The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-23
AMERICAN LEGION
GUSTS ANDERSON
Rhine Horror Speech Results
in Trial and Action by n. Y.
County Chapter.
ACCUSED MAN is ABSENT
Sends Letter Denying Juris-
dictiOn-Says His Post
Had Disbanded.

Alexander II. Anderson. formerly a
Lieutenant Colonel in the 165th In
fantry of the Forty second Division,
was expelled from the American
Legion last night after the executive
committee Of the New York county
organization OF the legion had found
him guilty Of actions "prejudicial to
the interests, principles and reputa-
tion of the American Legion" by ap-
pearing and making a speech before
the Horror of the Rhine meeting iii
Madison Square Garden on the night
Of February 2s.
The executive committee sat as
court-martlal in the Pennsylvania
Hotel, with II. W. Buxton as presi-
dent OF the court, and after hearing
evidence reported d unanimous YER
dict OF guilty and voted that Mr.. An
derson be expelled from the legion
The action Of the executive commit
tee will be reported to the State and
national organizations OF the legion.
but their confirmation of the verdict
will not be necessary TO Mr.. Ander-
sons expulsion.
Mr.. Anderson wes not present. having
declined to attend the trial: instead ne
sent a letter by messenger. Edward B.
Seaman. in which he denied that the
legion had any control over him or juris-
diction in the premises. on the ground
that the Sixty-ninth Regiment POST OF
which ne was member. had disbanded
and withdrawn from the legion on De-
cember 10, 1920. His letter said:
II desire TO inform the executive COM
mittee Of the American Legion New
York county committee. through you as
chairman. that / am without the juris-
diction Of the American Legion. its by
laws. rules or action. for the reason that
ment, Rainbow Division, Post 1876. BY
the approval and consent OF its members.
ceased TO exist as post Of the Amer
lean Legion.
AT that time the post was not in
debted 70 the national, State or county
organization. and no one has paid or
offered to pay dues for 1921"
The receipt OF that letter and the
testimony Of Svanlan 10 thu effect that
the statements contained in IL we're true
brought up the question OF jurisdiction,
which the court was compelled to set
tie before going ahead with the trial
After two hours Of delioeration the
court decided that It had jurisdiction.
for the reason that the Sixty-ninth Regi-
ment Post had not notified the proper
legion authorities OF its disbanding. and
that. therefore, officially. Il still existed,
though in arrears so far as dues are
concerned.
The taking ot testimony was then
begun, the first witness being James VI
Blackwell formerly major in the 30Sth
Infantry, who attended the meeting at
the Garden. His testimony dealt with
the speech OF Mr.. Anderson and It's re-
ception by the crowd of Germans and
Irish sympathizers who filled the audi
torium
The charges against Mr.. Anderson go
into detail as to the reasons why hs
actions at the Horror OF the Rhino
gathering were inimical 70 the interest
Of the American Legion, covering sew
eral typewriter pages with tho various
counts. Statements made BY him h his
speech and other statements made by
him In newspaper interviews form the
basis or the charges. In order that be
might be assured fair play the court
appointed Thomas j. Brady. a member
OF the executive committee. as hls
counsel