The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-16
BALES ELECTED POST COMMANDER ] AMERICAN LEGION
At Enthusiastic Meeting Post Officers Elected-Frank Dixon Presented With
 Walking Cane

George Lewis Bailes, assistant city attorney, is the new commander of Birmingham Post No. 1, American Legion. His election took place last night at largely attended and enthusiastic meeting held at the Civic Association.
 Frank M. Dixon, the retiring com rnhnder, given vote of thanks for his faithful and efficient service to the organization and as a token of the appreciation of the members, was presented With a handsome gold headed walking cane Feeling ref erenoe was made to the war service of Mir. Dixon by Walter S Brewer, who presented the cane on behalf fitting response was made by the re- tiring commander.
 Other officers elected were A. G. Conoley. vice commander; M 1T. Sterne, finance officer, and Miss Nell lie Burney, historian.
 The meeting was the most largely attended in the history of the post and the election excited unusual in- terest. The rival candidates were kr. Bai1es and MT. Conoley, who was later nominated and elected vice, commander. Supporters of MT. Con oley moved to make the election of Brr. Bailes unanimous and the best of feeling prevailed after the elec- ton.
 Wedding Announced
 A feature of the meeting was the tntroduction of Miss Nellie Burney, who was a yeomanette in the navy during the war and is now one of the active members of the local post. The commander announced the en- gagement and approaching marriage of Miss Burney and William Seil, adjutant of the local post, which will take place Saturday.
 Ben F. Ray. historian of the post. with the history of the organization from it's founding to the present date. A reading was given by Mrs. A. s. Keith, which was greatly en- joyed by the members
 Horace c. Wilkinson, alternate na- tional committeeman from Alabama, reported on the meeting of the na- tional executive committee held Tuesday in Indianapolis, at which John G. Emery of Grand Rapids, vice commander, was elected national commander to succeed Commander F. W. Galbraith, who was killed in an automobile accident last week. Mir. Wilkinson declared that MT. Emery was eninently qualified for the post and that he was man of large affairs and great prestige who had rendered valuable service to the organization. The Alabama represen- tative at the meeting in Indianapolis also made a very gratifying report on the work of the organization throughout the nation.
 New State Commander
 Harry M Ayers of Anniston, the new state commander, was present and made an optimistic speech about the future of the state department, congratulating the local post upon the work which 1t is doing. Matt Fl, Murphy. the retiring state com mander, was introduced and congrat- ulated upon his service as head of the state organization.
 Commander Ayers announced that he was leaving the state this week lOI 4hOHhh S N~tCetAiOil III Sihddh and that until his return, the busi- ness of the state organization would be conducted by former Commander Murphy and the department adju- tant, Joe A. Yates, in the same office here as for the past year.
 Judge Horace c. Wilkinson was made chairman of the memb bership committee which will consider the advlsability of inamguratng a mem bership campaign and H. D. Jordan was made chairman of a committee to consider the advisabillty of talk ing steps to secure a club house.
 MT. BaiIes, the new commander, is one of the best known young men in Birmingham He is at present as- sistant city attorney, a position he held prior to enlistinE in the army a few days after war was declared. He saw service in France for one year, being regularly with the Sixth division which was at the front prior to the ar.mistice and later in the army of occupation. He had sev- eral other important asst gnments. in addition to his service as first lieu tenant in the Sixth division.
 He enjoys high rank among the lawyers of the city, Is active in all civic affairs and has taken a prom inent part in the American Legfor