Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-20
WILL AIR LEGION
ROW AT PITTSBURGH
Penna. Body Primed for Fight
on Emery's Alleged Arrogance
on European Trip
DECORATIONS BIG ISSUE

The alleged discourteous treatment
accorded the rank ard file Of the Amer
lean Legion on their recent European
tour will be brought TO the attention
Of ithe Pennsylvania Legion at their
State convention in Pittsburgh the lat
ter part Of the week. when the Phila-
delphia delegation will carry report
from the Philadelphians who were on
A meeting in New York last night
made public the Ill feeling that did
great deal to mar the journey planned
to cement not only international frlend-
ships, but renew the national brother
hood that made the American Legion
possible.
t;onol commander of the Legion. was
arrogant, that he gathered around him
n staff of privileged favorites and that
he and this group took for themselves
decorations that were intended for the
Legion ms a whole were only part OF
the allegations brought out at the meet
ing in New York. Most of these charges
were backed up today by members OF
the marty who came from this city.
Party Incensed
The alleged -Americanlike and un.
Legionllke attitude Of Emery and the
Others be gathered close to him so In
censed the party that the matter
brought about an indignation meeting
on board the Leopoldina, the liner on
which the party returned, and this
meeting will probably result in the com
mander and his friends being forced to
turn the decorations over to the Ameri-
can Legion when the national meeting
is held in Kansas City.
So strong was the pressure brought to
bear aboard the ship that the accused
leaders volunteered to do this, ut the
same tilRe multiplying the resolution OF
fered by an amendment, which would
make them turn only the originals over
to the Legion and still allow them to
wear the ribbons and also to have du-
plcates of the medals made to keep In
their homes as personal tributes. This
attempt caused the whole matter to be
dropped until the national convention. '
The allegations in substance were
that from the very start Commander
Emery adopted an arrogant attitude.
When the party was ready to start,
members say, Mr.. Emery immediately
established military organization,
which other members Of the party de-
clarcd to be contrary to the principles
Of the Legion.
Divided Party Into Divisions
He divided the 200 members Of the
party into four companies and head
quarters staff. These companies were
lettered A, b, G and ID, and from
that time on were handled just as SOL
diers are handled. Except that they
had the smea accommodations as the
leaders, their status was no different
than that of men under the command
Of military officers.
While they had train schedule to
take them through France they had
no idea what would be done at any stop
nor were they consulted about any
thing. The charges also state that no
get acquainted meeting was called
on the George Washington going over
and that nothing was done by the lead :
ers to promote good fellowship.
Despite the fact that there was about
fifty women on the trip 1t is said Mr..
Emery and the others did at no time
drop their attitude of aloofness and
would go 80 far as to ignore other
members Of the party when they met
them on the street.
The other men in Headquarters