Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-03
Hanford MacNider Of Mason
City Unanimously Elected to
Succeed John Emery as
National Commander.
Nebraskan Withdraws

y
Rapids. Mich. was made unanimou,
after more than half OF the state dele
cations had seconded his nomination
and three other candidates nomi-
mated, Roy Hoffman OF Oklahoma
City, Earl NJ. Cline OF Nebraska City,
Ncb., and John +. Williams OF Joplin,
Mo, had withdrawn in his favor.
Vice Commanders Chosen.
Vice commanders elected were:
George l.. Berry OF Rogersville,
Tenn: Fl. Nelson Jackson of Bur-
lington. VT, and Charles Kendrick
OF San Francisco, representing the
army and Raymond Backett Of
Marble Head. Mass, and ]. A. Nc
Cormick of Fort Lyon, Colo, the
navy.
The Rev. Earl Blackman OF Cha
mute, Kan, was elected national
chaplain.
A fight for the removal of the ma
tional legion headquarters from In
dianapolis to Kansas City, which the
Missouri delegation promised to
bring to the floor, did not develop.
The daisy was adopted by unani-
nous vote as the official flower Of the
legion.
Native Of Iowa.
Hanford MacNider of Iowa, new
Neglected national commander OF the
American Legion, was born October
2, 1884. at Mason City, la. He grad
uated from Milton academy, Milton,
Mass, in June, 1908, and from Har-
ward college in 1911.
He served on the border as a first
lieutenant with the second Iowa in
fantry. After the outbreak of the
World war he entered the officers
training camp at Fort Smelling and
was commissioned as second lieu
tenant.
He arrived in France September
20. 1917, as an officer in the Ninth
United States infantry. During his
overseas service he was promoted to
colonel and later became lieutenant
colonel Of infantry.
He was wounded at St. Mihiei, and
holds the following decorations:
Distinguish service cross and one
cluster, chevalicr de legion d'hon-.
neur, croix de guerre Give citations,
five palms, one gold and one silver
starr, fourragerc and the italian war
cross. He was given three citations
in general orders.
Since his return to civilian life he
has been prominent in legion work
in his state, having acted as depart
ment commander.
Mr.. MacNider is banker and is
unmarried.
Selection of the Iowan was appaf~
ent when state after state delegation
seconded his name. Toward the end
candidates already nominated began
withdrawing. Roy Hoffman Of Okla
homa City was the first to withdraw,
followed by Earl M. Cline of Ne
braska City, and Col. John F. Viii
liams Of Joplin, Mo-, who asked that
MacNider's nomination be made
unanimous.
Ready for Commands.
The new commander was brought
TO the platform amid cheers and big
Iowa standard was raised over his
head. He thanked the delegates. He
impressed on the legionaries that the
strength Of the legion rested within
the local posts and not at national
headquarters. He stated that his
program would be headed by eff
forts to do everything possible for
the disabled ex-soldiers.
Il stand ready for your. COM
mands," he concluded.
The election of officers concluded
an all-day session marked by debate
and wrangling over sections of the
resolutions committee report, par
ticularly one criticising the speech
delivered by George A. Harvey,
American ambassador to Great Brit
ain. shortly after his arrival in Eng
land. In the address Mr.. Harvey dis
cussed the reasons why the United
States entered the war.
The original resolution was thrown
out on roll call and substitute
adopted. The substitute was written
in less sharp terms and expressed
the belief that the ambassadors re-
marks did not represent the true feel
ing for which the American Legion
stands. 1t directed that a copy of
the resolution be sent to President
Harding.
JIrre Soldier Rorus
Two resolutions bearing on federal
compensation for former soldiers
were among those adopted. Both
declared in favor of immediate COM
pensation legislation. One sub
mitted by the conventions legisla-
tive committee declared that after
careful consideration of all of the
arguments advanced in opposition to
the measure, including the letter OF
the secretary of the treasury and the
address of the president to congress,
we still firmly believe in the Justice,
fairness and immediate necessity of
the adjusted compensation mea-
sure" The resolution adds that it
is resolved that the legion "re-
affirms its stand upon adjusted conf
pensation and asks that congress
pass this measure without further
equivocation or delay
The other compensation resolu-
ton adopted was offered by the
resolutions committee. 1t asserted
that the legion reiterates its position
in favor of the adjusted compensa-
ton for discharged soldiers and de-
rlores the request of President
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