The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
STEP FOR MERGER
OF VETERANS TAKEN
Officers Of Lieut.. Dittoe's Or
ganization Resign to Help
Movement.
CONVENTION IN ST. LOUIS
Permanent Amalgamation Is
Planned About May 1 In
That City.

The nrst DEFINITE step toward welding
organizations OF discharged soldiers into
ono powerful body was taken yesterday
when announcement was made that the
officers, directors and executive commit
tee of the World War Veterans OF Amer
lea had resigned to permit their ergani-
zation to be absorbed by the larger
movement in which Lieut-Col. Theodore
Roosevelt is the guiding genius
At the same time announcement was
made that the permanent organization
will be effected about May / In st.
Louis, where the Homecoming veterans
| will hold q convention for that specific
purpose. Lieut.-Col. Roosevelt Is at the
| head of the so-called preliminary COM
| mittee which 10 making arrangements
| for the convention. and it was at the In
| vitation Of this committee that the on
GERS of the World War Veterans OF
America decided TO cast their lot with
| the American Legion That is the or
| eanization OF American fighting men
formed overseas recently, and before he
came back from France Lieut.-Col
Roosevelt had a hand in bringing 1t into
being. 1t will be in the amalgamation
| to be effected at the convention.
Temporary Board.
In the list of officers who agreed to
unite with the body to be formed at the
st. Louis convention was Capt. Archi-
bald Roosevelt, brother of Lieut-Co!
Roosevelt, who also saw much fighting
in France and came home as an Invalid
from wounds The temporary board
which will govern the World War Vet
Grams of America until the consolidation
Is completed Is composed OF the Follow
Ing, all of whom recently nave peer
mustered out of the military service
| Can't. Arthur F. Cosby, First Lieut. VIII
frid C. Dittoe, Major Tompkins Mcil.
vaine, Lieut.-Col. Richard Derby ano
| Capt. Henry Fairfield Osborn.
The resignation of the officers OF the
World War Veterans of America will have
no effect upon the work Of that orsaniza'
ton. which so far has been directed prin'
cipally toward affording relief and obtain
ing Jobs for discharged soldiers ihl'
! task will be carried on without INTERRUPT
tion at the ORGANIZATIONS Offices in the
Holland Building. 144o Broadway:
| The officers who resigned included
| Lieut. Dittoe, president, ana MAJOR NC
Ilvaine, who was treasurer. In th'
meantime an advisory committee Is De
| ing formed. under approval by the TEN
porary board of the organization.
Agree 10 BE Advisers.
| Among those who have accepted IN
vita ions to serve on the advisory board
are Bishop Thomas F. Gailor OF Tennes
sac. DR., George w. Kirchwey. director
for New York State OF the United States
| Employment Service; Representative
John c, Klectska OF Winconsin and Capt
Archie Roosevelt Stipulation has beer
made that officers of the association mus
serve without pay.
A statement given out last night b!
the World War Veterans of Americi
said:
THE World War Veterans Of Americi
Is a corporation created under the law
OF the State Of New York. The mem
bers of the executive committee are con
WINGED that It is in the interests OF III
country that the matter Of organization
OF service men be placed in the hand
OF the preliminary committee pendini
the naming of a permanent organization
committee at the national convention, tn
call for which now Is in preparation
Therefore all the officers and the execu
tive committee OF the World War Vet
lerans of America have placed their resig
nations in the hands OF the temporar,
committee of which Lieut.. Col. Roose
.,alt 10 chairman"