Convention

LEGION

Into St. Paul, the eastern twin of the twin cities, flocked 40,000 veterans of the last major war which the U. S. has enjoyed. The occasion was the Sixth Annual Convention of the American Legion.

The actual delegates, a small portion of the whole number present, assembled in a great hall filled with State standards, in the best political convention style. Messages were read from Rear Admiral Sims, from Charles P. Donnelly (President of the Northern Pacific Railway), Lord Byng (Governor General of Canada), Josephus Daniels, General Diaz of Italy, Admiral Beatty of England, General Pershing, Major General Lejeune, Secretary Weeks, Secretary Wilbur, Field Marshal Haig, Admiral Koontz, Georges Clemenceau, Newton D. Baker, Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman.

Judge Landis appeared and spoke. So did John J. Tigert, U. S. Commissioner of Education. But the proceedings were not all deliberative.

There was a great parade of the buddies. In it marched General Charles G. Dawes, with the Evanston contingent, refusing to sit on the reviewing stand. There was a public marriage of a post commander from Winnebago, on a platform before the grandstand on the State fair grounds. Eighteen chaplains, a band of "3,700 pieces," a spotlight, a freight-car load of wedding presents and 50,000 spectators took part.

The Convention for 1925 was promised to Omaha; for 1926, to Philadelphia. An invitation was received from France to hold the 1928 Convention in Paris.

When the Committees had completed their lucubrations, a number of resolutions were passed: P: Asking that Congress restore General Pershing to active service in the Army.

P:Recommending that Defense Day be made an annual event. P: Urging thatthe Navy be maintained on an equality with any in the world.

P:Asking Congress to modify the law so that veterans may assign their insurance benefits to the American Legion.

P:Demanding that Charles R. Forbes, onetime Director of the Veterans' Bureau, be brought to an early trial.

P:Recommending opposition to pacifist and communist propaganda. P:Indorsing National Guard, Citizens' and Reserve Officers' Training Camps.

P:Urging maintenance of a strong regular army.

P:Promising to press its efforts to pass a Universal Service Act for drafting the entire resources of the Nation in case of war. P: Condemning the Veterans' Bureau for inefficiency, although admitting that "the Bureau now is functioning more efficiently than at any time here-tofore."

P:Thanking Congressmen who helped to pass the Bonus Bill over the President's veto. P: Requesting Congress to set aside as a trust fund the $400,000 profit from The Stars and Stripes, published in France, with the provision that the income from this fund be used for decorating soldiers' graves in France. P: Making General Pershing the "permanent distinguished guest of this and every other American Leg ion Convention." A resolution, given an adverse report by the Legislative Committee, was voted down by the Convention after debate. The defeated resolution would have pledged World War veterans to oppose any future claim for compensation on their behalf. At the close of the Convention, the new National Commander of the Legion was elected. On the first ballot, James A. Drain, of Washington, D. C., was chosen. He rose from a private to a Brigadier in the Washington State National Guard, was a Captain in the Spanish War, and served as ordnance officer of the Tank Corps during the last war. The nomination was made unanimous. All the Department standards were plucked up and carried to the plat form around him. He said: "I accept this post because I believe in the American Legion and the legionnaires, who always are thinking of what they can give more than of what they can get.. , ,"