Evening journal., 1919-09-13
GRAND ARMY IS
AGAINST LEAGUE
Veterans Are Almost Un.
animous in Their Stand
Against Pact
ACTION NOTPOLITICAL,
But PATRIOTIC

COLUMBUS, o, Sept i3.-Resolu-
lions opposing ratification by the
United states OF The peace treaty in its
present form were adopted almost
unanimously here yesterday BY dele
gates attending the annual cncamp-
ment Of the Grand Army Of the Re
public.
The resolutions were presented by
Comrade Ketcham. Of Indiana. and were
adopted after a debate lasting all morn
ing. The chair ruled that the resolu-
lions could not be acted upon because
they were Of a political nature
The convention Overruled the chair
as brought them 10 a vote. Nearly
every delegate voted in favor OF them
The veterans declared their action
was not political, but in accord with
their policy for 100 per cent Amer
lcanism They said they We're Op-
posed 10 engaging in any eni1ngling
alliances, and were unwilling 10 saeri-
flee any degree OF Amerlcansm for
the sake OF the League OF Nations
There were loud cries Of mol Nor
when a resolution was read proposing
the consolidation Of the q. T. r.. the
lean Legion. The resolution was re-
ferred 90 a committee and delegates
said IL would be voted down.
BY unanimous vote a resolution was
adopted declaring that "the Grand
Army OF the Republic shall live as long
as one comrade remains upon this
earth
Col James D. Bell. Of Brooklyn. was
unanimously elected commander-in-
chief. D. W. Hall. OF Columbus, was
elected senior vice commander.
Colonel James ID. Bell Served nearly
three years and nine months iG the
Civil War. having enlisted for three
years on October 1. 1861. in Troop B,
First New York Mounted Rifles. and
re-enlsted as a veteran volunteer at
Yorktown. Va. February 1. 1864. He
was wounded at Zuni Bridge, Va, No
vember ii. 1862. and was for a short
! time prisoner OF war az Salisbury, y.
| C.. lie was hOnOrably discharged as
first sergeant OF Troop Z. on June 26,
1863. lie enlisted at the age OF i6 and
is now in his seventy-fourth year. hav-
ing been born in New York city in
September, 1918.
y
paper work for eight years and then
entered law. lie has lived In Brook
lyn. y. Y. for nearly 30 years, and IS
al present serving as United Staies
district attorney for The Eastern Dis
lrict Of New York, under a tempor-
ary appointment.
lie Is a charter member OF Abel
Smith. First Long Island Post, G. \.
! r.. OF Brooklyn. and Is its present
! commander having been i3 times elect
ed 90 that office. lie has been a mem
Der or the New York department en-
campments continuously FOR 30 years
and has served as department com
mander. senior vice commander. chic
musterlng officer. and three terms as
Judge advocate. lie has served for 81
years as a member Of the memorial
and executive committee Of the King;
| County G.. 4. r.
During the past 90 years OF the
life OF the G. \. r.. there have been
four commanders-in-chief from New
York Slate. the last having been James
Tanner. ~ years ago.
Colonel Bell has been active in civil
life in brooklyn having been police
commissioner Of the old City OF Brook
! lvn. commissioner for The building OF
I ihe Williamsburg bridge. and assistant
corporation counsel IN the Brooklyn
office OF the New York city law de-
pariment for more than ten years.