Putnam patriot., 1924-06-06

people were guests or the convention, these including Rt. Rev. Bishop Milan, Lieut.. Gov. Hiram Bingham, State Treasurer C. Harold Gilpatrie, Mayor Chapdelaine, numerous priests, Henry Ledonx of Nashua, N. H.. president of the St. Jean de Baptiste Society of the United States; Rodolphe Bedard of Montreal. president of the Arti- sans Society of the United States; Eugene Jalbert of Noonsoeket, R. l., president of the Catholic Federation of French Societies of America, Joseph Lussier of Holyoke. Mass, editor of French newspaper of wide circulation and numerous other na- tional figures.
 A. A. Brodeur Presides
 A. A. Brodeur, who has served as president of the Federation holding the convention. presided over all of the meetings on Monday and Tuesday, diseharging his duties like a past mas ter.
 All of the delegates expressed their delight with the hospitality that was extended to them during their stay in the city. They voiced their praise for the honor accorded them and the convention, through the decorating of dwelling houses and business blocks {; the entertainment furnished by the hospitable people of the city and the unfailing courtesy of city officials and the jealous committee that arranged for the convention, at the head of which was A. A. Brodeur.
 A large number of the delegates ar rived in the city on Sunday and in the evening. in St Mary's Hall, were pleasantly entertained by the children of the parochial school.
 At the closing meeting of the con vention on Tuesday afternoon, 1t was voted to hold the next annual conven. 1 tion in Hartford and Rev. J. E. A. Belanger of Hartford was chosen ta be chaplain.
 Conduct Street Parade
 Convention activities opened on i Monday morning with street parade. l Rosario BeauSoleil was chief mar. shal and Ernest Durand was chief of staff. The Band Canadienne of | North Grosvenordale furnished the music and the parade column was made up of delegates to the conven- tion and delegations of members from several local French societies. 1 The line of march ended in front of ] St. Mary's church. The parade was disbaiisSsad b,asiiSad and those participating, to- gether with hundreds '.set- - ethers, at tended a solemn high mass in St. Mary's church. There were in at tendance, some assisting, about if teen out of town priests. Bishop Milan arrived late from Hartford. but was in time to deliver an address to the delegates and assembled friends.
 Lieut. Gov. Bingham Speaks
 Upon assembling in St. Johns Hall. following the mass, the delegates were called to order by President A. A. Brodeur, who introduced as the first speaker, Lieut.. Gov. Bingham.
 Following his formal words of vel come to the convention, on behalf of Governor Templeton and the state. Mir. Bingham launched an attack up- on Congress for the inroads that body is making and proposes to make. on state sovereignty.
 Mir. Bingham selected two measures now before Congress, as illustrations of the attempts by Congress to take away the authority now enjoyed by the states over their own affairs. He spoke particularly of the so-called education bill and the proposed Fed eral amendment having to do with child labor.
 Opposes Education Bill
 Discussing the education bill, Mir. Bingham said that it provided for the creation of new cabinet portfolio and the appointment by the president of secretary of education: it pro vides for the expenditure of $l00,- 900. .000 annually in the states Con necticut, Mr. Bingham said. would get a million and half dollars under the bill, based on savings bank statistics But, he declared, to get this immense sum of money, Connecticut must pay in taxes, SIP for every dollar re- eeiyed. Did you ever hear of any thing SO ridieulousg asked Mir. Bing- ham. He declared that Connecticut and every other state should have full authority over it's schools; that it was un-Ameriean and wrong for this authority to be vested in authori- ties at Washington. Connecticut md every other state, he affirmed, should do everything possible to prevent Congress from usurping any more power and authority over the states.
 Federal Amen dnent Un-Ameriesn
 The Lieut.. Governor spoke at length on tho proposed child labor constitutional amendment, whereby it is proposed that the Constitution shall be changed SO as to regulate and pro hibit employment of children under eighteen years of age. He told how it would be impossible for boys and girls to work after school hours in. order to earn money to put themselves through school. He pointed out other disadvantages of the proposed amend ment.
 Summing up Mr. Bingham declared. in the words of President Coolidge, that what America needs is not more legislation and laws, but more reli- gion and culture. He declared that the French societies, then in conven- ton, were striving for just these things and he lauded them for their endeavors.
 Mir. Bingham paid glowing tri- bute to President Coolidge and that his audience agreed with the senti- ments he expressed was evidenced by the storm of applause that greeted every mention of tue Presidents name and sterling qualities.
 Urxes PeorIe to Vote
 Finally, Lieut.. Gov. Bingham urg-