New Britain herald., 1926-08-26
Declares, at Legion Convention, It Is Their Duty As Individuals To Have a Voice In Administrative A. fairs
Congressman Tilson Also Speaks, Urging Econ omy - Entertainment at Armory and Ball at Ho- tel Taft This Evening.

New Haven. Aug. 26-Legion- naires of Connecticut in annual con-
 vention today. were told by Col
 Col. Theodore Roosevelt of New
 York, that upon the actions of the , Legion collectively and on the ac-
 tions of it's members as individuals in large measure depends the future of the United States.'
 Given Hearty Welcome Col. Roosevelt made his address to the convention immediately upon his arrival and just after the formal welcoming speeches to the Legion . delegates in behalf of the city, the state and the -ederal government. When he entered the state armory and made his way to the platform he was given an hearty welcome. In the course of his speech he said:
 "The Legion was founded on the theory of uniting all those who serv- ! ed for a common cause and made common sacrifices. The Leigon is based on the theory of democracy, that in it neither race, religion nor !, material possessions should play part. The Legion should make 1t its province .o see that in the nation at large the same doctrine holds. Warns For Tolerance We should oppose all attempts towards religious solidarity politi- cally. Protestants must not vote for a Protestant simpl.. because he is a , Protestant; Catholics must not vote for a Catholic simply because he is a Catholic; JCw must not vote for 8 Jew simply because he is a Jew. Action of this sort is un-American and to guard against it is the duty of the I ion.
 "Over and above all this, the ac- tons collecti c. Of the Legion must not be considered as bars to the in dividual cction of the service men. Our country is governed by parties and can only exist through intelli- gent political oction on the part of the people. Every Legion man should take his part as an individ- ual in politics.
 Join Some Party
 Every Legion man should join a party. I am a republican and be- long to the re- -Jlican party but I would rather have a Legion man be- } long to the democratic party than have him belong to no party at all 1 Each member of the Legion should join the party he believes to be right and work for its success. If | the Legion men with the ideals they | have. take a proper interest in poli- l tics, l will not fear greatly for the l future of the C 'untry. regardless of | who may be triumphant at the polls. l
 "The Legion has great opportuni- ties if it avails itself of them. It will | need no monument, for it will al- | ways be held in grateful remem- brance by the country. On its ac- tions collectively and on the actions of it's members as individuals in | large measure depends the future of the United States"
 Words of Welcome
 The convention was called to order by State Commander Harry c. Jackson who presented Mayor John B. Tower who. welcomed the dele gates in behalf of the city.
 He was followed by acting Gov ernor J. Edwin Brainard who made the welcome in behalf of the state. Congressman Tilson gave well ; come in behalf of his own congress l sional district and to all the well $ comes vice commander Stanley { Dunn made the response. At the f time Col. Theodore Roosevelt had rot arrived as had been expected. 1 He came in shortly after. z;
 The congressman said he was glad to welcome the delegates to the city in behalf of the federal government. q am glad to see you; all honor to what you have done. , am not addressing a lot of school , boys, nor even detachment of rookie soldiers. Neither am l : speaking 10 a group of has beens ,, nor to men who have shot their bolt. finished their work in the world and are simply waiting for NdlIleT llIu0 lO 6eNll1l N4lShi t'i t'iAN remove them from the field of ac- ton. You are young as an organiz- ation and young as individuals. | Therefore l shall direct the little ' ! hs 7e to say to the work you are yet to do rather than to what you have done, laudable as that has been." z
 Again Urges Economy t
 One of the problems Congress- man Tilson said that must be faced b courageously is the rapidly mount A ing cost of government in this a country, in city. in state and nation.
 Congressman Tilson urged all members of the Amer ,an Legion and all war veterans to prove their G patriotism in peace by aiding in the c struggle for good government as d hey have already proved their pa sl triotism in time of war by riskipg fc
 fcentinued on Page ID u