Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-18

Albert Beliveau. commander Of
the, American Legion for the de-
partment of Maine, was the guest
yesterday of the George N. Bourque
post of the Legion. During his stay
in the city Mr.. Beliveau presided at
a meeting of the State executive
committee in the afternoon and It
tended the meeting of the post IN
the evening at which time he de-
Evered an address.
The afternoon meeting was held
In the hall of the post and Il were
present, coming from all parts of the
State. One of the principal matters
of business before the board was TO
register a complaint with the head
officials OF the United States Vete-'
rams Bureau at Washington and
with the Maine col gressmen relative
to proposed changes in the standing
of the Veterans Bureau Office at
Bangor. Officers OF the Legion have
aseertained that it is planned by the
Bureau to reduce the Bangor office
to mere medical treatment station
and this brings about radical
change in present conditions there.
The Bangor Office is now a sub-sta-
ton of The Portland office of the
Bureau. If the proposed changes
were to materialize it would mean
that the service men in the northern
part of the State would have to
travel to Portland for the examina-
ton and attention that their cases
required.
The executive committee adopted
vigorous resolution against the
change and it will communicate at
once with Maine Congressman re-
questing that proper action be taken
to maintain the status quo of the
Bangor office.
There was also discussion OF
plans for launching the Legion En-
dowment fund, the income from
which will provide the necessary
funds to carry on the work for the
disah led and for the orphans well
fare work. 1t is not generally
known that there arc about $4,000
orphans of World War service men
needing attention and the Legion is
building and maintaining regional
homes which will have jurisdiction
ever certain areas as outlined In the
general program.
ways and means were considered
relative to securing some sort OF gov
eminent hospital in Maine for the
treatment of tubercnlar patients. AT
the present time there are approx
mately 500 service men in the state
who are afflicted with tuberculosis
not under treatment and they do not
care to leave Maine to have proper
care taken of their cases. This Is a
problem which Legionnaires think
must be met in the near future.
The regular meeting of the post IN
the evening was the most largely at
tended for some time.
The meeting went on record as IN
favor of purchasing the land around
Fort Halifax in Winslow AID to make
it into a park so that the famous
fortress can be kept intact. A hear
ing will be held in Augusta on Thurs
day and a committee made up of DIR.
J. G. Town, William Mansfield and
DR.. Paul r. Baird will represent the
George N. Bourque post!
In q short address Commander
Beliveau outlined the program Of the
Legion, saying that it was one IN
which any American might well be
proud in living up to. Military pre-
paredness was subject which he
considered OF the utmost importance
to the future welfare Of the country.
Restriction Of immigration is another
clause in the program which should
be carefully guarded. Mr.. Beliveau
said that the danger Of admitting into
the country people who did not be-
lieve in the precepts of Americanism
could not be over-e estimated. An
other phase of the program which re-
ceived stress was the universal
draft. The speaker argued that, in
the event of another war, all able
bodied men should be subject to Sc
lection. DIR. j. G. Towne. past COM
mander for Maine. and James i.
BOYLE, department adjutant, also
spoke to the meeting briefly.