The Wrangell sentinel., 1926-05-06
SEVENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
 AMERICAN LEGION OF ALASKA
 NOW IN SESSION IN WRANGELL

A touch of sadness prevailed at the first meeting of the Seventh Annual Convention ot the American Legion and Auxiliary, Department of Alaska, which opened Thursday morning in this city, due to the fact that two of last years conyen- tion leaders did not answer roll call. Mrs. Caroline Ballard Talbot National Chaplain, went Over the Top never to return to the lowly dugout; while Commander Warren A. Taylor reported missing, was unable to extricate himself from barbed wire entanglements. Both of these important figures in the AL aska Department were greatly miss ed as the Convention took up the orders of the day
 At the initial meeting, planned as a General Assembly, Department Vice Commander ". R. Neville of Mep1in Elmer Palmer Post No. 6. presided. A brief but impressive invocation was made by the Rev. H. P Corser. rector of St. Philips chu4ch.
 Petrieh Reads Message
 Following the address of welcome and the rendering of the keys of the city by Mayor Grant, Adjutant Petrich read the message of De paptment Commander Warren A. Taylor, who was unable to attend the convention due to business in terests, to the conventioneers:
 'To the delegates from the Posts
 of Alaska:
 "It is with deep regret that l must take this way of greeting the delegates to the Department Convention, but for business reasons I am unable to attend.
 Ut is customary for the De- partment Commander to give brief outline of his activities dur ing his tenure of office, and the results that have been achieved.
 "The two major drives for the past year have brought to com pletion the endowment fund - the Department has made very creditable showing, although do not have the figures at hand and the membership drive is well under way We have every reason to believe that we will exceed our quota of six hundred members for the Department. which was the number set by the National Headquarters.
 'I find that the assistance which has been rendered ex-ser- vice men in securing their Ad- justed Compensation Certificates has had very beneficial effect in getting new members, as well as our effort to get them rein stated and convert their govern ment insurance.
 When we show the veterans
 hot we are willing to do everything in our power to assist them lh these things it is easy to show them the advantage of belonging to the Legion.
 'In November of 1925 I at tended the Conference of Depart ment Commanders and Adjutants at National Headquarters and had the honor to meet the Ma tional officers. I was impressed with their earnestness and sin cerity in their work to promote the cause of the American Legion by their untiring efforts to bet ter the conditions of the disabled veterans and their families, and for the dependents of those who made the supreme sacrifice.
 "It has been an honor to serve as a Commander Of the Depart ment of Alaska, and when you 20 back to your Post 1 want you to thank them for me for then aid and cooperation during the past year.
 q extend my best wishes to my successor and hope that the coming year will be the biggest and the best year that the Legion lod in Alaska Any as sistance that I may be able to render him I will gladly do, that we may make the American Le- zion a pillar of strength for the good of the community, the Ter ritory, and the Nation
 "And in closing, I wish to thank the Ladies Auxiliary TOT their aid in promoting activities of the Posts, and 1 am sure no Post can function as it should without the helping hand Of an efficient Auxiliary.
 with hopes of greeting all oI you at the next convention u be held at Cordova, I remaini
 "Fraternally yours,
 fsiqned1 ..Warren A Taylor. ," Four towns are represented by Iaaion delegates, but each delegate has voting power by proxy Iron. is otleer cities MT. E. M. Policy IS I,lneau's delegate; J. F. HladlcK s,om Cordova represents Falrpanks eo. petersburg's official, Freder- i,ig Nelson. voices Sitka's interests, and Vice Commander Neville or or V,rangell is pleading the a, cause oi h;s own city and also Ketch,han;: Il ; rhe os Auxiliary lists the following or,icial % representatives Anchorage, \ Mrs rae' A. M. Cook; Seward na,aav, Edltn Thoady; Ti ,o Juneau, Mrs. E. M. Policy re y Iatcbikan. Mrs. Talbot; and Wrah- II Mrs. w. w. Mclaughlin