Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-15
.L|NOSLEY HEADS
AMERICAN LEGION
Is Elected after National Caucus
Tries Vainly for Three Hours
to Force Craftsmanship on
Lieut. Col. Roosevelt

St Louis, May S.--Determined eHorts
by the delegates to the national eau
Gus of the American LEGION ""ioh
opened here to-day, to force the chair
nAnship of the organization on Lieut.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt failed and
Major Henry d. Lindsey of Dallas,
Texas, was elected chairman.
For nearly three hours the delegates
urged the nomination on colonel
Roosevelt, who steadfastly Declined
saying he had no desire to hold once
in the organization but wanted to be
simply a booster After several speech
es, in which he urged the caucus 10
take him at his word" and nominate
some one else. he shouted, "rll tell
you Just why / can't accept this nomi-
nation. They say am politician and
that formed this organization to make
q grandstand play and-
Shouts of mo, No" drowned out his
words and after trying for 80 minutes
to establish order Colonel Roosevelt
finally sank breathless into his chair.
Pandemonium continued for nearly an
hour, with chanting of I'VE want
Teddy" and Make him take it," Col.
Bennett Clark. son of Speaker Champ
Clark, then temporarily took the chair
and told the convention that 1t must
force Colonel Roosevelt to accept the
nomination and requested that some
one make a motion to that effect. the
motion was made, but Colonel Roose-
welt again insisted that he would not
accept and the delegates finally yielded,
although other candidates offered to
withdraw and make his nomination
unanimous.
Running against Major Lindsey. who
was supported by Colonel Roosevelt. was
Sergeant Jack Sullivan Of Seattle, WASH,
the candidate of the buck privates.
When the State Of Washington was
reached in the voting Sullivan caused
Major Lindsley's election to be made
unanimous. The vote at the time was
Lindsey $50. Sullivan 209.
Major Lindsey, who was decorated
with the distinguished service medal was
formerly of Dallas. Texas. The day his
term of office expired he enlisted, serving
in the service of supply in France. He
will hold office only until the next con-
vention which probably will be ir
November.
Sergeant Sullivan was unanimously
elected first vice chairman and Seaman
Fred B. Humphreys of Boswell. N. M.
was chosen second vice-chairman ovel
Chief Petty Officer j. F. Goerke of New
York.
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Wood of Wash
lington was elected secretary.
| Formal announcement was made to-day
by delegates from the Far West tha
they will endeavor to have the conven
ton take some definite action concerning
the l. w. w. and Bolshevism.
Sergeant Sullivan presented a resolu
ton which will be acted on tomorrow
requesting that a petition be sent Il
Congress urging drastic laws to curl
I. w. w. activities.
The resolution says in part:
Whereas, there Is an element livini
among us who mistake libert.
for license. free speech for anarchy ant
who by their action and speeches ant
radical papers would revolutionize thi
government and make this land of free
dom a land of free love be It,
Resolved, That this convention petit
ton Congress that all members Of radi
cal organizations such as the |. w. w
Bolsheviki and kindred organizations b
, deported that a stop be put t
tho printing of their literature and tina
, anyone found guilty of distributing thei
literature be deemed guilty of crimina
offense."
The caucus has received notice fror
, the George Washington National Me
, mortal Association of Womens Club
that it is willing to turn over one foo
OF its building in Washington, incluc
ing an auditorium seating 1000 person!
, to the American legion for its perma
) nent use Action on the matter will b
, taken later.