Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-04
,2BONUS BILL WILL
FEATURE SESSION
= OF LEGION TODAY
Proponents of Measure
J Force Adjournment After
Spirited Debate.
NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN
JOHN J. WICKER LEADS FIGHT
Motion to Limit Discussion De-
feated, John T. Cutchins
Heading Opposition.
MEET IN NORFOLK IN 1921
Two Sessions Will Be Held Today,
First at 0:3O--WIl Elect
Officers.
MEET IN NORFOLK IN 1921
First at 0:3O--Will Elect
Officers.

In the midst Of roll call de-
manded by opponents OF a motion to
suspend convention rules and pat
over discussion on tho bonus Oil un-
III this morning with debate on both
s!dcs limited. majority delegates 10
the convention OF the State depart
men, of the American Legion yes;er-
day afternoon forced through a mo-
tion 10 adjourn. after having been in
session little more than an hour.
This move on the part OF the pro-
poncnts OF the bonus bill WIZ throw
:, the entire question. which is gem
jTcrally conceded TO be the most scri-
Gus piece OF the business the conven-
tion faces. onto the floor today for
general thresh!ng out.
What started out as a quiet session
,turned out TO be considerable OF an
h pphcaval and little was accomplished
beyond the passing OF four rcsoiu-
tons under the head OF aeneAcIu!
Legislation. which were offered by
National Committeeman John J.
Wicker, Jr. just prior TO his original
reading o. the resolution favor!ng
the bonus bill. which nrecipituicd
countless motions and countermoiions
and ultimately came TO nauEht. with
I, the coerccd Adjournment on the part
a. the delegates unwilling TO prevent
passage OF motion granting un-
. limited debate on the bonus.
Meet Next In Norfolk.
iSorfoik was Unanimously selected
+ the city In which the 1921 gath
ring will convene. but the commit
Ycc report recommending the mrs,
fbrse days OF September as tho dates
Tar tho convention was amended TO
gave the selection OF dates optional!
fwith the State executive committee.
;h was tho majority sentiment that
the convention should be held the
week after Labor Day. instead Of
the nrnt week in the month. because
{ the holiday spirit interfcrcs with
, fun attendance OF delegates.
The delegates were late in as
Z scmhl:ng yesterday. il oc!ng after
I o'clock before Commander stuart's
| Eavel brought them TO order. The
| convention was faced with the neces
d.ty OF adjourning in the close neigh
/ bo-hood OF 1870 at the latest because
\ OF the plans OF the kiwan!s Club for
- the entertainment, OF the delegates
/ w!th an auto tour and supper before
II the Richmond Post dance In the cven-
! ,!nG at the Country Club Of N!r-
L Elnia.
|. This fact was laid before the con-
s.cntion by National Committeeman
Wicker, who also Is chairman OF the
beneficial Legislation committee. after
he had obtained passage OF four rcso-
iutions dealing with minor phases OF
his work and had offered the proposal
that IL o'clock today be set ns the
hour for taking UP tht bonus matter
] under a special order OF business. He
i stated that he did not believe there
was time enough remaining At the
! afternoon session to adequately han
I die the matter.
y Opposition Is Rife.
Opposition TO his scheme VS. rife
4 Immediately following his motion.
+ which provided that debate he linn
4 jtcd TO an hour for each side, with
4 the majority both opening and clos
Ing. Various substitute motions and
amendments were offered. on which
\ both standing and viva voce votes
were taken. Finally. by the latter
method, n majority OF 12 was OBJ
tanned against the plan to have n
I; limited debate today.
/ Then motion for open discussion
Il of the bonus problem was enter
taincd. but before it could be put
" through minority shouters repeatedly
N demanded Of Commander Stuart that
a roll call vote be taken. 1t was
i ruled that the convention had to vote
III on this alone, but this vote was
finally waived. and the 6ommander
|Idirccted that the roll call be taken.
4 John ~. Cutchins for Richmond Post
pad barely cast the first vote on the
e,1me from all quarters OF the hall.
After being seconded. the motion was
carried.
Richmond Commander John r.
Cutchins had been one of tho strong
advocates of unlimited discussion,
and he cast the vote of the local dele
cation against the resolution after n
spirited controversy with Delegate
Wicker, whom he, at first, declared
had to allow his alternate to vote
for him because of his position on
n the leGion's national committee. This
rNinS later was reversed, and an
apology followed by Cutchins for an
infringement of Wicker's rights.
Summary of Resolutions.
The four resolutions which went
through before the bonus dispute dis
rupted proceedings may be summar-
ized as follows: First, in support OF
the Stevenson bill, which provides
tho same measure of relief for Ma
tioual Guard officers and men as for
~ Continual on Third PagcJ
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