The sun., 1919-05-07
AMERICAN LEGION
FACES LIVELY FIGHT
Many Privates object to
Roosevelt or Any Other
Officer as Leader.
SEEK MAN FROM RANKS
Convention of Veterans Opens
in st. Louis Tomorrow to
Form Organization.
SpecioI D.spotoh TO The sus.

opect1 DesputcN 70 IHb sun.
ST. LOUIS, May GA meeting Of the
temporary executive committee Of the
American Legion, the proposed national
civilian, soldiers sailors and marines or
ganization was held tonight at the Ho-
tel Ststler to outline plans for the con-
yention to be held at the Shubcrt-Jef-
ferson Theatre May 8 to 10.
Lieu.-Col. Theodore Roosevelt, tenn
porary chairman, and Lieut.. col Bennett
C. Clark, who is vice-chairman Of the
temporary committee. explained and dis
cussed the plans tor the gathering.
Delegates representing men formerly
In all grades of military service are
gathering at the various hotels Among
those who arrived yesterday was Col.
Henry d. Lindsey, head Of the Govern
ment's Bureau OF War Risk Insurance
Lieut.-Col. Eric Fisher Wood. temporary
secretary OF the organization, Ii one OF
the delegates.
A caucus was held in the afternoon at
Hotel Statler at which one representative
from each State was present Among
other things the question OF asking the
convention to establish a legal aid and
an employment bureau for soldiers was
taken UP.
Call for n Private to Lead.
1t Is becoming increasingly evident az
delegates continue to arrive that there
will be much opposition from former en-
listed men against Roosevelt or any
other officer heading the legion. Many
of the enlisted men who are gathering III
the Hobbies talking about the organiza-
hel q N "
DO IAN officers club" despite statements
to the contrary made by Col Roose-
welt and by others connected with the
q ganization of the legion. These former
enlisted men will insist that buck"
private head the organization as evil
denco of the good faith of the founders,
and they say they want a man who is
not member Of a wealthy or iniuen-
tial family.
an enlisted man ought to head the legion
was Col. f. Lester Jones, president Of
General Pershing Post No. l.
Col. Jones said that II may be best for
a time to keep officers at the head until
the duties OF organization are completed.
but that at the proposed national con-
vention next November he believes
man formerly in the ranks ought to be
made chairman.
Capt. John Lewis Smith, former COM
mander in chief OF the Spanish War
Veterans. Is at the Hotel Jefferson as
delegate to the caucus. He is going to
ask whether II will be the policy OF the
legion to affiliate with such organization
as he formerly headed.
Object to "American Legion"
A fight also will be made on the name
now selected for the organization. ac-
cordlng to members of Gen. Pershing
Post. No. 1 Of the District OF Columbia.
which claims to be the first body com
posed of veterans OF the present con-
fiict which formerly organized. All
branches OF service are represented in
the organization. according to Col. Jones.
one of the delegates
The other delegates are:
Private Frank A. Connolly. Private
]. Bentley milford. Sergeant-major
Needham G. Tunnage. Private L. Clark
son Hines. Sergeant William c. Glenn.
Chief Yeoman Prentiss Knut. Capt
Donald Macgregor. Lieut.. Howard s.
Fisk. Capt. Howard NJ. Peter. Lieuten-
ant-Commander Lewis p Clephane,
Major Henry Leonard. Capt. c. E. John
ston.
The delegates claim that the name
American Legion is not typical enough
OF the proposed organization, and ssay