The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-19
THE NEXT LEGION
CONVENTION HERE
William a. Ellis, Delegate to the Con.
vention Arrived in Pensacola Last
Night.

The 1923 annual state convention OF
the American Legion will be held in
Pensacola, according to William A.
Ellis, who arrived in the city on the
10:4S train last night from West Palm
Beach, where he attended the 1922
convention. G. A. Landrunl the other
Pensacola delegate, stopped off at Live
Oak where he will spend several days
visiting his sister.
Speaking of the convention, Mr.. Ellis
said, in part. That which was of most
| local interest was the magnificent
Esprit Of unselfishness and broad
mindedness shown by the south Flor
ida delegation to the Pensacola dele
gates. When the telegram sent by the
convention committee of the local
Chamber of Commerce regarding the
| financing of the 1923 convention in
case Pensacola got it, many Of the
delegates from the southern and east
ern parts of the state offered to come
over here to Pensacola, and assist. us
| in securing the necessary funds to
provide entertainment for the conven-
ton. ::
when the question of the next con-
vention was brought up" said Mr..
Ellis, Pensacola was unanimously Sc
lected as the next place of meeting and
numerous offers of assistance were
made by the southern representatives.
Pensacola was cheered to the echo
when it accepted the convention"
Making further comment on the con-
vention, Mr.. Ellis stated:
Perhaps the greatest convention
ever held by any department of the
American Legion anywhere was that
which closed Friday at West Palm
Beach. Such was the sentiment of
the national officers present, which in
cluded the national commander, Han
ford MacNider, and First Vice Com
mander George L. Berry. There was
mot a hitch in the program prepared
by the West Palm Beach lost, not a
break in the entertainment provided,
and not a report Of the state officers
that was not accepted in its entirety.
The announcement by the national
commander that Florida stood first of
all states in the union in its activities
this year, as shown by paid-up mem
bership, received an ovation almost
equal to that accorded the commander
himself-and that is saying mouth
full. Ovation and demonstration followed
each other in rapid succession when
the national vice commander was pre-
scented, but when Jack MacNider
slipped to the platform all previous eff
forts Were surpassed in the demonstra-
ton, which was led by the 45-piece
legion band from Tampa.
"As finale to the ovation, the band
struck UP THE Old Gray Mare, She
Amt What She Used to Be-" and to
this music was sung the words, "Old
MacNider's Better Than He Used to-
Be, Four Long Years Ago. This was
sung by the entire audience and the
commanders smiling efforts to quiet
the crowd only made them sing the
louder.
'.All the addresses were full OF the
most optimistic expressions for the
legion and especially the Florida de-
partment. Sergeant Woodvill, who
was said by the war department to be
the greatest hero of the war and who
was given the honor OF representing
the enlisted men at the burial of the
unknown soldier in Arlington, was an
other distinguished guest who. spoke
highly of the Florida department and
its officials. General Pershing sent as
his personal representative Col. J.
MICA. Palmre, who spoke briefly of the
plans for the new citizen soldiery and
extended to the department General
Pershing's personal greetings"
Ants ha1iavsd "a bo1ra I,oa~ t,-a,,~l. .