The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-10-31
Commander Emery Was
Cheered When He Reit-
Grated That the Legion
Was in the Compensa-
ton Fight to Stay -
Greetings Fro m Foch
and Pershing

hall. where the national convention Of
the American Legion opened its ses'
sion to-day was early astir with dele
gates. Bands and drum corps were
blaring out military music and haze
Of tobacco smoke lent an Indian sum
mer touch to the bright colored deco
rations.
The "budGies, apparently in no way
discouraged by night of milling,
shouting, singing, street corner reun.
ions to the tune of motor sirens, side
walk dances and endless marching and
counter marching, began filling the hall
shortly after o'clock.
Many delegates and visitors wore
uniforms, apparently having put them
on for the duration of the convention
Thousands of spectators came early
and filled the arena balcony and the
gallery while the floor Of the hall was
given over to the delegates.
Representatives from Alaska, the ca
nal zone, Hawaii. the Philippines, Por-
TO Rico, Turkey, Africa France, Span
ish Honduras and the British Isles
raised their standards on the floor in
addition to the delegates from every
state.
Women in Red Cross workers' cos
tunes here and there among the spec
tators were conspicuous in their white
dresses, with crimson crosses on cap
and sleeve.
The convention got quickly down
to business. The report Of the COM
mittee on permanent organization, rec
ommending that ten national commit
tees with representation from each
state he maintained, was adopted.
Speeches on the convention Moor
we're limited TO five minutes when the
delegates adopted the rules committee
report.
At the request of Commander En-
cry the convention arose and stood Tor
half a minute, in silent tribute to the
memory of r. w. Galbraith, former
national commander of the Legion,
who was killed in a motor car acci-
dent near indianapolis last June. Mr..
Emery thei. proceeded to deliver his
report to the convention.
Prolo5gc1 cheers greeted Commander
Emerys charge that Congress had
been forced to bow to the will of the
executive in the matter of delaying
legislation for soldier compensation.
The nationai copmander asserted that
President Harding held conference
with group of anti-compensationists
and then went before Congress to urge
that the legislation be recommitted.
More cheers followed Mr.. Emery's
declaration that the Legion was in
the compensation fight to stay and
NAT il would make its stand known
to the world in unmistakable terms
without consideration of party poll
tics.
When Vice President Calvin Coolidge
arrived at the hall the colors of the
Vincent B. Costello post of the Le-
gion, Washington, ID. c., were present
ed him.
The convention arose and eheered
as he was escorted to the platform.
He was presented 20 the convention by
Mr.. Emery. Another demonstration
followed, the crowd again standing.
The delegation from Vermont. Mr..
Coolidge's native state, was especial
ly active in according him a welcome.
Greetings from Marshal Foch of
France and General John J. Pershing,
en- route to Kansas City to attend the
Legion convention. were read by the
national commander.
Efforts to combat the unemployment
situation as il affects the former sery-
icc man and the suggestion of remedies
were set forth in the annual report OF
Adjutant Lemuel Bolles to the eonven-
tion.
He suggested stimulation Of public
works. a more rigorous exclusion OF
aliens and a systematic effort on the
part of the local posts and departments
10 find work for the 100000 former sol
diers said BY the report to be jobless.
Incorporated in the adjutant's report
vas a lengthy review Of the activities
Of the organization
The report Of Robert II. Tyndall
treasurer. showed a balance OF S6OS.-
1850 as against Sf6l,7l7.35 a year
ago.
The organization was extended ma
terialiy during the year. more than l..
o50 posts have been added. Depart
rents we're created in Mexico. Panama.
the Philippine islands. France. British
Isles. Argentina and Canada. WI le
posts were extended to j additional
countries
The Women's auxiliary. an auton1-
nous organization but closely related
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