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SECOND SESSION, SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1919.

The Convention was called to order at 2 P.M. by Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly.

The Department Adjutant read the following telegram in response to an invitation to His Excellency Governor Calvin Coolidge to attend the Encampment:

Commander TIMOTHY W. KELLY.

ENCAMPMENT, UNITED SPANISH WAR VETERANS,
LAWRENCE, MASS., April 26, 1919.

I deeply regret inability to be with you to-day on account of pressing State business. I sincerely hope the Convention will be a complete success. Highest regards to each and every one of your members.

CALVIN COOLIDGE.

The Department Commander, Timothy W. Kelly, announced that the next order of business would be the nomination of officers.

NOMINATION FOR DEPARTMENT COMMANDER.

Junior Vice Department Commander Edward T. MacNeill, Camp 27: "Comrades, I rise at this time to tell the Comrades that this is a duty which I feel is owed to the organization at large and to every individual Comrade throughout the Department of Massachusetts. This Comrade, whom this organization has seen fit to elect to the highest office within its gift, has devoted his time during the past year to making his administration the best in the history of the organization. Through his hard work in interviewing the men at the State House the Preference Bill is about to be signed by the Governor. As an ex officio member of the Legislative Committee, he has worked successfully on the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Bill, getting the men in line, and the last report was that the bill was nearing completion. He has received a letter from National Headquarters that Massachusetts was 100 per cent efficient both in national and State organization affairs.

Although handicapped during the year through the epidemic which interfered with the regular routine, he made a complete visitation, speaking before practically every Camp in the Department; also at the time of the illness of the Department Adjutant he found time to

take over those duties. He has been reindorsed by thirty-five Camps for another term.

"Without casting any reflection on the Past Department Commanders, and they all worked for the good of the organization, I must say Comrade Timothy W. Kelly stands predominant as the best Department Commander this organization has ever had. I started him in the fight in Springfield and Worcester, and stuck to him in Boston to see that he secured the highest honor within the gift of the Department of Massachusetts. He is the only man to bring the organization through the next year, which will be a hard year on account of the organizing of the World War veterans. You will find that our organization could have no better man, and at this time, Comrade Senior Vice Department Commander and Comrades, it is with great pleasure that I place in nomination the name of Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly to succeed himself for the ensuing year."

Department Commander Kelly handed the gavel to Senior Vice Department Commander Jere J. Shea, who announced to the Encampment the nomination of Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly to succeed himself for the ensuing year. Senior Vice Department Commander Shea then called Junior Vice Department Commander Edward T. MacNeill to the chair, and handing him the gavel asked the privilege of the floor. The same being granted, he spoke as follows:

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(Senior Vice Department Commander Jere J. Shea:)

"Comrades,

it gives me great pleasure at this time to second the nomination of Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly.”

On motion of Department Chief of Staff William M. Hogan, seconded by Comrade Charles A. Saxon, Camp 56, it was voted that the nomination for the office of Department Commander close.

Three cheers and a tiger by the delegates were given Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly.

Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly: "Comrades, I do not know how to express to you my thanks for the consideration that you have given me. I do not think that this is the time for me to make any extended remarks, because the business of the Encampment must be transacted first, and after the installation of officers it is always customary to call on the officers who have been elected to make remarks, so if you will grant me that consideration I will be glad to say a few words to-morrow."

NOMINATION FOR SENIOR VICE DEPARTMENT COMMANnder.

"Department Commander Timothy W. Kelly, Comrade Junior Vice Department Commander and Comrades: At this time I wish to place in nomination the name of a Comrade for Senior Vice Department Commander who is tireless in his work and his energy for the best interests of our organization. Never have I called upon him during the past year that he has not met me, not halfway, but all the way, and has gone through with everything put up to him and brought everything to a successful conclusion. During the past year the Comrade has been tremendously handicapped through illness in his family. Notwithstanding all this he was willing to go out and do everything we wished him to do. The things he has accomplished in the western part of the State are so many that it would be impossible to enumerate them to you. In my opinion he is the liveliest member and the best worker in the western part of the Commonwealth, and it is with great pleasure that I have the privilege of placing before you our worthy, proficient, progressive and exacting Comrade, Senior Vice Department Commander Jere J. Shea, Camp 11, of Springfield, to succeed himself."

Junior Vice Department Commander Edward T. MacNeill announced to the Encampment that Senior Vice Department Commander Jere J. Shea had been nominated to succeed himself for the ensuing year. At this point the gavel was returned to the Department Commander.

The nomination of Senior Vice Department Commander Jere J. Shea was seconded by Junior Vice Department Commander Edward T. MacNeill and Comrade William H. Owens, Camp 11.

On motion of Department Chief of Staff William M. Hogan, seconded by Comrade Charles A. Saxton, Camp 56, it was voted that the nomination for the office of Senior Vice Department Commander close.

Three cheers and a tiger by the delegates were given Senior Vice Department Commander Jere J. Shea.

NOMINATIONS FOR JUNIOR VICE DEPARTMENT COMMANder. Junior Vice Department Commander Edward T. MacNeill: "Department Commander and Comrades: A year ago I was honored by you in electing me to the office of Junior Vice Department Com

mander and to discharge the duties assigned to me, and how well I succeeded, you alone can tell. I have an opportunity this year of a better position, and I have decided on a study which will take up all my time, and for that reason and that reason only, against the advice of my friends, I decline any nomination. However, even with my studies, if you call upon me this year or any other year, I would be only too glad to do anything in my power. This organization with me is first, last and always."

Comrade John N. Fletcher, Camp 20, nominated Past Commander Jeremiah J. Sullivan, Camp 20, for the office of Junior Vice Department Commander.

Comrade Past Commander David E. Jewell, Camp 20, seconded the nomination of Past Commander Jeremiah J. Sullivan, Camp 20.

Comrade Charles M. Waelde, Camp 56, nominated Past Commander John J. Hillegass, Camp 24, for office of Junior Vice Department Commander.

Comrade George W. Baker, Camp 24, seconded the nomination of Past Commander John J. Hillegass, Camp 24.

Comrade George E. Hadley, Camp 48: "Comrades, I realize that possibly I am not the best man to place anybody in nomination, as I am not a fluent talker, but our Camp from Haverhill, since it has been a part of the United Spanish War Veterans, has never been honored with the election of one of its members to an office in the Department of Massachusetts, and at this time we have a man in our Camp who has been a very energetic worker, instrumental in organizing the Camp, and a very great help in all the work of the Camp since it was organized. He is a man who has great ability, and I therefore place in nomination for the office of Junior Vice Department Commander, Past Commander Charles F. Glover, Camp 48."

Past Commander William H. Winnett, Camp 6: "It gives me great pleasure at this time to present to you a gentleman of the Encampment for your careful consideration, and we hope approval, - the name of a man from Camp 6, a Comrade who is a charter member of this organization, working in harmony at all times, as the Camp always tried to do with the Department, working along the lines for organization, for better membership and better improvements. Above all things we take great pleasure in saying that we had more men on our roll of honor than any Camp of this Department, having had sixty-eight members enrolled in this World War from Camp 6, Charlestown. We ask you at this time to consider a Comrade who has

been indorsed by his Camp, the only naval camp in the Department of Massachusetts, and the only Camp that has not had any consideration for years. We ask your careful consideration of this Comrade from the Camp that is second to none physically or financially, and we present to you one of our most active members, a man who has been quartermaster for years. He was for twelve years in the United States Marine Corps, graduating with the rank of top sergeant. He represented that organization with credit and honor, and he represents our Camp to-day with the same credit and honor, and in conclusion it gives me great pleasure to place in nomination the name of Thaddeus P. Shaw, Camp 6, for the office of Junior Vice Department Commander."

Comrade John E. Powers, Camp 6, seconded nomination of Thaddeus P. Shaw, Camp 6.

Commander Edward K. Powers, Camp 26: "Comrades, I am not going to tire you as to the ability of the man I am about to nominate. He does not require it. He does not need to stand up regarding his ability, but I shall refer you to the Department Commander regarding his legislative work. When the Department Adjutant requested the co-operation of the different camps in interviewing the legislators he came to the State House on different occasions with the Senators and Representatives from his district, who have worked for the Spanish War Veterans in the Legislature. Without further remarks it gives me great pleasure to place in nomination the name of Past Commander Daniel M. Casey, Camp 26, for the office of Junior Vice Department Commander."

Past Commander Arthur N. Newhall, Camp 31: "Department Commander and Comrades: I consider it an honor and pleasure for me to appear before you in placing the name of a Comrade from my Camp. Comrade Department Commander, I realize what a position a man has to fill when he fills the office of Junior Vice Department Commander of this great Department when I say to you, and say to the members of this Encampment, that Past Commander George B. Williams of Camp 31 is the man who is fitted for that office and is capable and willing to do that work. Comrade Williams organized Camp 31 in Stoneham and organized the Auxiliary of that Camp; he is a past commander of that Camp, a tireless worker since it was organized in 1902, and has missed but four meetings in all these years, and those missed by injuries received in decorating the grave of a departed Comrade. I do not care to take any more of your time,

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