The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-12-30


gion was reorganized, yith R. B.
Cheathsm as post commander and
D. T. Smith, Jr., as vice commander.
With approximately 200 men pres
emf, much enthusiasm was in evi-
dence at the business meeting and
at the banquet and dance which fol-
lowed. *
w. D. Wilkinson, as former com
mander Of the Ahbeville post, pre-
sided at the business meeting until
the commander was elected, also
serving as toastmaster at the ban
quet. Mayor J. Moore Mars made
the address Of welcome. Ernest
Rosenberg, commander of the
Greenwood post, told Of his work in
connection with the Foch visit to
South Carolina, and I Of the impor-
tant place the Legion has in the bust
ness and social life Of Greenwood.
He said that he hoped to see Able
vile make a fine showing at the
next meeting Of the state depart
ment,, even eclipsing Greenwood's
present mark, so thaty they would
have to hustle to keep the lead.
Lieutenant Commander r. E. Bell,
who is, in Abbeville on visit to
relatives, and who has recently Ne
turned from France where he has
been. since the arpistice, made re-
port on the present .postlbellum
status of vim rouge and vim blanc
and wished the Abbeville organiza-
tion godspeed in It's auspicious
start. He spoke Interestingly of the
work of Legion Post No. lin Paris
where he was stationed as naval
attache. ..~.
R. B. Cheatham, the new post
commander, is at present county
treasurer. He has long record Of
military service, beginning with his
student days at the CITADEL in 1896
He was a private and sergeant in the
First South Carolina Volunteer In
fantry during the Spanish American
war. Attending the. first officers
training camp at Fort Oglethorpe,
Mr.. Cheatham was commissioned a
captain sof infantry. Later he was
for a time senior instructor in the
officers training school of the
Eighty-first division. He was COM
missioned major August 2, 1918,
and assigned the 141st Infantry Of
the 36th division. During the period
of inactivity following the ,armistice
Major Cheatham was instructor in
his divisional educational center
Along with hundreds of other Off
GERS, Major Cheatham's next step
up in rank, to colonel, was cancelled
by a war department order after the
armistice. He was discharged from
the army July Is, 1919: at Camp
Mills. Because of his educational
experience and his military record,
Major Cheatham is well equipped to
to be commander of the legion post
and his unanimous election shows
the opinion in which he is held
throughout the county.
The election of D. Townsend
Smith, Jr., as vice commander was
also unanimous. His hard work to
make of the meeting yesterday a
success was commended and his
election was a tribute to his fine ac-
complishment. An executive COM
mittee consisting of E. C. Donald
of Donalds, S. F. Sherard of Cal
houn Falls, J. P. Anderson Of An
reville, C. C. Gambrell, G. A. Neuf-
fer, Jr., F. E. Harrison, Jr., was
chosen by ballot to appoint other
executive officers to serve the post,
adjutant and treasurer not yet hav-
ing been chosen. It was a compli-
ment to his ability that W.. D. Will
kinson received the largest vote of
any man chosen on the committee.
Rising votes Of thanks were given
Ernest Rosenberg for his speech
= l. rrr n yu.i,.s.,.,, -, Sovroar