New-York tribune., 1920-09-30
CalbraitI1 Wins
As Legion Head
Inl Hot Election
Cincinnati Man Is Named
National Commander to
Succeed D'Olier; Newark
Veteran Also Gets Post
Japanese Exclusion Urged
Resolution Asks Congress
to Act at Once; Vote to
Continue BAN ON Politics
By FDnk J. Price Jr.


CLEVELAND, Sept 29.-In a stormy
closing session here to-day the second
annual convention of the American
Legion elected Frederick W. Galbraith
jr., of Cincinnati, as the new national
commander to succeed Franklin d'Olier,
Of Pennsylvania.
The legionnaires selected an East
erner as their first vice-commander.
He is Thomas Goldengay, of Newark,
N. j., who as state adjutant Of New
Jersey gained some fame when he re-
fused to issue q charter to the Ber-
nardsvlle Post because of that organ
ization's action IN operating trains dur
ing the insurgent railroad strike. Mr..
Goldengay is the commander of New
ark Post No. 2, and served as q COM
mander with the American navy in the
North Sea during the war. He is an
Annapolis man.
The new commander of the Legion
commanded the 147th Infantry as colo
mel during the World War, won the
Distinguished Service Cross, the Croix
de Guerre and the Croix de Guerre
With Palm for heroism in the Meuse-
Argonne offensive, during which he was
wounded He is National Guards
man. He has been state commander of
Ohio and member Of the national ex-
ccutive committee.
The deliberations early in the day
were marked by heated debate. The
discussion concerned the proposed
amendment of the Legion constitution
in so far as it restricts the legionnaires
from political activity. and the propo-
si4aon that the Legion demand action
by Congress toward Japanese cx-
clusion.
Decide to Keep Out of Politics
On the question of politics the COM
mittee appointed by the convention TO
consider it was unanimous in it's belief
that the present bars should not be let
down. However, thirty-three members
Of the committee, led by Past National
Commander Henry D. Lindsey, intro
duced q resolution providing that the
powered to examine into the candi-
dacies of aspirants to political Offices
and decide what action the Legion
should take in the event that the mer
SO investigated were found to be op-
posed to those things for which the LIE
gion stands. Three members of the
committee opposed this resolution and
won their fight after carrying it to the
floor
The Legion thus is kept absolutely
out of politics of any sort.
The resolution urging Japanese ex-
clusion and declaring the immigration
of Orientals grave menace to the
people of the United States was op-
posed vigorously by the delegates from
New York, led by Henry W. Buxton,
chairman of New York County The
Fasteners felt they knew too little
about the subject and wanted the Le-
gion to name a committee to investi-
gate the question for year before
taking action.
Resolution Is Adopted
The resolution was passed after q
long debate: 1t read:
"Be it resolved, That we 60 on rec
ord as being in favor of the cancclla"
tion of the so-called 'gentlemen's 8
agreement with Japan, exclusion Of
picture brides and rigorous exclusion
of Japanese as immigrants.
"And that we enter vigorous protest
against the demand of Japan that nat
uralization rights be granted to it's
national now located in the United
States, and that we earnestly request
the State Department of the United
States in its settlement of this question
not to consider any proposition which
will grant rights of naturalization to
this unassimilablc people,"
Copies of the resolution will be sent
to Secretary of State Colby and to
every Congressman, with a demand for
immediate action.
Negro Offended by Statements
A delicate situation was caused on
the floor this evening when the race
question was raised by negro dele
gate from Michigan, who demanded
that delegates from California and
South Carolina rotract statements made
during speeches on the Japanese ex-
clusion resolution, in which the negro
was compared to the Japanese.
"Our record for loyalty he cried,
"is written in the history of this coun-
try from Bunker Hill to the Argonnc.
Never war has been fought that did
not find the negro faring forth willingly
to die for the preservation of our coun-
try"
The reference he objected to was that
the negro race was "as non-assimilable
as the Japanese"
Both the delegates from California
and South Carolina relieved the tension
by apologizing from the floor.
Election Fight Three-Cornered
The contest in the election of the
national commander was three-cor-
nered, with Galbraith. Hanford Msc-
Nider, of Iowa, and j. F. J. Herbert. of
Massachusetts, involved. On the sec
ond ballot the vote stood: Galbraith,
$50; MacNider, 275, and Herbert. 145.
There was one vote for Arthur Woods,
of New York: MacNider then moved to
make the election unanimous.
On the first ballot the New York
delegation gave Galbraith 70 votes and
MacNider s. Galbraith got the entire
1S on the second ballot.
Goldengay was easily the moss copu-
lar candidate for first ce-commander.
He received 87s votes to 1856 for r. J.
Pendill, Of Wisconsin, who is he new
second vice-commander. The other new
vice commanders are J. G. Scrugham
Of Nevada; John G. Emery, uf Michi-
gan, and Thomas Winslett, Of Alabama.
For the first time since the Legion
was organized woman was ! candi-
date for vice commander. She wns Misc
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