Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1920 — VINCENNES PREPARED FOR AMERICAN LEGION [ARTICLE]

VINCENNES PREPARED FOR AMERICAN LEGION

Vincennes, Ind., June 26.—With flags flying from hundreds of residences, the streets, down town and public buildings handsomely decorated and everything in readiness Vincennes awaits the coming of the first convention of the American Legion of Indiana which is to be held in this city June 27, 28 and 29. Every public building has been made a member of the reception committee which will devote its entire time to paring for the 7,000 visitors who are expected from all parts of Indiana. Business will practically be suspended during the convention in order that local as well as visiting people may participate in the $25,000 worth of entertainment that will be offered. The program opens Monday but the entertainment will start Sunday with community singing and concerts the U. S. S. Pennsylvania band of 100 pieces which will hold a reunion during the convention and which is composed of musicians from all parts of the United States. Monday afternoon will witness the big military parade in which a dozen bands and probably 5,000 Legion men will participate, while on Tuesday a big boxing carnival with some of the country’s most noted boxers will be a feature. A baseball tournament, tennis tournament and many other athletic events are scheduled for the three days. Special entertainment is to be offered the ladies, this to include card parties, boat excursions and drives to the many historic and beauty spots in and about the city> Arrangements have been to care for 10,000 visitors, beds having been placed in homes of fraternal and secret organization buildings as well as in all public halls. The convention will be held in Vincennes’ $750,000 high school building which seats 3,000 people and the headquarters of the Legion will be in the $150,000 Y. M. C. A. building. The “bonus to soldiers” question will be an important topic of the convention and the Legion officers are anxious that every Legion member in the state be present to express his views of it or hear the views of the officers.