Delegate Jones, Swampscott: "I move that the report just read be accepted and a copy sent to each Post."

Chairman: "Before putting the motion I would ask if there are any questions to be asked."

Delegate Wm. J. Keville, Belmont-Waverley Post: "I wish that the Treasurer would explain in detail what is meant by the amounts to be returned to the Massachusetts Department. I think that it should be more clearly understood by the delegates."

Finance Officer: "By that is meant that the amounts now being paid by the Massachusetts Department in the form of salaries are to be met by the Commonwealth. Until we get the amount from the Commonwealth the people have to be paid, and we are therefore advancing the money from the Department. The bills are all in to the Commonwealth, but as you know it takes some time to get the money from them."

Chairman: "I should perhaps tell you that by an arrangement which was made by a sub-committee of the Executive Committee and the Commonwealth some $400 a week is to be allowed for the maintenance of the Employment Bureau. I can assume from what the Treasurer has said that the money was not yet available from the State, and that the Department has therefore advanced the money. In other words, the Treasurer has advanced the money to tide the people over, and he will later be reimbursed by the Commonwealth. Are there any other questions?"

Motion carried unanimously that the report as read be accepted and a copy sent to each Post.

Chairman: 'The next matter to come before the Convention will be along the lines of employment. I am going to suggest that we get from the employment officer a report of the work which has been accomplished by the Bureau. The employment manager, Mr. A. B. Howe, is here, and I would ask him for a report of what progress has been made in the past month."

Employment Manager A. B. Howe: "On Jan. 5, 1920, the Employment Bureau for Returning Soldiers and Sailors, acknowledged by the Assistant Secretary of War to be the best Bureau of its kind in the country, was taken over by The American Legion, at which time a new Board of Management appointed by the Legion assumed charge. The personnel comprises thirteen people, four of whom are skilled interviewers, familiar with the needs of employers, and able to recognize qualifications of applicants. This report covering the month of January is particularly gratifying because of conditions existing at this time each year.

"During this month the attendance was 2,832. Out of this number, 754 were registrations. There were 819 men who were referred to jobs, 302 of whom were accepted and placed at work. The total number of jobs offered for the month was 572.

"You will note the vast difference between the number of placements as compared with the number referred. A great part of this is traceable to the fact that a number of men referred to jobs do not report as agreed, and this should be impressed upon all service men, as their failure to report not only reflects on themselves, but upon other service men who are really anxious for work.

"The Bureau is co-operating with the various Posts to the extent that a bulletin showing available jobs is mailed weekly in order that any members out of employment may know what we have to offer them. To date the Posts of Greater Boston have received a copy, and our mailing list will be enlarged each week just as fast as practicable. The available number of jobs on hand at this date is 312. The variety is not as great as we could use to advantage, but conditions are rapidly improving, and we are confident that in a short time the results will be more gratifying. By far the greater number of applicants applying are looking for clerical work or for an opportunity to learn a business. This is the type of work that we are after at the present time. There is plenty of work for skilled mechanics in nearly all lines.

"Efforts are being made to give the Bureau greater publicity through the newspapers, an article having been sent to the various papers within a week asking them to give space for this purpose. A number of business men have expressed surprise that the Bureau was still in operation, but a publicity campaign of this kind will acquaint them with the fact that our work is being continued.

"In connection with this report it is recommended that if Post commanders or delegates know of an employer needing men they advise this Bureau or the employer that we have a large number of men calling here daily, and we can supply their wants in the least possible time. Co-operation of this kind will tend to place a number of opportunities in our hands which would otherwise go to a paid employment agency." [Applause.]

Chairman: "You have heard the report of the employment officer. Are there any questions you wish to ask?"

Delegate Peter C. Borre, Roxbury Post 44: "I merely rise to a point of order. I would like to know if this employment question is to be taken up nationally or not."

Chairman: "May I state to the Convention that at the time we took over the Employment Bureau on the Common it was being run. by different welfare societies and war-working communities. We have succeeded in getting allowed to us a certain sum from the State. We are getting the franking privilege from the national government and also one of its buildings. That is all the assistance we have received from the national government so far."

Delegate Borre: "The point I wish to emphasize is this. The appropriation for the Federal Employment Service under Director Ginsberg has from time to time run out, and it has been necessary for them to close down, but Col. Arthur Woods has been made Assistant Secretary of War for the express purpose of taking care of the employment of ex-service men, particularly army ex-service men. Now my point of inquiry is whether or not it is possible for The American Legion to co-operate with the Federal Employment Service or with Director Ginsberg or Mr. Smythe, and in this way have the State departments secure some assistance from the government."

Chairman: "I cannot say just in what way they will help us, but I have the assurance of the Employment Service that they will help us in every way they can. How much further they will help us than they have is pretty hard to say at this time, outside of the franking privilege."

Delegate Borre: "As I understand it the last Congress allowed an appropriation of $50,000 for a Federal Employment Agency, and I would like to know if it is not possible for the State Department to get a proportionate share of this appropriation."

Chairman: "A Federal appropriation of $50,000 is a mere drop in the bucket. It will cost us about $12,000 a year to maintain our service in this State alone, so you can see what a national appropriation of $50,000 would do. We have now a lot of work to do, and I have no doubt that the committee would be glad to hear from you later on."

The employment report was accepted.

Chairman: "The next matter is the report of the Committee on Americanism.

Chairman of Americanism Committee, Judson Hannigan, Beverly Post: "I report very briefly that your Committee on Americanism has organized by subdividing into districts, a chairman being appointed for each district, and he in turn is directed to appoint city and town committees within their districts, and these committees will then appoint their own committees. Your Central Committee has met several times, and yesterday afternoon had a long conference with the head of the Massachusetts Board of Education and the State Bureau of Immigration. In addition, the Massachusetts Association of Manufacturers, comprising some 1,700 manufacturers in the State, are preparing to send a letter to all of their employees urging the importance and value of co-operating with the Legion in this work of Americanism. In order that you may know what idea the committee has of Americanism, I would say that we do not consider it an organization to chase Bolsheviks, aliens or Reds. Rather do we believe that we should instill in the minds of the alien that America is first, last and always a country of opportunity, a country where each man stands on his own feet and not on the feet of his neighbor, or his neighbor upon his feet. We believe that we should get under the skin of the alien by an educational program, co-operating with all agencies in the State in order that we may make sterile the ground upon which these communists, aliens and Reds are now working with some success. In other words, get the alien and you can forget the Red, and you can get the alien if you approach him in a friendly and an American spirit.

"Our first step in the Americanism program is the week of February 15 to February 22, which is to be known as "make friends with an

alien week." During that week the committees are to make special efforts in their localities and communities to get in touch with all aliens who live among them. The next step to be taken is the preparation of a questionnaire, to find out what is being done for our young in the teaching of American history and the teachings of American government. A representative of the State Board of Education was yesterday asked how many schools there were in the State which were teaching in other than the English language, and he was unable to tell us. I doubt, too, at the present time, if we could find out just what systematic effort is being made in the teaching of American history in the public, private and semi-private schools throughout the State. We are consequently going to work on a definite policy with the promised co-operation of the State Board of Education. That, in brief, is the report of the Committee on Americanism. I will gladly answer any questions which may be asked." [Applause.]

Chairman: "Will you state just what you are planning to do during the week of February 15 to 22?"

Mr. Hannigan: "As the initial move for this week we have secured the use of this hall for Sunday afternoon, February 15. At that time we will have at least one very interesting speaker of national reputation. We hope that our committees will carry through the same idea, and, to continue with the discussion, we are planning and working on paragraphs from Washington's Farewell Address, the Federal papers, certain sayings of Lincoln, Hamilton and Jefferson - in other words, seven sentences which we will release to the press, one on each day, throughout the United States, and I forgot to say that the President has volunteered to co-operate with us to any extent."

Delegate in balcony: "I rise to a question of personal privilege. The delegates in the balcony cannot hear the reports of the men under the balcony and I would ask that these reports be read from the middle of the floor."

Chairman: "The point is well taken, and if you think it a little. more sociable we will invite you to come down on the floor with us. [Laughter.]

"The next matter is the report of the Legislative Committee. Mr. Willis W. Stover is not here but Mr. M. W. Murray is, and as I am familiar with the wonderful work which he has done I am sure that you will be glad to hear from him. I am also sure that we all owe him our thanks for the initiative which he has shown in putting bills in the State Legislature in our behalf.