The sun., 1919-10-12
State Veterans Ask Congress
for SIS for Each Month
Served i'm War.
CLASH OVER ELECTION
Senator WadswOrth Cheered
for Speech in Favor of
Citizens Army.
Special pespatcA 10 Tns SUI.

dress of United States Senator James
w. wadsworth, Jr,, and the approval OF
n number of important resolutions af-
fectinS the welfare of former service
men, the first annual convention of the
New York State American Legion passed
into history late to-day. The next con-
vention will take place in Albany one
month before the national convention OF
next year. the date to be announced.
Prohibition and otner subjects of ma
tional interest outside the immediate
range of the legion's activities were left
to the care OF the permanent legislative
committee. Most important of the several
resolutions approved was the following
"Resoived, That It is the sense of this
convention that an equitable compensa-
ton be granted by Congress to those
veterans of the great war who have
received an honorable discharge. based
on sum not less than s15 for every
month served"
The resolution was adopted after con-
siderable discussion and was regarded
as extremely moderate in its final form,
in view OF the demands which had been
proposed by some of the delegates pre-
vious to the convention.
It was announced that Legion Sunday
would be observed November in the
churches of the United States.
resolution was approved thanking
the American Red Cross for it's services
on behalf OF service men. Other reso-
lutions were Urging that former serv-
ice men be reemployed as fast as dis
charged; favoring the Americarization
of all foreign born residents of the
United States as rapidly as practicable
deportation of alien slackers, whether
those who forfeited citizenship rather
than be drafted, or alien born conscien-
tious objectors, or persons interned for
seditious utterances or activities; urging
that seditious utterances in the United
States be suppressed; asking legislation
for universal military service; advocat-
ing Federal legislation favoring the APP
pointment of former service rnen to civil
service positions in preference to civil
ians; asking state and Federal care
of disabled service men urging speed
ing up of plans for vocational training
of service men.
A resolution approving the League OF
Nations was shunted into the Com
mittee on LEGISLATION, along with pro-
hibition and other subjects of national
Importance. An effort to obtain the
Endorsement of the convention for long
time loans to former soldiers and sailors
was rejected by a decisive vote.
wadsworth for Citizens Army.
Senator wadsworth was received with
applause when he was introduced to
speak on the so-calied army bill before
Congress and the proposed plan of uni
versal military training. The Senator
proceeded at once to attack the Wa
Department bill, which contemplates, he
said, a large standing army. to be main
tanned at enormous expense. His Idea
for n military establishment for the
United states. he said, was small.
highly efficient army for the instruction
of great citizens army In which each
citizen would be obliged to serve for I
brief period of training. afterward TO he
assigned TO a certain unit for further
training at stated intervals -
The Senator's remarks were applauded
enthusiastically when he declared that
re would allow no man TO become an
officer in the proposed new American
army unless he had first done his bit
in the ranks. On the nther hand. ne
said. he would set no limit to the
rank to which private might rise
through merit He emphasized the fact
that the War Department bin provides
for an expenditure of approximately
5000, 100000 annually, of which $780,
600. 900 would be expended on the up
keep OF the standing army and only
500, 600 900 on the proposed citizens
army.
He would still maintain the carefully
trained West Point group Of military
experts he said, but merely as a means
OF training the proposed army of cit
liens, in which every able bodied man
| would have part. In the course OF a
! few years, he declared. the United
States would have one of the greatest
military forces in the world, ready for
| instant use against a foreign aggressor.
but not dominated by a militaristic
spirit.
Election Proves to BE Exciting.
other delegates from the western end
| of the State Joined in the attack. and
! for time 1t looked as II there might
| be real trouble, but the matter finally
was smoothed over. and the voting pro-
| ceeded.
The officers elected were: Chairman,
Russell e. Sard OF Albany; first vice.
! chairman, Robert A. Greenfield Of
Westchester second vice-chairman.
James r. Goerke OF Kingston third
vice-chalrman, Harold l.. Bodamer Of
Erie; treasurer. Joseph l.. Seligman OF
! New York; secretary, Wade II. Hayes.
When the selection OF four delegates
at-large to the NATIONAL convention be-
| gan, Ogden L. Mills of New York and g.
w wickersham of Nassau attempted to-
withdraw their names from nomination.
Both suggestions were met with yells OF
protest, and the nominations were al
lowed to stand. The Rev. Francis A.
Kelly OF Troy. Fighting Chaplain Of
| the Twenty-seventh Division. and Peter
NJ. Hart OF Rockland. formerly "gob"
in the> navy. were the other two dele
gates-at-large Alternates were DIR.
Frank A. Sears of Broome county, James
! T. Gallivan of Monroe Fred t. Gallagher
. of Oswego and Paul G. Burns Of Oneida.
When the nominations were placed be-
fore the convention II became evident
that a large number OF delegates were
greatly dissa tisfied 1t was openly
charged that the rules of the legion had
been violated in nominating q majority
of officers. instead Of only 40 per cent.
as specified In the bylaws II. ]. Smith
, OF Cattaraugus led the attack.
The upstate delegates supported
Smith somewhat heatedly. and were re-
minded by a New York delegate that
they came from 'backwoods" districts.
VIII, n did not go far toward smoothing
the ruffiled feathers Of the up-Staters.
! The motion finally was adopted and
the remaining officers and delegates
elected on that basis.
/ bomber May Not Fly To-day.