The Washington times., 1919-11-13
AMERICAN LEGION
ELECTS D'0L|ER
Convention Also Votes to Leave
Bonus Question to Congress,
and Adjourns.

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 13.-District
of Columbia and other delegates to
the first annual convention of the
American Legion, which closed last
night after electins Franklin OOlier.-
OF Philadelphia. as its first national
commander are speeding homeward
, today.
The convention left the bonus ques-
ton to Congress. This action ended
stormy afternoon session when
mass of resolutions and reports, in
ending the soldier bonus issue,
were considered. The convention for
time seemed sharply split on the
proposal to indorse specific bonus
plan, and finally voted to place the
matter in the hands of the national
Senate and House of Representatives
johnson Given Bonus solution.
/ Congressman Royal c. Johnson, of
Aberdeen, S. n, who served in France,
virtually decided the bonus issue. He
urged the delegates to ask Congress
ito recognize and relieve the financial
disadvantages" incurred by persons
who made sacrifices to serve their
country. Former Senator Luke Lea,
of Tennessee. chairman of the bonus
committee, formally put this resolu-
ton before the, convention and 1t
was passed by a viva voce vote.
D'Olier. the first candidate to be
nominated was named by the Arkan-
t. New York, and Stuyvesant Fish
placed the name of Hanford Macnider,
OF Mason City, Iowa. before the con-
vCntion. The Virginia delegation
dominated Col E. Lester Jones, of
Washington, ID. c., and Kentucky
named Emmett o'Neill, of Louisville.
Jack Sullivan, of Seattle, who was
dominated by the North, Dakota dele<
gates, withdrew, as did Chairman
mated by the Texas delegation. The
vote was: D'OIier. 366; Macnider, 249;
Jones, Is; ONeill, 1S.
Next Meeting September ~. 1920.
The title of past national command
er was conferred upon Lindsey. He
had been acting head of the legion
since the meeting at st. Louis last
spring.
The Rev. Francis A. Kelly, of New
!, York, was elected national chaplain.
The convention came to a close at
Q: 30 p. m. 1t was decided to open the
1920 convention at Cleveland. Ohio
o" September 81.
Resolutions adopted include: n
Demand for adoption of Federal
constitutional amendment barring
from citizenship the American-born
children of Orientals and others not
eligible for citizenship.
Treatment Of Aliens.
Demand for deportation of alien
slackers and enemy aliens interned
during the war, with selectfye ad-
mission of foreigners.
Appointment of legion committee
10 spread the teaching OF the doctrine
of "lOs per cent Americanism" among
veterans Of the war and aliens.
Demand for "a charge in the De-
partment of Justice from a massive
organization to a militant, active
branch whose findings will be PROMPT
ly acted upon by the executive au-
thority." =
Opposition to release of political
prisoners" to show that there is no
home in America for sedition."
Would Curb Relief Work.
Opposition to organization of So
cietIes Tor relief OF civilian popuIa-
| tiGn of Germany. Austria. and Hun
gary unless these societies be author
lied by Congress
The convention asked that War
Department officials responsible for
! tender treatment of conscientious
obJectors, who were aliens, be sum-
marily uealt with"
After an hours stormy debate on
| the question of dues and supporting
the American Legior Weekly. the
program calling for national dues
| "i - with state dues additional. was
| approved