was all to the interest of the organization so it was unanimously adopted by that committee, without any dissenting vote, that Chicago be unanimously adopted as the place for the next convention for the best of all interests concerned.  I am from New Orleans, Louisiana, which is a convention city and I will not offer my city to you as a convention city at this time because I do not think it is to the best interest of your country.”

[Illustration:  Bennett C. Clark
  Who presided at the Paris Caucus]

[Illustration:  Eric Fisher Wood Secretary]

When Mr. Stem took his seat at least a dozen delegates clamored for recognition from the chair.  Colonel J.F.J.  Herbert succeeded in getting it.  It was he who then fired the gun which, if not heard around the world at least made Chicago’s ear drums rattle.

“Mr. Chairman,” he began—­

Colonel Lindsley rapped for order.

A man near me whispered, “There’s Herbert of Massachusetts.  I think Boston is too far east for this convention, at least for the first one.”

Colonel Lindsley got order, and you could have heard a pin drop, while the following statement was made by the Massachusetts leader: 

“As the spokesman for my delegation on this question of next meeting place I want to say that if no other body and if no other party of this caucus wants or believes it is its duty to rebuke any city or the representative of any city for Un-Americanism during the time when the soldiers of that city were offering their lives in defense of the world, then Massachusetts stands ready to offer that rebuke.  Massachusetts will not agree willingly to having a convention of soldiers and sailors in the Great War, go to a city that has as its first citizen, by vote, one who can not measure up in any small part when the test is one hundred per cent.  Americanism.”

When Colonel Herbert reached this point one delegate with a big voice from a big State (Texas) let out a loud yell of approval.  This was the signal for blast after blast of vocal vociferousness which fairly raised the roof.  Men stood on their seats, and cheered.  “You’re dead right” and “Get a new mayor, Chicago,” while others began to point at placards advertising Chicago which had been placed on the walls of the theater by members of the Illinois delegation.  Colonel Herbert stood for fully five minutes before order was sufficiently restored for him to proceed.

“The hall has been placarded with invitations, reading, ’The American Legion, Chicago wants you in November,’” he said.  “I believe that this convention, this convention of soldiers and sailors should say, ’Chicago, you cannot have American soldiers in Chicago when there is a possibility that the chief representative of that city may not believe it is his duty to come before the Convention and welcome it.’  If these placards read, ’American Legion, Chicago soldiers want you in November,’ our answer might be different.  The answer of Massachusetts would be different but when your placard reads, ’Chicago wants you in November’ the answer of Massachusetts is, ’Chicago cannot have us in November’—­or any other time until Chicago has an American for Mayor in an American city.