Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-10-17
DISABLED VETS
WELFARE CHIEF
AIM Of LEGION
SAYS MACNIDER R
Governments Handling Of
The Former Soldiers IS
Described as One of
Mistakes and BIunderS,
RENEWED PLEDGES
COME FROM ABROAD
An Outdoor Fete Is Held in
Historic Jackson Square,
New Orleans, in Honor of
Visiting ThrOngS,

New Orleans, Oct. l6 (by the
| Associated Press The American
Legion, through its national COM
mander Hanford NaCNider. az
! firmed today that the welfare OF
disabled veterans was its chief in
torest. The governments hand
ling of the disabled veterans from
the time the armistice was signed
down to the present, was described
as one of the tragic mistakes,
politics, alibis and blunders" in the
report of the legion's rehabilitation
commission, and Colonel G. r.
Forbes. director Of the United
States Veterans bureau, in a couu-
| ter statement to newspaper men,
asserted that the bureau which ho
| heads, was the most perfect large
organization in the world" and
that implied criticism Of it was not
justified by facts.
Bore Renewed Pledges.
Charles Bertrand, president OK
| the Inter-Allied Veterans fedora
| ton, and an officer of the French
| Legion of Honor, bore renewed
pledges OF fraternity and friend
ship to the legion from the ma
tions associated with the United
States in the world war, who hsvs
been in session here two days prior
to the opening of the legion con-
YentIon.
The convention held no session
during the afternoon, and veterans
spent the rest of the day and much
of tho night in impromptu re-
unions on sidewalks, in hotel lob
bies, and in the old French quar-
ter of New Orleans. The bud
dies" were fighting the war over
again, verbally, tonight with great
gusto.
The strains of "Mademoiselle
From Armentiers" drifted through
the music of a dozen bands, army.
navy and civilian. (She, it Will be
remembered by all the veterans,
was the lady who hadn't been
kissed for so years').
Planes Fly Over City.
Over the city this afternoon flew
the great. navy. planes from PEN
sacola, here as part of the naval
representation. Six destroyers and
| the scout cruiser Birmingham"
are anchored in the Mississippi
within rowing distance of the con-
venton hall itself. Delegates could
see the war ships from the con-
vention hall. Various athletic
events, in which legionnaires from
the different state departments
took part, featured the afternoons
set program and a boxing eXhlbi"
ton drew many veterans tonight.
Something of a furry was
caused at the morning session OIL
the convention, when George L.
Berry Of Tennessee, a national wee
commander of the legion, asserted
in a speech that the action OF the
United States district attorney here
in obtaining an injunction in CLOS
ing a number of soft drink par
lors "for the duration OF the le-
gion convention was a gratuitous
affront to the legion" Legion
naires, Mr.. Berry asserted, were
friends and guardians of law ana
order, and had shown it by their
war service.
An Outdoor Fcte.
Tonight in historic jackson
snuare, in the heart of the trench
quarter, an outdoor fete was helu
in honor of the veterans. jack
son square is the spot where, III
1915, Andrew jackson mustered
his forces to fight the British ana
win the battle of New Orleans.
The delegates from Belgium
France. Great Britain, Rumanla'
italy, Serbia and Czecho-SloVakia,,
we're also guests at the fete ana
seemed to enjoy the spirit Of the
celebration greatly.