New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30
Compton Quits
Legion Office
In Bonus Row
County Chairman Resigns
When Resolution to Fore.
go Compensation Is Re-
fused; Action Demanded

Major George Brokaw Compton,
chairman of the New York County COM
mittee of the American Legion, re-
signed his post last night when, at a
riotous meeting at the Hotel Astor.
the committee tabled resolution re-
pudiating the demands made on Con-
gress by the national committee for a
bonus and adopted another indorsing
those demands.
Delegates from the 180 posts in the
district were present at the gathering
which lasted from o'clock until we'll
after midnight. The vote tabling the
first resolution was 76 to 62. The vote
indorsing the second, demanding a
bonus, was 73 to SO.
Confusion at Meeting
From beginning to end the meeting
was filled with confusion. There was
scarcely moment when a half dozen
men were not on their feet at once
clamoring for recognition. When Major
Compton announced mis- resignation the
delegates hooted and jeered, although
strong minority, apparently in sym
pathy with him, urged that he be given
a chance to speak uninterrupted
The resolution adopted was proposed
by Irving l. Rackoff. 1t read:
whereas, 1t is the feeling of. the
New York County Committee that the
nation owes an obligation to the men
and women who were in service in
the World War to relieve disad
vantages incidental to military serv-
ice; and
Whereas, This obligation has not
been fulfilled; therefore be it
Resolved, That the executive COM
mittee heartily indorses the action of
the national executive committee in
demanding fulfllment of this obliga-
ton
The demand of the National Execu-
tive Committee is for bonus of $50
for every month that every member
of the Legion spent in the service.
Plan for State Aid
1t was also moved by the meeting
that the state be asked for an addi-
tional bonus.
The uproar that attended the gath
ering began TO reach large proportions
when the resolution approved by Ma
jor Compton and setting forth the con-
viction Of the committee that no pres
sure should be brought to bear on
Congress for financial aid save in the
case of manned service men and wild
ows and orphans Of soldiers and sail
ors was voted down.
For time it seemed as though
every one .in the room was trying to
talk at once, and Major Compton S
gavel was called into action every few
minutes to bring about semblance of
order.
Cheers greeted the reading of Rack
offs resolution, and discussion that
followed this was especially bitter.
Reginald Barlow, an actor, one of the
delegates, in the course of this said:
eve shouldn't go down to Washing
ton and petition a lot of old women
who do nothing but gas. We shouldn't
grovel and crawl before them. They
were elected to carry out our wishes.
We should demand what we want"
One Man Thrown Out
Tremendous applause greeted the an
nouncement of the tellers that the res
olution had been carried. When order
had been partly restored Major Comp
ton started to make q statement He
was interrupted by one Irving Cohen,
who said he was president of Dan
Gallon Post, who claimed that his name
had not been called in connection with
the vote.
The chairman responded that this
was because Mr.. Cohen's name was
still before the Americanization COM
mittee of the Legion for investigation
CONTINUED on next paqe)