adams;
md vice commander navy. Herbert r.
Pierce of Montpelier; 3rd vice command
err 'marine), john T.. Cheeseman of Mid
dlebury College: 18th vice commander
army nurse CORPSE, Miss Lillian Lavallee
Of Rutland: secretary or adjutant. Jo-
seph II. Fountain of Burlington; treasur-
er or finance officer. Redfield Proctor Of
Proctor; State War Risk Insurance OFF,
GER f. w. Gibson of Brattleboro.
Members of the State executive COM
mittec of twelve We're elected as follows.
Dr. J. j. Ross Of Middlebury. Joel Lamere
of Ludlow, Ray T.. Smith of Rutland
IL. l.. Norton of Montpelier, Paul Kicker
of Burlington, +. f. Smith of St Adams.
X. w. McCucn Of Vergennes, George l..
Bates of Morrisvlle, Max Fisher Of
Barre, Daniel p Thompson of Bellows
Falls, Bernard a. Dunleavy of Brattle-
boro and l.. F. Edgerton of Rochester.
Two members Of the national executive
committee, to which Vermont Is en-
titled. as elected Thursday. are DR.. H.
Nelson jackson of Burlington and Col
Fred X. Thomas Of Montpelier.
DELEGATES TO MINNEAPOLIS
There were several hot contests in the
convention over delegates to the national
convention. 1t had previously been voted
to tax the members fifty cents apiece to
defray the expenses OF the eight regular
delegates to which Vermont is entitled
at Minneapolis. The result of these cleo
lions was finally determined as follows:
Regular delegates with voting pow
err; Howard A. Allen of Burlington.
Guy Narnum Of Barre, Bert s. Hyland
of Rutland, Elmer G. Sanborn of Bellows
Falls, George II. Horton Of Winooski
stephen S. Cushing of St. Adams. Will
liam +. Cory OF Montpelier and Allen
Fletcher of Johnson.
Eight alternstes. who may take part
in the debate. but not vote: Donald L.
Norton of Vergennes, Mr. Watson of St
Adams. Donald A. Carly of Burlington
Chauncey Adams of Danville, Miss Lillian
Lavallee of Rutland. John STANLEY of
Winooski. Miss Marie Reeve of Burlng-
ton and Captain Wilcox of st. Johns
bury
Observation-Disclosures: j. Watson Webb of
hall I
field James e. Donahue of Essex juno
ton. Pearl Clapp of Brattleboro, Carl
Webster of Orleans, Mr.. Hunt Of Wind
sor W. J. Kelley of Rutland and Mr..
Weber Of st. Adams
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
y number Of important resolutions. re-
ported favorably by the committee on
resolutions, consisting of Fraser Metzger
Of Randolph, Mr. Sullivan of st. Adams,
Mr.. Proctor of Proctor, Mr.. Cooley, of
and Mr.. Pierce of Montpelier,
were adopted by the convention.
Resolution were adopted favoring
suitable permanent State memorial to
the men Of the army and navy Who made
the supreme sacrifice in the word war; re-
questing the governor Of the State to de-
clare November IL. 1919. legal holiday
In the STATE and favoring action on the
part of Congress, making November II.
Armistice day, a permanent national holi-
day. favoring deportation of aliens con-
vlcted under the espionage act and those
who used improperly the status as aliens
In eYade military service, and recommend
Ing that Congress enact appropriate legis-
lation to this end; resolving that the dee
gates from Vermont to the national son-
vention at Minneapolis be sent uninst-uct-
ed
Further action taken by the cor yentiOn
was as follows; This convent on goes
definitely on record as believing In the
OF law and order as against
the tendency toward disrespect for the
laws of our land induced in the present
day Of unrest. We hereby condemn the
movements of anarchism and bolshevism
now endangering our welfare" Approval
of universal service was manifested by
the adoption of a resolution.
The convention adopted the following
resolution, which was previously adopted
Dy the Kansas commandcry OF the Ameri-
can Legion
BE It resolved that it Is the sense of !
his convention that the entire question I,
Of compensation in the form OF bonus, !
of it's merits, Ia one which
the American Legion cannot, with
propriety, discuss and on which II can
make no recommendation, but can with
confidence entrust this matter to our
In State and national
bodies"
SWEET BILL FAVORED
Redfeld Proctor of Proctor, reporting