The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-10
American Legion in
National Convention

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Nov. 10.
Omitted Press. More than $500
delegates from every state in the
union, in addition to ex-service men
from Cuba, Hawaii, Porto Rica, Pan.
anna and Alaska, We're in attendance
here today at the opening session of
he first national convention of the
American Legion.
With concerted determination to
render the nation a public service as
a memorial to their efforts in the
great war and a monument to their
fallen brothers-in-battl the repre-
sentatives of ,000,000 ex-service men
who have joined the legion will sit
in convention today, the 18th and
18th to draft a national policy and
outline work the state chapters and
local posts are to undertake.
Chief among the questions of poll
cy to be decided at the convention
are: Affiliation with political par,
ties; granting bonuses to ex-service
men; size of the standing army; COM
pulsory military training; teaching
Of German in high schools; replace
ment of national guard units by state
constabulary; statue of Siberian and
overseas service; deportation Of
aliens who refused to accept war ser.
vice are who are present menaces to
the country; payment of war risk in
surance and endorsement of the Mon
dell land bill
Stand has been taken on most Of
the questions by state branches.
Henry d. Lindsley, chairman of the
national executive committee, and
other officials and members promi-
nent in founding the legion, were
early arrivals. These put final touch
IS on arrangements for holding tho
monster convention and for enter
tanning the delegates and their -fami4
lies.
Morris B, Mitchell, chairman of the
transportation committee, headed the
contingent chat met incoming dele
gates at the trains. They escOurted
the visitors to hotels where accom-
modations had already been provided,
Most Of the state delegations arrived
in bodies. They carried banners Of
their states and wore badges made up
of state colors and state flowers.
There were scores Of women in the
various delegations, most of them
wives, mothers or sweethearts Of the
war veterans.
Entertainment features will be
provided by the Minneapolis War
Camp Community Service and other
local and welfare and civic bodiesj
Frederick B. Wells Of Minneapolis is
chairman of the local entertainment
and program committee.
No program of entertainment is
provided by the legion itself, it i'm
pressing upon the delegates that they
are here for serious business and not
for pleasure. The legion officials
however, urged veterans to accept tho
hospitality Of Minneapolis citizens
and welfare bodies and to enjoy the
varied social features provided.
A monster parade for tomorrow has
been planned. Veterans of other
wars will participate as will promi-
nent Minneapolis and st. Paul citi-
zens. Governor Burnquist will well
come the members on behalf of Min
nesota and the Twin Cities. Speech
rs also will be made by city officials
Reduced rates were given dele
gates by the railroad administration
Return trips are good in some cases
until November "a and scores of del.
egates have expressed their intention
to visit adjoining states and to go tC
Chicago, st. Louis, Kansas City and
many other cities in the midwest
corn and wheat belt.
First business of the convention
after examination Of credentials, is
to take up state organization reports
and to submit recommendations and
resolutions of state branches and in
dividual posts. These many and
varied suggestions Of policy will be
"boiIed down" to a general report by
the committee or resolutions and will
be voted on by the assembled dele
| gates as the expression OF the sentl'
ment of the convention.
Various state and city delegations
have already begun campaigns to land
the next annual convention. San
Francisco's delegation will likely be
strong contenders. They have al.