New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-09-14
KELLY Defends STAND
AGAINST STATE BONUS
.eoatiaasa from Rags isl

ment fa the funeral OF our late fftsis
laent. warren q. Harding, and q con-
ltrhutlAn fer a aaral piece aas seat 70
national headquarters fea viii near
In more detail frsm the department
lsdiutant, treasurer and other depart
Iment affesrs Of the ethsr aelisluss
neeuliar 10 the state department.,
Personal caaIset Throaeh tishs
1T wss my pledge when elected 70
the Office OF state eemmandsF, ana ma
purpess Throughout the entire year 70
visit as many posts IN cities and towns
as II Was possible so 10 do, Not one
Invitation was refused, although IA
enc or two instances conflicting sn'
gaeements prevented my accepting an
invitation, hut al all times MAS
ready and willing 20 make date OF
the future. I believe that the effect
OF the Legion spirit gained through
these personal visits Is OF great as
sistanee 10 the commander IN work
ing out the hest interests Of the or
ganixatian, I believe the story Of the
respective accomplishments Of the
posts carried from. one 10 another
strengthens the bond az mutual inter-
est and desire TO extend help that 10
the very heart Of our organization and
increases the desire 10 achieve and
bring forth the best that II In the
! Legion. How well I have kept this
pledge 10 make personal visits you
know among yourselves, ] should
like TO have travelled further and more
frequently. for have felt that these
trips have done much both 10 build
up and instill Legion morale into our
! forces and IN addition have given
your officials the intimate knowledge
they should have OF local conditions.
ut Is. my hope that ! may be OF
service even after have turned over
this office 10 my successor and that
etill have the great pleasure OF visit
ing the various posts wherever and
whenever ] am wanted. that ] might
renew the friendships made and have
the pleasure of making new ones.
The happicst memory I shall carry
with me into private life Is the friend
ship have formed through this won
derful state.
Comrades, have done the best !
could. Whether the work of this ad-
ministration has been done well or Ill
| II Is not for us to say. Whatever ]
have done has been labor OF love.
count myself well compensated by
the trust you have pleaced In me and
shall continue to work just as hard
while am plain Legionnaire.
You are the Legion-you and your
posts Let us keep the home fires
burning brightly and let us keep faith
with those who have passed on for II
the American Legion is anything at all
II is living monument to those men
who now lie where the creeping
grasses and vines of the Argonne knit
coverlets above their graves and the
weeping willows Of the Marine still
droop in mournful memory. Above
all let us continue to serve honestly,
sincerely and Loyalty those of our
comrades who are disabled and those
who need the helping hand of a
brother. Therein lies our real
strength - the brotherhood that was
tested in fire, blended in blood and
matured to it's full perfection in the
comradeship ofpeace."
Adjutant Guiilan reports
On motion of Donald Peck OF East
Haven the report of Commander Kelly
was accepted. Adiutant Guinan OF
New Haven then presented brief re-
port in which he told of the many
activities of the Legion during the
past year and what good work 1t has
done.
Following the reading of the re-
ports Z. r. Alexander of Meriden.
mentioned as candidate for the Of
fee of commander, stated that he felt
a committee should be appointed to
act on the recomme ndations made in
the commanders report and any that
might come. Donald Peck of East
Haven said that he was heartily in
favor of such a move and on motion
Of M. e. Taylor of Hartford the fol-
lowing committee was appointed by
the chairman: Messrs. Edwin Lamb Of
Hartford, Alexander of Meriden,
Congdon of Bridgeport, Williams of
Norwalk, Cunningham of Norwich,
Ryan and O'Donnell of Portland.
Clarence Scarborough of New Ha-
ven, treasurer Of the legion, then pre-
scented the following report:
ut gives me great pleasure to re-
port to you at this time the end of
our department year, a balance in the
treasury of $4,145.3S. This is gain
of $1,54S,02 over the balance of last
year which does not mean that we
have had greater income than last
year. but that we have not had the
great deficit of last year to overcome.
Again 1 must call your attention
10 the remittance of your national
dues and state assessments. Many
posts began to send in these dues In
the early part of January and Febru
airy but have not kept them up. Some
posts have not yet RENTED. I think
you will agree with me that the an
rua dues intended for national and
state headquarters should be turned
in at once and not diverted to uses,
even If temporary
Our poppy sales to date have net
ted the state department s1,257.76.
The overseas graves endowment fund
proved tremendous success and one
Of the best things the Legion has done
this year. Connecticut over subscrib-
ed it's quota, making total contribu-
ton of s3,099.11, according to our
records"
Mr.. Scarborough, as treasurer of
the state fund, then presented his re-
port for that branch of work after
which the session was adjourned until