The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-11-13

, parIson of the e.. a. r. and the American
Legion and who showed the opportunities
and dangers that lie before the Legion
Rev. Mr.. Buffum's address was gem
erouSly punctured with humOr, and his
words of earneStnesS were further empha-
sized by the singular manner in which he
alternately addressed the officers on the
platform and the Grand Army men in the
front seats.
The speaker said that the Grand Army
never h;hl an Armistice day but they
did have surrender day He said that
when the manhood of the country was
enrolled for the great war it showed a
body of men made of better stuff than
the G. a. r., but it revealed a sting of
reproach. in that 40 per cent of the men
he unfit for service. morally and phys
ically. In the World war. the men who
fought showed the effects of discipline
even obeying many officers who We're alb
solutely and cruelty Indifferent, which the
Grand Army men would not have tOler-
ated. But regardless of the laurelS won
by the soldiers of the country in the
struggle with Germany, there was never
Il more efficient body of men than were
those under Lee and Grant.
Were you proud of your foesE the
speaker asked, directing his question to
the officers on the stage. And then
pointing to the Grand Army men. he
said. We'll. we were of ours.
The speaker then saiu 1t would be well
for the American Legion to study the
men of 81 to 60. You'll find that IN
some respects you're not as far out OF
kindergarten as you might be- he said.
1t is imperative that the American
Legion let the people know what the
Legion IS; for, the speaker said. there are
lots of people who don't know what you
are. The danger to the Legion, accord
ing to- Mr. Buffum, lies in its alliances.
"GOmpers is coquetting with you, he
said He wants the Legion to bolster
up the unions Independence is what
will make you potent and mighty"
Continuing. the speaker said, The
manhood of America is on trial through
the American Legion: if You can't stand
This trial. then there is no manhood IN
America that cans Your real reputation
was not won in the trenches and under
fire. but it must be won at home. 1t viii
be well for the Legion to ponder over the
learn something if you do. That's the
message the G.. 4. r. sends to the Legion.
Can you emulate the G.. \. r.? We have
set a pace for you and can you run as
fast q pace as we did once? Remember
fhe Grand Army men are volunteers
most of YOU Legion men were drafted.
Speaking of the abolition of war. inc
speaker sead we want war abolished.
but the world cannot do without great
qrmieS as long as there is fight IN men
And there's the problem; you We got u, |
accomplish the divine regeneration OF
nan. Even at this time. we are in the
midst of surging, civil war; it is 2
var of class against class and it Is ]
threatening our national life. The very !
foundations of the government are tot.
'ering. And the Legion stands pieked
body of men to keep the government safe
and secure"
After Rev. Mr. Buffum's speech. TN"
exercises closed with the playing of Star
Sr"rgled Ranner.
To round out the celebration Of th"
low, a dance was given bv the Legion ip
the evening in Festival hall. Witt !
stpin's orchestra of New Haven, Conn. !
furnished the music 1t was said by
several who attended to be one of the
lost orchestras heard here this year. |
The hall was crowded with dancers and /
he balcony was filed with patrons who |
-ame to listen to the music.