Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-21
Spanish War Vets
Hold Encampment
At Soldiers Home

44O oO4N41S1 . 4xO11lC
The Department Of Maine United
| Spanish War Veterans held their
21st annual encampment here Satur-
day and despite the snow storm
there was large attendance There
i We're IL officers and "a delegates
present and a large number of vet
Grams and guests.
The veterans assembled at IL
o'clock for their committee meetings
| and presented their credentials to
that committee. Promptly at
o'clock commander Martin J. Nc
Donough of Bangor, called the
meeting to order and the encamp-
ment was opened by prayer by the
! department chaplain, Rev. Frank L.
Phalen, of the National Home. This
was followed by the report of the
credential committees Of which w. I.
| Sterling of Waterville was chairman.
| The next was the department COM
! manderS report which was as fol-
lows: In submitting this report I
hope the Comrades Of the department
will realize that l took over the COM
| mand without previous notice or ex-
| pectation. which necessitated chang
ing to new officers without any pre-
| partitions, which slowed up the work
l.
that my short term has proven sat-
| isfactory to you.
| cat this time I would respectfully
call attention to Camp adjutants
! and quartermasters, the necessity of
! getting their reports in more pro-
perly, reports coming in slowly, in
/ some cases three months late, causes
great inconvenience and extra work
for the Department officers.
| II also would like to call your at
| tention to necessity of active re-
| cruiting. In the last semi-annual
| report to Headquarters we show a
net loss in the department of one
| member, the June report showing sos
comrades and the December report
| showing 604. There were only 3
| Camps showing an increase, three q
| loss, three stood still, and one Camp,
/ No. s, of Norway, making no report
! despite the numerous requests for
| the same. The coming year, how
ever, shows more promise as several
| Camps, I am glad to say, are putting
forth every effort to increase their
membership, and reports received by
me at this time causes me to believe
that a substantial growth will be
shown on the next semi annual re-
port. 1t is hoped that every Camp
Will SHoW dH iuCieaSe AZ theh hSAe
report.
Cumberland Camp of Portland is
to be congratulated on the success
they have achieved, in having a
monument dedicated soon to the boys
of '9S. Also Freeman Herrick Camp
of Camden which shows a 100 per
cent membership of the veterans in
their jurisdiction.
I'm these days Of auto motive
transportation and with so many of
J the comrades owning cars, I firmly
believe that If the date Of the an
nual encampment could be set
ahead to a later one, when the roads
are more fit for travel, we could
have a much larger attendance with
more delegates and comrades at each
meeting, which would stimulate in
| terest in the affairs of the Depart
ment and ten dto build up our Or
ganization to what it should be.
| II should like to see a set of by
! laws made up for the Department
as all well conducted organizations
Should be governed by some set of
rules that may fit their peculiar con-
tlitions not fully covered in the Rules
and Regulations of the order.
81 firmly believe that the Depart
| ment should own q complete stand
of CGlors and that each Encampment
! be opened in due form, which cannot
/ be done without colors.
II suggest to the incoming officers
! that a strong legislative committee
be appointed, as the coming year
brings in the State legislature, and
we should be prepared to so before
that body we'll primed to prove out
claims If we should have any to pre-
sent.
1.-THE finances Of the Department,
| as you will note from the Quarter
masters report, are in excellent
shape. but at this time I would sug-
| gest that we take up the advisability
of increasing the per-capita tax &C
! cording to instructions from the Ma
tional Headquarters.
1T is hoped and expected that a
department of Auxiliary to our or
ganization be established at this En-
campment. Once again / wish to
urge the formation oil AuXiliaries to
! each of the respective Camps of this
Department. An active auxiliary is
an asset to any Camp and should be
encouraged.
an closing, wish TO thank all the
officers of the Department, all Camp
officers and comrades for their un-
! failing courtesy and fine spirit of CO.
: operation SHOWN me WEne serving
as your Department Commander. II
! this fine spirit continues can see
/ where the Department Of Maine, in
proportion to number eligible to
membership, will be as fine depart
ment as any in the Organization.
I "As the Bursum bill is to be voted
| April 81 in the House of Representa-
! tives, would suggest that tele-
grams be sent by the encampment to
each Congressman asking their sup
| port for these bills"
| The report was accepted with the
understanding that the Irregularities
noted be taken up with the several
camps and the views of the Depart
ment commander compiled with.
i The next was the report of the
Department Adjutant and Depart
ment Quartermaster. The Encamp-
ment received greetings by wire
from President Calvin Coolidge, and
| Commander-i in Chief Albert d. AL
corn, of Cincinnati, also letter
| of regret from Governor Baxter of
Maine, who was unable to be pres
ent.
| The next was the election of Of