Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-29

for their work during their service
with him He also spoke in the
highest terms OF Mr.. Boyle's work
at the National convention last year
and it was voted that he be sent 10
the National convention al Kansas
City this year with all expenses paid.
Spirit OF Commander Galhraith
The spirit OF the late lamented
National Commander Galbraith
dominated the proceedings Of the
convention and reference was often
made to his intentions in regard TO
certain questions and as to how he
intended to meet certain situations.
1t was plain to be seen that his in
fiuence was deeply felt and the con
vention was unanimous in wishing
to carry on the work OF the Legion
in the lines that re had laid down.
The new commander addressed
the convention as follows:
Mr.. Commander and comrades:
thank you most sincerely for this
very high honor you have conferred
upon nae. 1t is one OF the very
greatest honors than can be con-
ferred upon a man-that I realize
and appreciate fully Our depart
ment has been especially fortunate
in its first commander, who has
done SO much to establish the LIE
gion on I sound and enduring foun-
dation in this State. So we'll has
this Teen done that the people of
Maine look upon the Legion as one
Of ahSaf oSisfippr
welfare of the State. II will be my
endeaVor to carry on the work Com
mander Greeniaw has so ably start
ed. This office of commander is not
merely an honor. however. Due to
the purposes and aims of the Legion
and its place in the life of the com
munity it carries with it very seri-
Gus obligation. While We. like the
geat fraternal organizations, are in
organization OF mutual social help
funess. yet We are an unofficial agent
| OF government.
THE American Legion. A Commu-
nifty Asset" ] like that slogan. 1t is
a concrete expression of our place
; and our dutr. We are still in the
service and il ma. Le that our great
est service to our country will be in
| peace rather than in war. That de
ponds upon ourselves. II we indi-
, vidually or as augmentation at
tempt to live on our war services on
iy, we shall fail and fail miserably
Granted we came to tie service of
) America in its hour of need. Grant
! ed We performed our task well. We
cannot perpetually live on that re-
cord. New problems are continually
} arising and in these new conditions
we must play our part. If We do not
then others will pass us in the race
and we individually and as an Or
: ganization shall have failed. 1t is
only by continuing lin he service
: in peace as in war that we shall sue
coed and become what we should be,
I and what America wants US to be.
, Ours is a great opportunity. But is
5 an opportunity to serve.
r l do not mean that we should pay
TO attention 10 our own particular in
/ terests Those We must handle and
care for also. To See that justice is
done the sick and .dis4bl ed-that their
y condition is in every way ameliorated
e TO see that the ex service man gets
everywhere a square deal; TO urge the
passage OF the adjusted compensation
: bills these all are duties of the Lee
r gion to its own and to all ex service
: men.
t We should also labor to increase
: our own membership. Recognizing no
f distinction of rank, of race, Of creed
I or of place. of sert ice the Legion is
= tie true organization of the eX-ser-
0 vice men. We should make all our
= comrades understand that fact--that
:, In Union there is strength We
should show our former comrades in
= arms that we are still carrying on
= that we are still in he service for
: our comraGes and for America Then
e and then only shall we accom- plish
0 our effective work.
With the plans for frequent exc
cutive committee meetings and post
t commander conferences l am in
hearty accord. Heretofore due to
t the finances of the department. this
has not been possible. Now we are
in position to carry on this activity
and we should do So
Each post should likewise do its
part in the campaign for the sick
and the disabled. They should can
vas their localities with view to
discovering men needing aid and
then seeing that these men do not
get that aid. SO much we should
Go for our own, and for all ex-ser-
vice men.
In the life of the community. the
state and the Nation however. we
must play our part and therein will
] believe lie our greatest usefulness
Our Americanism program must be
vigorously pushed. It is of essen
tiai Importance, and it is chiefly be-
fore our countrymcn that we must
stand as a bulwark of assurance that
so long as our organization EXISTS
the Anericanism of Washington. of
Hamilton and of Jefferson, Of Jack
son OF Webster and of Clay. of Lin
coin of Cleveland and of that great
friend and comrade of our own day
and generation. Theodore Roosevelt
that Americanism in every way typi-
fed and eXemplified by our late Ma
tional Commander Frederick w Gal
braith.-- shall not pass but shall ev-
err grow in strength and power
The first act of Commander Antho-
inc after assuming the gavel OF au-
II.