The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-01-10
AMERICAN LEGION
MEETING IN OCALA
Strong Representation from Florida
Posts Having an Interesting
Session in the City


manders and adjutants, West Palm
Beach convention committee and the
state executive committee of the Am
ercan Legion began yesterday after
noon at 2:30. All Sunday afternoon
and evening the delegates were arriv-
ing in the city, some by rail and some
by auto.
By noon yesterday there were about
sixty delegates in the city. They as
sembled in the meeting room of the
local post at the armory and We're
called to order by State Commander
Sumter L. Lowry of Tampa. The
meeting was opened with prayer by
State Chaplain Spencer. Mayor An
derson made the visitors short ad-
dress of welcome and then the conven-
ton settled down to hard work.
The first business taken up were
the reports of vice commanders from
each section of the state. These re-
ports showed that much interest is
being shown in the legion but each
vice commander expressed regret that
he had been unable to take a more
active part in the work of his depart
ment because of the interference of
his own business.
The most important subject taken
up at the first session was the discus
sion of and plans for the care of dis
abled eX-service men and the unem-
ployed. Mr.. John Sparks, liaison Off
GER from Atlanta. and Mr.. w. L. Car
bine, representative of the veterans
service bureau, were present to pres
ent plans for the care of disabled ex-
service men. Mr.. Sparks says that
his office is going to put stop to the
red tape of handling claims, no mat
ter what it takes to do it. Mr. Sparks
strongly advocated the appointment of
man by each post to take care of
these claims Of the disabled men and
send them through the proper chan
nel
John NJ Gum, of Pensacola, was
largely at the meeting. His business
was to make a noise like the state
convention was sure to meet in Pen
sacola in 1923. To hear that boy talk
Pensacola is the only town in the state
and if the convention does not meet
there it has simply failed to meet. Mr..
Gum tackled a large sign on the wall
which proclaimed in accents wild
Pensacola will welcome you" If all
the members of the Pensacola post
are as full of pep as Gum, they will
attract much attention at Palm Beach
in March.
Bob Sturkey of Dade City, popped
up on the floor as usual. 1t made those
present think they were in Tampa or
Orlando. Bob is some little debater
and when he opposes a plan he is de-
termined to knock the spots out of it.
Bob attends. every convention held,
both state and national.
At Ais the Monday afternoon ses-
sion adjourned and the crowd was
rushed to Silver Springs in cars fur
nished the legion by Ocala's kind peo-
pie, and were given the glass-bottom
boat trip c. the springs. Each and
every visitor thought the springs a
sight to always remember his Ocala
convention by. At 7:30 last night the
local post gave the visitors a banquet
at the armory. The banquet was
served by the local post of the Wom-
ans Auxiliary and was enjoyed by all
This mornings session of the con-
vention is taking up state finances
and plans for the Palm Beach conven-
ton. The meeting will make as much
speed as possible in order to cover a
large territory before o'clock this
afternoon which is the closing hour.
At the meeting this morning, reso-
Iutions were passed, condemning Tom
Watson for his course toward the
army