The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-18

would forecast the legion's destiny for 1885. National Commander Belgrano presided. Around hin sat other high legion officials. Al their desks were the commander: and adjutants from every state 1T the Union and from eight depart. ments outside the continental linn. its of the United States. On every face was an air of expectancy.
 The roll call opened with Ala bama, Alaska, and on down the line. The enthusiasm started with the reading of the first wife, and grew in volume as Arkansas, Ari. zona, Colorado, Connecticut joined the parade of new advance mem- bership records.
 Then came Florida.
 Florida Increases
 Commander w. E. Whitlock, ot High Springs, Fla, announced Flor- ida had 8,O01 members of its 9,9O3 quota for 1885 already signed up! There was an increase of 5,4S5 over last years roll call report. Congrat- ulations were showered on the Ev- erglade State commander. Indiana followed with a jump of 4,133 over it's last years report. Department after department went over the top. topping old records. When the reports drew to a close with Wisconsins 3,000-member gain, Assistant National Adjutant Harold l.. (Pep) Hummer announced the roll call total was 314,070.
 Immediately after this announce ment, Commander Belgrano told the assembled department com manders and adjutants that he would raise the embership quota for his term from 909,470, a figure which was fixed before he was elected, to an all-time high.
 Inspired by the national com mander's statement and the high figures of the days reports, depart meat commaners promptly began to challenge each other on the showing of their respective depart mentS.
 Bets Ton of Coal
 Commander Claude l.. Smith. of the West Virginia department wagered a ton of coal against one ton of peanuts with the department of Virginia, that his state would have a greater percentage of 1855 membership in relation to the 1854 membership on February 22, 1855 Commander R. l.. Insko, of Vir- ginia, accepted the challenge. One stipulation of the bet was that il had to be paid off at the next na- tional convention in St Louis. The picture of the delegates from the Old Dominion State hauling 2,00C pounds of circus goobers to the St Louis convention to pay off the bet if they lose, led to waves of gulf flaws.
 Department Commander Lester F. Albert of Vermont then bet the department of Idaho two gallons o1 Vermont maple syrup against g 1O0-pound sack Aof Idaho baking spus. Arkansas challenged Loui- siana and bet a razor-back hog against a Louisiana kingfisher. Ok lahoma challenged Arkansas and the stake" was named as the shirt air' of the losing department commander. Department Comman- der John Dwight Sullivan of New York took on California, Illinois and Pennsylvania, betting eact three tickets to any football game to be selected by the winner, that New York will have a bigger per centage of it's 1895 membership quota signed up thirty days before the St Louis convention. Georgis challenged every other departmen within the United States.
 Arizona challenged Montana ant Michigan; California flung defies a Massachusetts, New York, Penn sylvania, Ohio and Illinois; the Dis trict of Columbia challenged Della ware; Florida challenged Nortf Dakota; Idaho tackled Utah: Hi. nois contested with New York Michigan, Minnesota and Wiscon. sin; Indiana dared Illinois. Mich igan, Ohio. Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana; Maine took on Colorado Minnesota defied Iowa, Wisconsin and Alabama: Missouri challenged Kansas; Michigan disputed witf Indiana; Nevada defied Delaware Oklahoma thought it could beat both Missouri and Kansas; Tennes' see challenged all southern depart ments; Virginia took on Arkansas Washington challenge Oregon, ant Wisconsin believed it could take the measure of Minnesota.