Chairman: "The Chair awaits the pleasure of the Convention. Is the Committee on Resolutions ready to report? I must remind the delegates to stop smoking, and to warn them that they will have to leave the hall if they persist in disregarding the warning. Is the Committee on Resolutions ready to report?"

James E. Breslin, Malden Post 69, the chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, comes to the platform and reads the list of resolutions.

When the resolution registering the disfavor of the Convention with the War Department in the case of General Edwards was read there was prolonged applause and sustained cheering.

Delegate: "Mr. Commander, I move you that the resolutions as read be adopted."

Chairman: "You have heard the report. I believe it is my duty to call the attention of the Convention to the fact that if you do this you are not taking the proper time for the discussion of matters which may prove of the greatest importance. I would advise you to take this matter under consideration and think carefully before you render hasty judgment."

Delegate: "I move an amendment to that motion. I move as the amendment that we take up these resolutions individually." The motion was seconded. It is a vote.

Delegate Choate, Beverly: "I move you that that first resolution as drawn up be adopted."

Whereas, The Massachusetts Department of the American Legion in Convention assembled believes that additional compensation should be paid to the honorably discharged veterans of the World War; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Massachusetts Department of The American Legion, in Convention assembled, at Faneuil Hall, Boston, this third day of January, 1920, urges Congress to provide additional compensation to these veterans of not less than $1 per day from April 6, 1917, to date of discharge, furlough to reserve, or placement on inactive duty list; and be it further

Resolved, That each Representative of Massachusetts in Congress be furnished with a copy of this resolution.

Chairman: "May I ask that the Convention confine this to the Department of Massachusetts, and not ask the Posts outside the State to join a project which may be in conflict with the National Constitution."

Delegate Johnson: "I would like to amend this resolution by including this suggestion to limit this matter to the Massachusetts De

partment, but also to make it from date of muster into the service. Not April 6, but the date of entering the service."

Delegate Root, Haverhill: "It seems to me that the time is too short between the action taken by your National Convention at Minneapolis and the present moment to pass resolutions like this one, and I would like to ask the Commander what action has been taken by Congress or what provision has been made by them for this matter."

Chairman: "I shall be very glad to tell you. I know of no provision." [Cries of "Question! Question!"]

Chairman: Are you ready for the question?

Delegate Christopher J. Halligan, Jr., All-Dorchester Post: "I move you in the first place that we substitute 'additional compensation' for 'bonus,' and I hope it will go through in its original form. You have seen that the Minneapolis resolutions have not been acted upon by Congress. Then what chance has the rank and file of the Massachusetts Department of The American Legion to secure action without pressing upon the subject? And, furthermore, that action at Minneapolis did not represent the rank and file"

Interrupted by Chairman: "There will be no reflections upon the National Convention at Minneapolis."

Delegate Halligan: "Mr. Chairman, I am not reflecting upon the Convention at Minneapolis, but it was not"

Again interrupted by Chairman: "The remarks will not be repeated in this Convention."

Delegate Halligan: "Mr. Chairman, I hope the resolution will go through in its original form, and that Congress will see from the sense of the Convention that the members of The American Legion should have representation if they desire."

Chairman: "Are you ready for the question? All those in favor,

etc."

The Chair was first in doubt, but on a second vote he declared that it had carried.

Delegate: "I doubt the vote."

Chairman: "The vote having been doubted, the Convention will signify by a standing vote. All those in favor, etc."

It was decided that the ayes had it on the standing vote.
Chairman: "The question now comes on the next resolution."
Delegate: "If there is no objection, I would like to know if the

motion carried to take up the resolutions one by one meant to take them up in order. If not, and there is no objection, I would like to have taken up next the resolution upon General Edwards.

Chairman: "There being no objection, that resolution will be read, please."

General Edwards resolution is read.

Resolved, That the Massachusetts Department views with disfavor the failure of the War Department to properly recognize the distinguished services of General Clarence R. Edwards.

Delegate: "Mr. Chairman, that resolution contemplates putting the Massachusetts Department of The American Legion and the Convention on record as supporting the principle of a single man. General Edwards is a man for whom I have the highest esteem, and whom I have had the pleasure and honor to serve under. However, I think that our motto has been policies and not politics, and we do not know whether politics is behind the Edwards' affair. Therefore I say do not let the Convention go upon record in matters in which politics may be mixed, however slightly, and I hope that resolution will not pass." Delegate Judson Hannigan, Beverly Post: "In reply to the last speaker, let me say that the War Department is instituted to maintain the institutions of America and not to dabble in politics. I say that the policies of that Department are policies which affect us as a Nation, and that when the War Department raises in rank twentythree Major-Generals of the United States Army, and does not raise in rank the only Major-General who has commanded troops in action. longer than any other General in the United States Army now living, then I say that the War Department is wrong, and for that very reason, if for no other, I urge that the resolution pass the Convention. [Applause.] [Cries of "Question!"]

Delegate William J. Keville, Belmont-Waverley Post: "I desire to move the previous question."

Delegate: "Point of order! Point of order!"

Chairman: "State your point of order."

Delegate: "In the Constitution which we are about to consider here to-day, does it not say that we shall not promote the candidacy of any one single individual?"

Chairman: "The Chair will rule that that is not a point of order." Delegate: "Point of order! Point of order! I want to ask the

Commander what there was in the report sent out by the Executive Committee on such a resolution at a meeting held in December. The Executive Committee sent out such a report, and I saw a written copy of it with a notice to the effect that no action would be taken by the Executive Committee."

Chairman: "I believe that the matter was considered at the Executive Committee meeting, and that it was decided to take no action at that time. Are you ready for the question?"

Delegate Jones, Swampscott: "In reference to the resolution I want to say that I served under General Edwards in two wars, in 1898 and in this late affair. I think that the language you have used in drawing up this bill does not express the situation half strongly enough, and I move you that the motion or resolution be sent back to the committee with the recommendation that they use stronger language."

Chairman: "Are you ready for the question?"

Motion carried.

James E. Breslin, Malden Post 69, chairman of Resolution Committee, reads the resolution on taxes.

Whereas, The Revenue Act of 1918 requires the payment of a 10 per cent tax on all admissions to social functions conducted by The American Legion; and

Whereas, Associations engaged in educational and charitable work are exempt from the payment of said tax; and

Whereas, It is the desire of The American Legion to bring about and promote equality and justice in the treatment of all associations; and

Whereas, The exemption of the payment of the tax by The American Legion can be brought about only by legislation in Congress; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That this Convention request the Legislative Committee of the National Organization of The American Legion and the United States Senators and Congressmen from this Commonwealth to introduce and cause to be enacted an amendment to the Revenue Act of 1918, exempting The American Legion from the payment of the said 10 per cent tax on admissions.

Delegate: "I wish to speak against this bill. It seems to me that at this time, when we are asking for so much and greater things from Congress, it does not seem good form to ask them for a petty affair like this. This matter has been discussed before, and there does not seem to be any basis for exemption for The American Legion." The resolution when put to vote was lost.

Delegate James A. Donovan, Lawrence Post 15, then reads the following resolution from the floor:

Resolved, That reiterating its principle of Americanism, The American Legion, Massachusetts Department, hereby commends the Department of Justice for its arrest of radicals, and pledges its support in the prosecution of those who would destroy this government.

[Applause and great cheering.]

Delegate Nathan Efron, South End (Boston) Post: "I rise for the purpose of opposing this last resolution read. This is the resolution commending the Department of Justice and denouncing the Bolsheviki. It does not seem to me fit and proper that this form of resolution should be presented to a convention of The American Legion. Why should we commend the agents of the Department of Justice when they are only doing their duty? Do we go on record as commending all agents of the law when they simply follow instructions and perform their duty?" [Interrupted by catcalls, hisses, cries of "Throw him out!" "Go back to Russia!" etc.]

Chairman: "The Convention will come to order. This man has a right to be heard, and he will be heard."

Delegate Nathan Efron (continuing): "The duty of The American Legion is not that of police duties. That is for the police officials. Why, then, do we assume any such stand as the one proposed by this resolution? If we go on record as favoring this resolution by commending this Department, why should we not go and commend every department in the country? That is what we should do if we adopt this resolution. I hope sincerely that it will not pass." [Hisses, boes, cries of "Deport him!" etc.]

Chairman: "The Convention will be in order." [Cries of "Question!" "Question!"]

This resolution when put to vote was passed.

Delegate Levine, Malden: "Mr. Commander, I move you, sir, before any other resolutions come before this Convention, that we come to the business that brought us here in the first place. It is plainly stated in the call for this Convention that the most important business for which we are convened here is to bring into conformity with the National Constitution the State Constitution of the Massachusetts Department of The American Legion. We have wasted considerable time here in discussion of these resolutions which are not so important as the Constitution, and it seems to me that the Convention should proceed at once to the business of accepting or changing the Constitution."