Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-27

steadily tearing of paper napkins.
Everyone parked on the floor and
then the biggest eating event of
the convention was on. For an
hour the feasters cracked claws.
disected bodies, spilled coffee, jostled
laughed and at last rose to wend,
their way down into the city again,
filled to the brim but perfectly hap
by. The citizens of Waterville were
responsible for the buffet BANQUET.
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
The afternoon session of the Leg
ion was called to order by Com
mander Towne about o'clock.
A telegram was read from Vice
Commander Albert Beliveau of
Rumford expressing his sincere re-
grets on account of not being able
to be present on account of the ILL
ness of his mother. 1t was voted to
instruct Adjutant Boyle to send a
telegram of sympathy to Vice Com
mander Beliveau in behalf of the
convention.
State Adjutant James L. Boyle. re-
porting TO the convention, gave
resume of the Names departments
extension and activity for the past
year, and urged the universal draft
plans for Defense Day he declared
of vital importance.
On the subject of preparedness
Adjutant Boyle said:
We must recognize the fact that
there are many pacifists III this
country, and Furthermore that their
views will never be changed. To
very few of them have come the
pride and pleasure of serving on &C
tive duty for their country.
Not having served their country
or become actually confronted with
the requirements to properly carry
on an offensive or defensive war,
they are in no position to properly
visualize the national delinffuenCies
of the past or the possible needed
preparation for the future. Some of
the paCifistS group no doubt consider
they faithfully and sufficiently serve
their country when they purchase In
terest paying tax exempt bonds, and
others will not do that.
They can be tolerated. for this is
free country, and freedom OF
thought is assured, and so long as
they remain in the minority, they
must, until international CondltlonS
change, be kept there, and we must
not permit them to do all the talk-
ing, but it is our duty to profit by
experience and be prepared as other
countries do.
The Legion has taken its stand. 1t
Is cooperating with the service men
organizations in the other Alileo
countries to eventually bring on
permanent peace. 1t says that II
there is TO be any limitation of arma-
ment, and a conference is called, let
it agree for the signatory powers ana !
let these powers ratify and stand
back of the agreement. to lmmedl-
ately limit submarines. aircraft, lahu
forces and equipment, gas and all
other forms of deadly and noXlous
methods of attack. When you nave /
removed these imple-
ments of war, war cannot amount
to much in our times.
Our country was woefully Cnprc-
nared for every war we went into.
| osses of thousands of lives and bill
lions of dollars were the consequence.
Let us not be caught again. When
we are fairly we'll armed other coun-
tries will fear and respect our wealth.
and ornaments, and with adequate
protection, natural barriers OF de-
fence on two sides, powerless ma
ton on the south and a friendly peo-
ple to the north, and a peace loving
American people within our borders
we can look for safe future.
When we view the international as
pect we find the same hostility eN-
listing in the minds of the peoples
represented by the opposing armies
of 1914-l9lS and the Allied countries
are not working in unison; Germanys
Young manhood is still being taught
the lessons of warfare, Russia is Stlll
n menace with the largest standing
army of any country. Japan. natural-
w Jealous of and hostile to us, ORDER
ing implements of warfare ny the
hundreds of thousands, and VINO can
fortell what a danger to the world Il
German, Russian and Japanese al
lance would mean?
so, Legionaires, We are here pri-
marily to convene on departmental
matters and to develop Legion spirit.
hut while we are here let's thing over
in our minds our country's welfare
and when our national organization
defends preparedness, inform your
selves so when you go back to your
communities you will be ready
champions of a necessary state oil
national defence. and when Defence
Dav is urged, get behind it. and
when YOU are called later on to lend
YOUR support to the Universal Draft
Law. be ready to fight for 1t till 1t is
enacted.
Following the reading of Adjutant
Boyles report, Commander Iowne
called for a rising vote of thanks to
Samuel Freeman, a business man of
Waterville, who headed the commit
tee that had charge of the lobster
barbecue. He was greeted with en-
thusiastic clapping and stamping ana
to man the convention body rose.
Comrade Fitzchandler. represcn-
tative of the American Legion Week
". spoke at this time concerning the
usefulness of the Legion Weekly IN
aiding posts to gain new members.
The next speaker was Colonel e. T.
Tandy of Boston, superintendent oil
the New England district of the vet
Grams Bureau, who first extended the
greetings sent to the convention by
General Frank T. Kinds OF WashlnG-
ton. ID. c., head of the National VET
Grams Bureau.
Col. Tandy declared that the Vet
Grams Bureau is giving better ser
vice than ever before and that 569
men have been cared for in hospitals
during the past two months by the
New England bureau alone.
He said that the new World war
Veterans Bill signed by the presi-
dent and passed in June was going
to be a benefit, but that there will
probably have 20 be some amend
ments. He expressed appreciation
for the splendid cooperation given
him by the American Legion OF
Maine.
Col. Towne was very compliment
tary in introducing John X. QUINN
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