Delegate M. W. Murray, Newton Post 48, Vice-Chairman, Department Legislative Committee: "I might explain that the work of the Legislative Committee is in its infancy. In fact, the committee has not fully organized its work up to the present time. There is a tremendous amount of work in classifying and deciding what should be done in the way of legislation. The committee felt that it would be well to have the same privileges extended to the veterans of this war which have been extended to the veterans of other wars, so that one of the pieces of work now before us is to amend the previous acts so that we can extend these privileges. That has meant a great deal of work, and we have been very ably assisted; in fact, it would have been impossible to do the work if we had not had the assistance of Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly of the Spanish war veterans, and an honorary member of this organization. Through Mr. Kelly's wonderful knowledge of the situation, built up during the past twenty or thirty years, we have been able to cover the whole situation. This legislation deals with pensions, civil service, property and all that sort of thing. In addition, there has been put through legislation protecting the wearing of The American Legion button. There have been introduced a number of bills with regard to special legislation for individual Posts. The committee felt that it would be a difficult situation if there were passed individual legislation for each Post, so the committee so far has taken this stand, that the legislation ought to be general legislation, one bill to do the work that fifty or a hundred bills might do. As an illustration we might legislate to allow cities and towns to buy land, build buildings and furnish quarters for The American Legion. In all there have been twenty-five bills of this general charter dealing directly with the Legion Posts, and in this connection, as an individual, I would suggest that it would be well to have some one appointed with whom the representative of the Legislative Committee could get in touch and make one bill to take care of the entire State. Now the representatives of the community have gotten together, and the next step will be to co-ordinate these bills. You will find that it is comparatively easy to get one bill through where it might be difficult to get two or three bills covering the same ground through. In addition to the legislation affecting individual Posts the committee has legislation of matters of general policy with relation to the national body, and undoubtedly will later go on record in favor of certain general legislation for the public. The

committee will probably deal with that at its next meeting. We are also keeping in mind general policies and principles rather than individual legislation or legislation for individual Posts, unless it is impossible to handle it in any other way. In general, I think that covers the situation." [Applause.]

Chairman: "You have heard the report of the Committee on Legislation. Are there any questions?"

Delegate Frederick Doyle, Roxbury: "May I ask the chairman through you, sir, what disposition has been made of the Yeomen (F) Bill?"

Mr. Murray: "It was voted at the last meeting that the yeomen (F) should be entitled to the bonus. A bill was introduced that would cover that situation. That stand was taken because it was apparent that other women in the navy with different ratings have gotten the bonus, and we felt that it should be extended to the yeomen (F).”

Chairman: "Are there any other questions? I am sure that we are all grateful to Mr. Murray for his very interesting report. The next matter is the report on athletics."

Department Athletic Officer John J. Lane, Michael J. Perkins Post, South Boston: "The first business of the Athletic Department is to try and adopt a plan where all sections of the country will be given an equal opportunity to participate in athletics. In order that they might be carefully governed and watched in their athletic program the State has been divided into districts. These athletic districts are the same nine districts that the State is divided into for other purposes. Therefore a bulletin was sent to all Post commanders asking that an athletic officer be elected in each Post. Each of these athletic officers is to be a member of the governing board of his district, and each governing board is to be responsible for athletics in their districts. At regular intervals a report is to be submitted by the athletic officers of the Posts to the State athletic officer.

"Now our first athletic endeavor is to be in the form of an amateur athletic track carnival to be held on the afternoon of Washington's Birthday in the East Armory, Boston. Already we have received entries from Harvard, Dartmouth, Boston College, Holy Cross, Massachusetts Aggie, Tufts and several other of the colleges and universities throughout the State. They, together with the Boston Athletic Association, will appear in full at our first track carnival. In addition, I have the assurance of some of the greatest track men in the country that

they will appear in our games, and I am also assured that we will have the star athletes of the Boston Athletic Association and New York athletic games. Consequently you may be assured of a track carnival in which the very best athletic stars of the country will compete. Mr. George V. Brown, Athletic Manager of the Boston Athletic Association, has not only offered his track stars, but has also offered his personal services in helping us to make the meet a success. Now all the committee has to do is to make the necessary arrangements for the carrying out of the meet. It is up to you to assist in the purchase and sale of tickets. I urge you all to buy tickets for the meet. The prices will be $2.20, $1.65 and $1.10, including the war tax. There is nothing more I can say to you, except that you help in the distribution and purchase of the tickets. We will have them on sale at the end of the hall and I hope to sell each and every one of you a ticket.” [Applause.]

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

Delegate John W. Reth, Irving W. Adams Post, Roslindale: "I would like to have the athletic officer define a policy. For example, in our particular district there is much discussion as to whether or not The American Legion should co-operate along amateur or professional lines. We have the playing of football, basketball, track, bowling, etc., authorized, and we are experiencing quite a difficulty determining whether these shall be amateur or professional activities."

Athletic Officer Lane: "That is exactly the reason that we divided the State into districts. As soon as I hear from the Post commanders with relation to the Post athletic officers they will be appointed members of the governing board, and each will set down regulations governing athletics in their district. I cannot do anything until I have the matter organized, and it is now up to the Post commanders to report to me."

Delegate Reth: "In the meantime shall we proceed along amateur or along professional lines?"

Athletic Officer Lane: "All athletics will be on an amateur basis." Delegate Reth: "That also applies to baseball?"

Athletic Officer Lane: "That pertains to all athletics. We will have something to say about baseball when the time comes."

Chairman: "When the baseball season comes around we intend to have interpost games during the summer season. We want to make

our first track carnival a success, and if it is, we plan on having this an annual event on Washington's Birthday. We want and need your co-operation to make this event the great success we look for it to be, and we will look forward to it with pleasure in the years that are to come."

Delegate George F. Gilbody, Old Dorchester Post: "Do all proceeds of athletics go to the Legion?"

Athletic Officer Lane: "All proceeds of the State athletic activities will go to the Massachusetts Department, but the proceeds of the basket ball and local affairs will go into the Post treasury."

Chairman: "The next report will be from the chairman of the Post Welfare and Activities Committee."

Chairman James T. Duane: "The Committee on Post Activities and Welfare met yesterday afternoon in the State House and talked over a tentative plan, and of course did not have time to present any definite plan this afternoon. Many forms of activity and much welfare were discussed. We thought that there should be considerable more activity in the form of entertainments, minstrel shows, etc. We also thought that the various Posts in each district should swap around their talent. For instance, one of the larger Posts might have several good boxers, while the smaller Posts have none. Loosen up and let that particular form of entertainment in which you are fortunate be loaned to the smaller Posts. To accomplish these ends we are going to appoint a regular board in each of the regular districts. This board will have a chairman from each district who will appoint his district committee. These committees will consist of one member from each Post in the district, and these committees will be supervised by the State committee. We talked over the welfare, and in talking this over many points arose which brought to us our selfishness in many respects. We are crying for bonuses and other things which might accrue to our personal interests while there are many of the boys of the Legion in the hospitals. Parker Hill has some 200, Chelsea has some 300, and there are 422 Massachusetts boys at Fox Hill, Staten Island, N. Y. We should do something for them, and to accomplish this end we are going to have the various Posts arrange to visit the hospitals in their district, and get a list of the names of the men in that hospital. That list will be sent to State Headquarters. They in turn will send these names to the district where the men belong. In that way any Post can take care of the

men in its district. We have also got to look after the many men who are at home, convalescent, whom we seem to have forgotten. Some girls from the Legion visited Parker Hill recently. One of the fellows said, 'Gee, I can't eat that stuff, how about a piece of gum?' The young ladies took care of him. It is the little trivial things like that that we must take care of. Now to accomplish this it has been suggested that from time to time we take up a silver collection, or perhaps we might be able to get a 5 cent per capita tax, and in this way we can do what the Legion desires. We have got to interest our own men in the Legion first. If we do not interest them first, we have no hope of interesting outsiders. If there are any members here this afternoon who have any suggestions to offer to this committee we will be very glad to hear from them. We are going to meet in the room outside of the hall on the left." [Applause.]

Delegate Wm. J. Keville, Belmont: "I move recess until 2.30 P.M." Chairman: "I would like to request that we be back here promptly at 2.30 P.M., and I am sure that it will be our very great pleasure to hear from our National Commander at that time."

Adjourned at 1.30 P.M.

Reconvened at 3.10 P.M.

Chairman: "The Convention will please be in order and the delegates seated. Before proceeding I would like to say that if Mr. Clifford Sibley is in the hall, he call the Pittsfield operator, as this is an emergency call.

"I am sure that we owe the Convention an explanation for being somewhat tardy in getting back, but I feel that you will all agree that when a man comes from Indianapolis and Philadelphia to Boston he should have an opportunity to see the city. We are very fortunate here in Massachusetts in many things. We are particularly fortunate in having with us to-day the National Commander of The American Legion. He is charged with as great a responsibility as any man in the United States, and no man fulfilling the duties of his office can be lax on the job. It is a tremendous task, and there are many obligations to fill in the proper handling of the organization we are trying to maintain and sustain. I am sure we can pledge to him the co-operation of every member of the Massachusetts Department, and I take pleasure in presenting to you our National Commander, Mr. Franklin D'Olier." [Much applause and cheering.] National Commander Franklin D'Olier: "Mr. Commander and