The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-16

Judge Horace c. Wilkinson, spe-
 cial assistant attorney general of
 Alabama, yesterday afternoon was
 eliminated as representative of the
 department of Alabama on the
 American Legion national executive
 committee on the recommendation
 of specia Investigating committee
 made to the executive committee of
 the legion for Alabama at meeting
 held at the Tutwiler hotel.
 E. J. Winslett of Dadeville, na-
 tional vice commander of the Ameri-
 can Legion, who was national execu-
 tive committeeman before Wilkinson
 ing because of press of work, was
 named to succeed Judge wilkinson.
 Mir. Winslett has accepted the ap- pointment, according to Capt. Harry
 Ayers, state commander of the legion.
 Members of the executive commit tee present at the meeting, which
 was called at 1:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, were Harry Ayers, J. Fred
 Johnson, Jr.. Matt Murphy, George Douville, Dave ScottS Marion Rush ton, NJ. E. Frohlich, Alston Felts and Joe Yates.
 "viOlnte Constitution" The Investigating committee re- ported in it's findings that the con
 duct of Judge Wilkinson in the trials | of guardsmen at Hamilton consti- tuted violation of the constitution of the American Legion, and of t.-e | purposes and objects for which 1t was l organized"
 It was also decided at the meet | ing yesterday afternoon to call de- partment convention of the women's 8
 a, xiliary. Harry Ayers, Joe Yates
 end A. c. Conely were named com
 mittee to attend to the arrangements. H. A. c. Brazelton was elected department field representative, to
 organize new posts and to reorganize posts which have run down Post No. Meets
 At the meeting of Post No. l,
 American Legion, held last night the action of the state body was round Fly denounced. A motion for With
 drawal from the state organization was made, but did not carry
 Unanimously the local men voted resolutions condemning the action or the state officials. the resolutions being as follows:
 The Resolutions
 "whereas, the department execu- tive committee has this day under taken to dismiss Horace c. Wnkin- son, a member of this post, from the office of national executive commit teeman, and,
 "Whereas, this post is of the opin- ion that such action on the part of said committee was unauthorized, unwarranted, and usurption of the power and an abuse of the confidence
 that has heretofore been reposed In said committee, and.
 "Whereas, we feel that this act on the part of the committee, whether inspired by proper or improper mo- tives, cannot be other than detri- mental to the welfare of the legion as whole,
 Now, therefore, be 1t resolved, that we call upon legionnaires or this department to take the neces- sary steps to repudiate the illegal action of the executive committee and to retain Horace c. Wilkinson as the Alabama representative on
  the American Legion"
 Judge Wifk1nson's Statement 'sThe unanimous action of the Bir- mingham post at it's meeting tonight
 with over 200 men present, should be sufficient answer to the illeeai action taken by some half dozen state executive committeeman at the
 Tutwiler," said Judge Wilkinson last night.
 ''The sentiments expressed by this committee of half dozen attenpt- ing to dismiss me was emphatlcaliy repudiated by the largest post in the state, a post that has nearly one half of the membership of the Le- zion in Alabama.
 "The action of the committee or d 1 half a dozen will of course be is- | nored. The national committee VII | in due time have opportunity to ln- vestigate this action
 | q am sure no great part of the l public will be misled by the miser .
 able. petty politics this crowd is at l tempting to play in their efforts 10 become missionaries of propaganda. "The action of the state executive committee of six or seven was takeh
 on false reports spread before them 1 that they did not undertake 10 l verify. Some or tnoSc ditrhuiHo N@-N | meeting had to admit as much on
 the floor of the Birmingham Post
 last night"
 | state Committee Report 1 The report made by the departmen' l executiye committee at the meeting :
 yesterday afternoon in the Tutwiiei l hotel was as follows:
 1 The Report
 | ro tbe executive committee Of the American Legion, department of Ala 1 bama; l.; Your committee, appointed 10 IT yestiEate and make recommendation upon charges that Judge Horace v | Wilkinson, a member of the Amerl- can Legion. and then represen,ative of this department in the national executive committee, was guii'y III
 the trial at Hamilton of certain de- ! fendants indicted for murder ot uh- fairly attempting to influence the 1 verdict of the jury, bess to report as follows:
 That it has investigated the ! TyY0.1