Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-20
IIlY SPECIAL CUESTSAT
n INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF
JAMES FITZGERALD POST

Donald c. Metcalf. DIR. Samuel II
KaSan, Edward Lemieux, Charles
Pelletier, Arthur f. Tiffin. Lester
Brownell, Hervey Fogg and Frank
S. Carpenter.
Present Past Commanders Jewel
In most laudatory speech in
which he briefly reviewed something
of the retiring commanders service
to the post, Harry Q. Barney on be-
half of his comrades, presented TO
Arthur S. Merrill a beautiful mast
commanders jewel and Mr.. Merrill
responded most graciously, and de-
clared that 1t was the splendid CO.
operation Of the entire membership
which had made possible the record
of accomplishment by the James
Fitzgerald post which during the
year set a high standard for the
posts in the department of Maine.
Assails Omaha Reports
National Committeeman ZAP,
Greenlaw gave his hearers a most in
teresting and vivid account of the
proceedings and high lights of the
great National convention at Omaha.
recently concluded. General Green
law took occasion to differ strenu-
ously with certain officers of the
Massachusetts department of the
American Legion, who have made
statements through the press regard
ing alleged 'disgraceful conduct at
/ the Omaha session.
Gen. Greenlaw, declared that he
had not seen so much liquor dis
pensed since national prohibition
supposedly became effective. as at
Omaha during the week of the Legion
convention. but that these conditions
could not justly be attributed to the
Legionaires. He severely excoriated
the city, county and state authorities
for their disregard of the conditions
, and their failure to take any steps to
, cope with the situation, until COM
mittee from the American Legion
waited upon the Omaha authorities
f! and demanded stringent methods.
! The speaker told the audience, that
at the behest of national Legion rpe-
resentatives the Omaha authorities
accepted the cooperation of the Le-
gion provost guards or military po-
| lice, and that then only was there
any semblance of law enforcement.
/ The delegates to the convention were
not directly concerned with the wide
open conditions in the convention
| influx of convention followers, who
| flowed into the city from all nearby
adjacent places for the big features
of the service mems national gather
I, ing. OF ninety arrests made on the
first night of convention week. not
| one of those who were taken into
custody by the police was a member
of the American Legion.
Gen. Greenlaw also gave the local
| dictionaries vivid look into the in
| side of the workings OF the great ma
| tional convention. He told them some
| thing of the wonderful address by
| President Coolidge and of the chief
executives reception by the service
men. He also explained something of
| the preliminary plans for the Paris
/; convention in 1927, with which he is
| thorough familiar as he is member
| of the committee on transportation Tor
| that gigantic overseas meeting.
State vice-Commander Speaks
Sectional Vice-Commander Bate
made the usual inspirational address
(, in which he named certain ideals Tor
which the Legion should strive. He
defined Americanism and called upon
| the members of the American Legion
| to exert every effort to preserve the
| 100 per cent. Americanism which they
! had because of their unselfish and
self-sacrifcing service to the country
| in time of war.
Mr. Sahagian. head of the inner de-
/, gree of the Legion in Maine, explained
/, the organization of that group and
! promised the Augusta Legionaires that
f. in the very near future the ''wrecking
crew" of the kennenec Noiture locale