Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-05
BONUS IDEA Wins,
z BUT V|RG|N|ANS
WON'T FORCE IT
Resolution Kills Conflict
ing Reports on Soldier
Compensation.
FIGHT TO FINISH MARKS
LEGlON'S 20 CONVENTION
Only Ono Ballot Needed to Put
Robert T. Barton in the
Commandership.
WINCHESTER MAN Is POPULAR
j. j. Wicker Back on National
Committee - Meredith Is
Vicc-Commandcr.
WINCHESTER MAN is POPULAR
j. J. Wicker Back on National
Committee - Meredith Is
icc-Commander.

BY a>vote of 10 to IS. delegates to
tho State Convention OF the American
Legion, at their final session last
evening. passed n resolution framed
by their national committeeman.
John ]. Wicker. Jr.. invalIdaiins both
Wicker's majority report In favor OF
the solder bonus and the minority
report championcd by Robcr, i.
Tunsta!1. OF Norfolk.
Tho substitute resolution. after n
preamble devoted 20 scourg!nS o!
prohtcers. put tho convention on rec
ord as favoring the four-told relief
nal. In which is embodied the cash
bonus plan and which now is In a
pIseonhole of Senator Slnoot's desk
~ Washington. However. II catered
10 tho opinions OF those Delegates on
posed to accepting bonus. even IL
offered by Congress, by declaring that
virginia shall not fight for the bill
III the national convention at Clevc-
land few weeks hence. being con-
tent simply TO leave the outcome IN
the hands or the Senate without con-
Quoting campaign 10 gain passage
OF the bill.
linrton Made Comm nder.
II was after o'clock before the
bonus discussion was ended. and
there was n brief recess to freshcn
the delegates for tho ballotIng on
officers Robert Il. Barton. OF Win
chester. captain OF field artillery
in the Eisht!cth Division; G. NJ. Har-
r!Son. OF Fredericksburg. and DR..
Thomas B. Williamson. Of Norfolk.
post commander in that city tho pas.
year, were the nominees for tho com
membership. \ majority OF los was
needed and Barton received jus. tina.
number on the FIRST ballot. His cleo
zion WAS then made unanimous.
Bernard Meredith. OF Richmond.
who has served the past year as State
war risk officer. with 4 record OF
having carried 10 a successful com
pietion at Washington 235 out OF 800
oase3 submitted 10 him. was chosen
by acclaim for the v!ce-commandcr-
ship.
William A. Stuart. OF Big Stone Gap.
retiring State commander, was OPP
posed to John ]. Wicker. Jr.. national
committeeman from Virginia. for
election TO this office. the mex; con-
test on tho slate. The present incum-
bent, who had been almost constantly
before the convention with one phase
or another OF his fight for the bonus
plan, received 1872 votes to Stuart's 50,
and the latter moved for n unanimous
return OF Wicker for his position
Wicker Is Returned.
Many delegates gave II as their
opinion that while they could not sup
port Wicker In all the extremes OF
his original report on beneficial leg
islation, they admired both his con-
duct OF his office in the past year and
his stand before the convention. The
convention then proceeded TO the
choice OF executive committee mem
bers from the congressional districts
and the selection OF delegates to the
national convention. n report OF which
will be found In another column.
Post Commander Stuart was chosen
n delegate at large. with ninety nine
votes.
When the convention assembled
yesterday morning. 1t became speedily
APPARENT that necessary business
would force the consideration OF the
four-fold or bonus plan to wait for
late position in the day.
II was noon before the plan to have
debate on tho bonus limited 10 five
minutes for each speaker was de-
fcated Mr.. Wicker briefly submitted
his majority report. signed by ten
members and Robert Il. Tunstan. of
Norfolk, reported for five minority
members. He then spoke on mo-
ton to have the convention record it,
self as unalterably opposed to com
pensation OF any sort except that for
wounded men and their dependents
and the relatives of the dead.
Open Discussion.
Colonel Spiller, of Roanoke, be-
gan the open discussion OF the gues-
ton. Luncheon by the Red Gross and
concert by the Marine Band OF
ouantico, whose appearance was by
special dispensation of Secretary
Daniels, then interviewed.
At 3 o'clock the debate continued
and the delegates resolved themselves
INTO seething caldron OF opposite
CONVICTIONS. Numerous delegates were
on the floor with substitute proposals.
n"t could not get them seconded.
calls for vote were repeatedly nut
down by fresh speakers who took ND
every side OF the question, not for
getting to ring the changes on all
the weil-known hackneyed arguments
about "raiding the Treasury" and
"commerciaiizinE patriotism"
There were those who wouldn't
consider for an instant begging OF
tho government to grant them any
cash reward for their fighting SER
vices. while others contended that it
was not question OF tho legion seek-
Ing such reward. but of whether or
not It would decide to accept what
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