New-York tribune., 1922-10-15
Forbes Denies.
RepuI1licanAi1n
To Run Legion
The Head of the Veterans
Bureau Says He Would
Like Commander Who
Saw Service Overseas
Hits Back at Deegan
New York Man Overhead
ous in Seeking the Honor,
Says Washington Official

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. ii (By The
Associated Press) Statements by Will
liam F. Deegans state commander Of
the American Legion in New York. that
he regarded the presence here at the
Legion convention OF Colonel B.
Forbes, head of the United States Vet
erans' Bureau, as an, attempt by the
Republican national Administration to
influence the selection Of a national
commander of the Legion were met by
Colonel Forbes to-day with fiat de-
nial that the Administration supported
or opposed the candidacy of any man
Tor national head Of the Legion.
Commander Deegan, who is a candi-
date for national commandership, said
he was surprised by the announcement
that Colonel Forbes planned to attend
the convention, which opens on Monday
and charged that he came here in fact
to use his influence to obtain the selec-
tion of an American Legion head ac-
certable to the Republican Administra-
tion. Such head, according to Com
mander Deegan and J. E. Noonan,
state adjutant Of the Legion in Mis-
souri,, who has been designated as cam
paign manager for the New York vet
eran, would be man who would not
continue an active fight in behal of
the soldier bonus.
Seeking Helpful Hints
Colonel Forbes, who reached here to-
do, p1o%; ,,x =, -
any such motive actuated his coming
~ was surprised at Mr.. Deegan's |
statement" the head of the Veterans
Bureau said. II have come here as the |
invited guest of the American Legion |
and its present national commander, |
Hanford Macnider, bringing with me /
number of department heads of the |
Veterans Bureau. Our reason for com
ing was to take up at first hand with |
the Legion during the convention, any /
cases of disabled men not receiving |
proper attention, in order to facilitate |
their relief. have forbidden all mem
bers of my party to take any part in |
the working for or against any candi- |
date for national commander.
"The Administration. in Washington I
has no candidate, 1t is not interested !
in the selection or defeat Of any man |
for head of the Legion.
<Ao AcgiOHHdITt ndQ hOped TO |
gee some bne selected to head the |
Legion who had been overseas and |
amember of combat unit.
nave never in my life had any |
qnarrel with Deegan. | have discussed !!
one or two cases of disabled men with |
him. l think he is unnecessarily |
alarmed and that he has become over !
jealous in his aspirations for the ma
tionai commandership of the Legion"
Il i
seas.
Reaffirm War Aims
Where diplomacy has failed, the
l5,o0U,0G0 war veterans of the Allied
nations must succeed in enforcement
of the principles 1upon which they
achieved their victory--the Allied war
aims, was the sentiment of com
munique framed at the opening ses-
sion of the third annual convention of
the interAllied Veterans Federation /
here to-day.
The conlmunioue was addressed both |
to the Allied nations and their officials,
and said that "the. growth of distrust,
dlsunion and disaster, which have since
overtaken civilization" have been due
primarily to reereancy to the pledges |
in the Allied war aims
Speaking for those who fought the !
last war and who would be called upon
to fight the next" the message direct
ed itself in behalf of restoration of
world peace, order and wellbeing.
We deliberately reaffirm the ideals |
of national security and sanctity of |
contract the message says, "of inter
national agreements openly arrived at.
OF freedom of the ocean highways for
al peaceful traffic, of precedence Of |
the rights and welfare of natives and
welfare of native peoples over terri |
fouai claims by great powers, of an
1 abiding world peace established in ins.
tice and good will"