Putnam patriot., 1919-11-21
MOSS RETURNS FROM
LEGION CONVENTION
Local Delegate Takes Active
Part In Great Assembly
AT Minneapolis
Speak. From Floor and Serves On
Important Committee

lean IeQion. attended the first nation,
al convention Of the Legion at MINNIE
apolis. returned to the city early IN
the week, enthusiastic over the splen'
did showing made by the convention
a,d nrond of the fact that Conneetl-
cut and Anselm Mayotte Post IN par
,;c,,lar had voice in the history max
ING assembly. Mr. Moss, shortly al
tor bis arrival at Minneapolis, was APP
nointed to the committe IN charge OF
tho selection of permanent head
quarters for the Legion and ne was
- ~ those who supported Indianap-
oils. which finally won out IN the con-
| test most Of the larger cities IN the
East and the Middle West having
made bids for the home Of the Legion
Mr. Moss was also one of those VINO
snote on the floor of the convention III
spnnort of added compensation LOT
returned soldiers. Like all oil the
Connecticut delegation he supported
.ba election of Franklin dOher OF
po,,nsvlvania as National Commander.
Mr.. Moss reports that the conVen-
tom WAS marked for its earnestness
and its strict attention to the business
;, bapd From the time the eonVen-
tion onened on Monday until the mai
cement Of closing on Thursday state
delaoatiops. committees and eaneuses
.,o-o in constant session. Social al
fairs entertainments arranged TOT tiie
deleoates-every extraneous activity
!, fact was neglected in the interest
Of the business in hand.
Mr. Moss says that probably there
has been no more impressive moment
s;r.o the armistice was signed than
- fl o'clock on Tuesday NO
,,on,beY 1th. the activities Of the con
..oa4iap we're brought to an abrupt
,,slf business was suspended and Tor
- .,;.ntes the 1000 delegates stood
i Silent prayer for those who had
died in the service. The silence was
broken bv Minnesota's great million
Dollar Band playing the Star Span
gled Banner followed by the Mar
seillaise"
The Connecticut delegation NUM-
bered fifteen men, representative of
all classes Of interest in the state and
all ranks of military and naval ser
vice. All of these delegates took an
active part in the work of the conven-
ton.
According to Mr.. Moss by far the
most important and striking action
taken in the convention was the truly
stern and whole hearted manner in
which the problem of the elimination
of the radicals, l. w W, and Boil
shevik elements in the country vas
! handled. The suppression of these
elements and the maintenance of law
and order and the further advance
ment of the highest Americanism
were enthusiastically supported unan-
| imously.
Next in interest to members of the
Legion throughout the country is the
matter of extra compensation for
those who served. The idea of a
'bonuso was eliminated at once, the
delegates agreeing that the term was
a misnomer in so far as it concerped
the services of the Legion men. Forty
five different resolutions We're ad-
vanced in regard to additional COM
pensation but no definite action was
taken. It was pretty generally I'M
derstood that the most popular idea
in the convention was that Congress
pay to each man in the army or navy
dollar for each day that he actually
served. Every state reported that
some such compensation was sadly
needed if Congress sincerely wished
to restore the men to anything re-
sembling their pre-war condition. Mr..
Moss was one of those who spoke
from the floor in favor of additional
compensation.
Other interesting actions taken by
the convention were an approval OF
the scheme for a great national me-
mortal to those who died in the ser
vice, this memorial probably to be
erected in Paris; that the remains OF
all enemy aliens who died during the
war and were buried in national GENE
teries be disinterred and given a de
cent burial elsewhere; that the honor
able discharges given to conscientious
directors De recalled and dishonorabi'
discharges given in their place; thai
the court martial laws be revised anC
that in their review the military au
thorities have the assistance of civ
ilian expert.
The only break in the business o
the convention occurred on Armistic
Day when the thousands of delegate
formed in a great parade through tn
principal streets of Minneapolis.
The next national convention o
the Legion will be held in CLEVELAND
Ohio, the third Monday in September
~ 49,. oo,,va,,tsans fysuSt h