Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-10
HONOR MEDAL LEGION
Washington CompIimented in
the Choice of Officers.
COL. URELL COMMANDER
Senior Vice Commander and Ma
tional Adjutant Local Men.
PRESIDING OFFICERS ADDRESS
Business Session of Organization
Held at Ebbitt House Today.
New Members Elected.
PRESIDING OFFICERS ADDRESS

IteleTeDce To the pOSSibiiltS VI wal
with Japan was made today at the
closing session of the United States
Medal of Honor Legion by Col NJ. En-
met Urell, who was this forenoon unan-
imously elected national commander of
the association for the ensuing year.
In his address thanking the legion for
the high honor it had conferred upon
him as its commander, he said:
Il had the honor to serve in the
grand old corps of Hancock in the
civil war, and with Shafter at Santiago,
and if another war comes with the
men of the orient, there will be va
cancy in your list of officers, as
would again go to the front, as ] am
not through soldering yet
This sentiment was heartily applaud
ed by the men of the Medal of Honor
Legion, each of whom earned his deco
ration for some brave deed IN the nre
and smoke of battle.
There was full attendance at the final
session of the legion In the red parlors of
the Ebbitt House this forenoon. The hrst
business brought before the convention
was the report of Chairman Langbein on
the annual report of the national quarter
master, N. d. Preston Of Philadelphia.
The committee cOmplimented Quartermas-
ter Preston and recommended that he be
given a vote of thanks by the legion.
This was done by unanimous chorus OF
ayes
New Names on Roll.
Col M Emmett Urell, chairman of the
executive committee, next submitted the
approval of the committee on the appli-
cations for membership in the legion OF
eight new members, and they were elect
ed and their names placed on the roll, as
follows: Cyrus B. Lower, 3719 New Hamp
shire avenue, Washington, D. c., formerly
of the Pennsylvania Bucktail Rifles; Gen.
Edward W. Whitaker of 2O5 Massachu
sets avenue northeast, Washington, D.
c., who carried the last flag Of truce be-
tween the lines after the surrender of
Gen. r. e. Lee; Lieut.. Col. John Coughlin,
late 10th New Hampshire Volunteer In
fantry. 1921 N street. Washington, D. G.;
o. E. Caruana, Washington, D. c., late
private, Company X. 51st New York Vol
unteers; B. F. McAlwee, 1922 1 street
southeast, Washington, D. c.. Late pri-
vate, Company d, Sd Missouri Volunteer
Infantry: D. E. Buckingham, 1924 LIST
street, Washington, D. c., late captain,
Company H, 4th Delaware Volunteer In
fantry; Capt. James M. Pipes, Washing
ton, d. c., late captain, 14Oth Pennsylva-
MIA Infantry. and Francis W. Judge of
New York city, son of Francis W.
Judge. deceased, late first sergeant, Com
pany X, 10Th New York Infantry, and
afterward captain, Company A. 18th New
York Infantry.
Choice of Officers.
The convention next proceeded to the
election of officers for the ensuing year,
and the name of Col. M. Emmett Uren
was placed in nomination for national
commander by Capt. Alexander Scott,
president of the Washington Medal OF
limb
this nomination, and it was promptly
seconded by Leo karpeles, who has had
charge of the advance arrangements for
the convention: DR.. George w. Brush of
Brooklyn, N. Y. and others. Gen. Pat
rick De Lacey, the retiring national COM
mander, appointed as tellers Messrs. p
J. Kyle, John II. Cook and John Brosnan
There were no other nominees, and Col
Urell was declared to be the unanimous
choice of the legion as its new COM
mander. The result was received with
cheers and applause.
The next highest office, that Of national
senior vice commander. also went to a
Washington veterdn-Capt. Bartholomew
Of the State. War and Navy Department
building. There vas a lively contest for
this honor between the friends of Capt
Dlggjns and those of Capt. George E. Al
bee, U. s. A. Of New Haven. Conn. his
only competitor. Capt. Dggtns was de-
clared elected by a substantial majority,
and again the meeting place rang with
applause.
Capt Albee was then elected junior
vice commander. and James Miller of
Philadelphia was unanimously chosen as
national chaplain.
Adjutant Appointed.
Commander Urell, upon taking the
chair, announced his appointment of Capt
Alexander Scott Of this city to be acting
national adjutant, and Col Chas. H
Houghton of New Jersey to be national
quartermaster
Col. Urell explained that Capt Scott had
declined to accept the permanent appoint
ment as adjutant, but headquarters of
the legion would be opened in Washing
ton it was necessary that the adjutant
should be located here. Capt. Scott had,
therefore, accepted the place until his
successor is appointed.
A member suggested that the permanent
appointment should not be made for
twelve months, as 1t was the unanimous
throughout the year.
Address Last Evening.
Rev. B. 8. Miner. a missionary from
Foochow, China, delivered an address at
the anniversary service held last evening
in which he told of some of the condi
lions In China. He said, "A few years
ago 80 per cent of the Chinese army was
composed of vagabonds. To-day China
has a we'll trained and powerful army"
Mr.. Miner. who is on a furlough in this
country, spoke of the remarka BILE change
which has taken place in China in recent
years. He gave a graphic description of
a scene which he witnessed. the closing
and the cleaning out Of 1000 opium dens
in Foochow last May, in accordance with
an imperial edict. He spoke of the i'm
perial edict against footbinding. and men
toned the fact that the empress has de-
clared that no official who binds the feet
of his daughter will be promoted. and
that no man will be appointed as a gov
eminent official If he binds the feet of
his daughter.
STRICKEN WITH VERTrco