Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-02
THE MECHANICS VOTE
National Reports Show a Decided OPP
position to the New Name.
AMERICAN LEGION GETS THE GO-BY
The Change is Wanted, but the One Pro-
posed is Not Desired.
NATIONAL COUNCIL MUST TRY AGAIN

The result of the vote of the councils Of
the Junior Order of United American Me-
chanics throughout the country on the pro-
posed change of name was received in this
city yesterday. American LEGION" the
name recommended by the National Coun-
Gil, has been defeated by an overwhelming
majority. The voting was exceedingly
light, the indications being that less than 20
per cent of the total membership voted.
Although the votes are not all in, q
sufficient number of reports have been re-
eelVed to tell what the result will be. Re
turns have been received from seven States
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland. New
Jersey, Massachusetts, West Virginia and
Virginia. From these States 262 councils
gives total vote of 3, 1868 against American
Legion" and 70 for it. Of the 365 councils
in Pennsylvania 1877 heard from give 293
votes for and 1890 against the change. Two
councils-Scranton, No. 1856, and j. x.
Moorhead No. 1913, OF this city, gave solid
votes of and II respectively for the cnange.
Five councils gave small majorities for the
change, while 116 of the 1877 branches voted
solidly against it. Pride of the North No.
96 refused to vote on the question at all.
OHIO FAvoRs-THE CHANGE.
In Ohio the vote indicates that a change
is favored there more than in any other
State. Twenty-four councils heard from
gives a vote Of $40 to 220 against
the proposed change. This was ex-
pected from the West. 1t was
claimed that the present name hindered the
work of organizing new councils in the
Western States, where the order is not so
well known.
Maryland seems to cling to the old name.
In this State eight councils roll up vote of
S54 to against the change. Golden Rule
Council sends in the largest vote polled in
any State, the members having cast IA
solid votes against it.
New Jersey, the State expected to adopt
the new name, refused to do so by vote of
AS to 124, out of % councils heard from.
Massachusetts,, which was also looked to for
a majority in favor of American Legion"
votes against it By 104 to 10, in councils
heard from.
Four councils in West Virginia give a
vote of So to 81 against the change, and the
same number of councils in Virginia give 80
to II against it.
WHAT THEIR ORGAN SAYS.
The american, the organ of the order,
published in this city, will contain full
vote in the current issue. The paper will
say:
This result cannot be taken as an indication
of the feeling, on change of name, but simply
shows the good sense of our membership in re-
jecting name which was no oimprovemento over
the old
From information received we believe that
had the substitute been Order of United
Americans" it would have been adopted by
almost as large vote'as the other has been de-
feated. -
Aehange is inevitailie, it is needed and will
come, but even the strongest advocates of q
change were unable to indoTse American
Legion"
The present defeat will net end the agitation,
on the contrary, it simply fans the flame, and
the National Council must prepare to meet
and satisfy, at its next session, the popular de-
mand.