Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-11-09
HANFORD MACNIDER
COMMANDS LEGION
Iowa Man Elected Commander
at Close of Convention.
RUSH BONUS, is BIG DEMAND
Harding, Mellon and Harvey AssaiIed
BY Resolutions-seeretary Called
Greatest Profiteer of War
His Name is Jeered.

Kansas City, Mo-, Nov. 3.-The
American Legion urged immediate
passage of the soldier bonus bill by
congress. criticized President Harding
and Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon
and asserted George IL. Harvey, am
bassador TO Great Britain. did not ex-
press the views of the legion.
An attempt was made to demand the
recall Of Ambassador Harvey, but the
resolution was defeated, $40 TO 40,
after a bitter debate.
When Vice Commander James r.
Scrugham read the report of the com
mittee on legislation urging passage of
the bonus bin he said:
zone of the greatest factors I'm the
defeat of this law was a man who was
one of the worlds greatest war prof
iteers."
Jeer at Mellon.
Cries Of Mellon, Mellon" came
from all parts of the hall.
THE failure To pass this measure. {"
Scrugham continued, twas the result
Of a small group controlling a major
ity. Let the American Legion show
congress IL is Disguised with the back
door politics TO which Ii has been sub
jected."
The report urging the passage of
the bin as now before congress and
without further delay was passed with
one dissenting vote, ]. ]. Harrison Of
Arkansas, member of the legislative
committee i'm 1919 which voted against
soldier bonus.
Kisses were heard from thousands
when the name of Grover Bergdoll was
heard I'm a resolution indorsing the ac-
ton of the alien property custodian in
confiscating the Bergdoll property.
An amendment passed called upon
the American government To bring
Bergdol back TO America Immediately.
Another resolution scored radical
ism. Another opposed the pardoning
of Eugene Debs and any person con
victed of treason.
Macnider Elected Commander.
Hanford Macnider of Mason City,
Ia. was elected national commander.
The convention Immediately adj
journed.
Mr.. Macnider is thirty-seven years
old and rose 10 lieutenant colonel in
France.
The report of the resolutions com
mittee was adopted after the verbal
battle on Harvey was ended.
In the report was resolution
which. after reciting the need for adj
justed compensation. says:
"The American Legion reiterates its
position I'm favor of the adjusted COM
pensation for discharged soldiers. and
deplores the request of President Har-
ding 10 delay passage by congress OF
a measure providing for same. and ac-
quiescence of congress i'm that re-
quest"
The action dealing with Ambassador
Harvey came after brisk fight on the
floor. I'm which Colonel Harvey was
severely arraigned and defended by
delegates.
moi american 0EUktfNGHN
II stated that Mr.. Harvey's remarks
did not represent the sentiment of the
American Legion and was amended. on
motion ~ South Carolina, 10 omit the
title colonel" in referring TO Mr.. Har-
vey.
The resolution, as passed. provided
that copy be sent Mr.. Harvey in
London.
The text of the substitute resolution
said:
THAT the sentiments expressed by
George Harvey, United States ambas-
sador 10 Great Britain, ON his Pilgrim
day speech, setting forth the reasons
for Americas entry into the World
war and the cause for which America
fought. does not represent the true
American attitude as interpreted by
the American Legion, and let il be
known for all time that America
fought. not only for the maintenance
Of Americas right, but for the free
dom Of the world. and that a copy of
this resolution be sent 10 the Presi-
dent of the United States"
Members of the committee on resolu-
tons said. prior to the presentation of
their report. that a resolution censur-
ing President Harding for urging re-
commitment of compensation legisla-
ton was taken up by the committee
for discussion. The resolution finally
was tabled. members said.
Unofficial information from the COM
mIttee room while the committee was
stpl in session was that the resolu-
ton had been adopted.
Pens AT II G C0NSIIl ATE