New Britain herald., 1923-01-29
National Commander of American Legion Delivers Stirring Address-Given Royal Welcome to New Britain.

New Britain has not in long time,
 heard an oration or the type delivered
 by National Commander Alvin N, owsley of the American Legion at the auditorium Of The Central Junior High
 school Saturday night, Nowhere in
 the state Of Connecticut, was the na-
 tional commander more royalty wei,
 eomed than he was upon his arrival
 and subsequent stay in the Hardware
 City"
 Arriving here. Commander owsley
 was dined at the New Britain club where he was the guest of group of the most prominent men in the city, representatives of business clubs and veterans organizations of the city.
 While the dinner was in progress, scores of the members of Eddy-G Glow CT post were gathering at the post rooms in the Electric building. wait ing to escort their leader 10 the aus ditorium where he delivered his memorable address
 Promptly at 7:20 o'clock. the es- cort. headed by platoon Of police under the command of Sergeant George c. Ellinger and the Eddy. Glover post band. swung at column left from their forming place on Washington street. past the City Hall into Main street where they were fol- lowed by Commander owsley in an automobile.
 Cheercd by Capacity Attendance
 The hall in the Central Junior High school was filled to capacity with Le- gionnaires and men and women eager to catch sight of the city's honored guest, and when Commander Owsey made his appearance on the stage, cheers and applause lasting fully five minutes greeted him. On the stage with the national commander were Mayor Angelo M. Paonessa, State Commander Edward l.. Kelley, State Adiutant Clarence Guinan of the Am erican Legion; w. W. T. Squire, con- inander of Eddy-Glover post of this city, Rev. John L. Davis, chaplain of Eddy Glover post and Major Daniel Shanahan of Waterbury, formerly in 102nd infantry.
 Commander Squire first introduced Mayor Paonessa, and the chief execu- tive of the city in tones ringing with the deepest sincerity. welcomed the national commander to New Britain and conferred on him the freedom of the city during his stay here.
 Next came Commander Squire's speech of introduction of the national commander, announcing him as the man from the Lone Star state who is the head of the greatest organization of service men in the country.
 With his first words, Commander Owsley gripped the attention of his hearers and held it until he was done. Throughout his discourse, he punc- tuated his remarks with statements that brought the house down with ap- plause.
 He first graciousy thanked those present for the wonderful welcome with which he was received. He : stated that he was accustomed to and he found it here in 
 He complimented the Eddy-Glover :. post band and told the members he :. wanted them to come to California to the next national convention of the legion and play for the thousands who would be there.
 Launching into his speech, Con- mander Owsey said that there was no mystery about the American Le- zion. He said that he wanted the and advice and the hearts of .' the businessmen present. He, as na- . .ional commander, was trying to ~ spread the news of the Legion :. the country. T.
 To Drive Out nliteracy " He then turned to the great work |, ,f the American Legion for educa- D ion in America. He said Tn knowl- a ,dge is the safety of the nation and tt t is the aim of the American Legion g O drive out, within the next five ,ears, illiteracy from every state in SC he union'' He stated that the ills u rom which this country is suffering = re the result of ignorance. That was yhy the American Legion had held Educational Week. During that week 0,000,o00 American people had visit d the schools to investigate the man. er in which their children were be- ng taught. He startled those present " saying that during the past year, here were Zo,Duu,UUU CnliureH III tnIS ountry of scholastic age, but only | 5, ,O00, ,000 of them had put in a daily tendance in the schools. He said he Legion wanted to see the com usory educational laws enforced and eclared that he had no patience with nose people who drove the children ut of the schools into the factories. And I am not alluding alone to your reat state of Connecticut" he said but to my own state of Texas, here children, at the age when they lould begin to grasp the English lan- uage are forced to enter factories to lrn their daily bread"
 Making Tomorrow's Citizens
 He said that the biggest problem icing the nation today, was to make etter men and women for tomorrow. his could be done, in his opinion, Fl lily by making the English language Ie medium of conversation through 1t the country. He would have a W in every state to have English A| ught as the common language of the
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