Evening star., 1946-08-15
Mary|andLegion
.Sessions0pened
In Cumberland
Record Attendance
Of 10000 Expected
By Officials
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent

The first postwar convention of the
American Legions Maryland De-
partment swung into high gear here
today with business sessions sched-
uled this morning and afternoon,
followed by the dedication of 1885,
nm. gun at 4 pm. at the Allegany
County Courthouse.
A total of LOO delegates from 1853
posts represent the Legion while as
many more are attending simultane-
Gus meetings of the organizations
auxiliary, the Forty and Eight, a
Legion subsidiary. and it's auxiliary
the Eight and Forty. Officials esti-
mated total attendance at the con-
vention, which ends Saturday, would
reach the 10000 mark, making it the
largest in the departments history.
Representation of trophies and
awards was to feature the Legion
auxiliary's meeting today, with Mrs.
E. Kemp Troupe. Baltimore, auxil-
larry president, scheduled to receive
an award on behalf of her organ
ization for having the greatest per-
centage gain in membership in the
Eastern Division
Speakers Hit Foreign Isms."
Speakers at the opening joint
session Of the convention last night
emphasized that this country must
remain prepared to repel any ag-
gressor nation, and reiterated the
Legion's stand against the importa-
ton of foreign "isms."
Paul H. Griffith, Washington, a
public relations counselor and chair
man of the Legion's subcommittee
on un-American activities, warned
that although our armies defeated
NaAism and Fascism, another ISM
Communism. which he said was
equally dangerous to the American
way OF life, is spreading over the
world and cropping up here"
Declaring that the United States
has the greatest economic system
the world has ever known, Mr..
Griffith called on this country to
be prepared so that the boys who
lost their lives will not have died
in vain
A similar note was sounded by
Mrs. Troupe, who said her organ
ization will actively support the
United Nations only after it has
proved 1t can preserve peace.
To Stress Defense.
Until then" she asserted. I'VE
Will work for national defense and
in the words of Theodore Roose-
welt tread softly but carry big
stick"
Capt. Lyle o. Armel, U. S. N. r.,
stationed at the Navy Department
IN Washington, pointed out that
the session was being held on the
first anniversary of the japanese
surrender, and urged Legionnaires
everywhere to make the peace Sc
cure
Let us not repeat the same mis-
takes We made after the World War
and Junk our battleships." Capt
Armel said. I'VE must be ready to
push back any aggreSsor nation far
from our shores SO that our country
''AA A1SfCl bC lilNdutu.
Other speakers included Raw c.
Berg, West Virginia department
commander; Mrs Archie w. Miller,
national vice president of the auxil-
lary's Eastern division, and Mary
land Department Commander Mar
tin F. Iverson.
Frequent applause from the au-
dience greeted the speakers, who
pointed out that SO per cent of the
Leglon's membership consisted of
World War II veterans.
City Decorated.
Among committee chairmen ap-
pointed are two nearby MARYLAND
residents, Joseph A. Cantrel. Chevy
Chase, delegate from Bethesda
Chevy Chase Post No. 105. was
named chairman of the Resolutions
Committee and Thomas R. Free
man, Greenbelt, a delegate from
Greenbelt Post No 1876. was named
chairman of the Constitution and
Bylaws Committee.
AS delegates and their wives con-
tlnued to arrive, the city took on
gala air with many of the buildings
draped with flags and sidewalk
statesmen hawking their wares.
The traditional pranks of Legion
naires at previous conventions was
absent here, with attention of the
delegates apparently concentrated
on efforts to maintain the peace in
view of the strained international
situation.
Delegates from Frederick Post No.
155, Forty and Eight, broke the ice,
however, by camoufaging a truck
as a locomotive. driving through
the city blowing a whistle.