New-York tribune., 1921-09-20
Charge Against 9
Emery Reveals
Legion Revolt
National Commander Ac-
cused of High-Handed
Methods by Fellow Mem.
bers OH Tour Abroad
Assailed for Favoritisrn
With His Friends, Retained
All Honors Intended for
Group, Co1nplainants Say

revolt in the ranks of the Ameri
can Legion, which has a membership
of more than 100000 veterans Of the
World War, was revealed at meeting
held in this city yesterday, where John
9. Emery, national commander of the
Legion, and several other leaders in
Its councils were criticized for their
attitude toward their fellow -deleeates
during the recent good will" tour Of
France.
High-handed and un-Legion-like
methods as chairman of the tourists are
charged against the national COM
mander by his critics, who saw he sur
rounded himself with a chosen few
and was guilty Of displaying an aloof-
ness toward the more than 200 others
who made the trip, including some
women. Then, it was declared he
caused the delegation to be split into
nve UNITS, known as Companies A, B. C
and ID and headquarters staff. The
neadquarters staff, it was said, included
the national commander, Past National
commanders Franklin d'Olier ana
Henry D. Lindsley, Colonel Milton D
Foreman, of Chicago; Delaney Kuntge,
OF this city, and few others.
Travel Discrimination Charged
ION the special train" one OF the
Leglonnalres said yesterday, "the head
quarters staff Travelled in a car of its
own, while the other Legionnaires were
assigned to company cars. Emery and
his crowd kept to themselves, making
ali the decisions about routes and
travel. When tablets were dedicated
they dld the dedicating; when medals
were distributed they did the receiy-
ing
1t was disclosed yesterday that,
while there had been revolt amono.
the veterans at Lyons France. cooler
heads prevailed and persuaded those
WIN grievances to postpone their com
plants until after leaving France. so
tnat French officials would not be Of
tended. This they agreed to do.
on the third day out from Havre
on tne Leopoldina, meeting was
called by those who had sometime ia
say to the national COMMANDER it. was
declared, and they refused to permit
him to sit as chairman unless the
meeting elected him. Then his name
was offered as a candidate for chair
man, against that OF Judge James Han
ley. OF North Dakota Hanlev won and
welded the gavel
One of the first acts of Emery. it
was said. was TO volunteer to Give nm
the decorations he had received in
France and Belgium. He said he rem
resented the American Legion and that
the decorations were intended for the
Legion. We suggested that they be
placed IN the vaults at Indianapolis,
national headquarters. Lindsley.
d,Olier, Foreman, Kountzo and John !
Wicker jr. thereupon agreed to do
the same thing with their medals. it
was announced.
American Flag Not Decorated
question from one of the Lepjon-
nalres, who wished to learn wby the
Legion banner or the American A.r
carried by the delegation had not been
decorated by the French, elected no
reply, it was declared.
On the last of the three davs dur
ing which Judge Hanley presided over
the meetings, an attempt was made,
the tourists declared, to pass resolu-
ton permitting the officers to wear the
tCont'nusd on next pape)