Imperial Valley press., 1922-10-16
LEGION WILL
CONTINUE To
URGE BONUS
HanfOrd M'Nider Addresses
Opening Session Legion
Convention Today
MEET IN NEW ORLEANS
Estimate $4,000 in City to
Attend Convention of
Ex-service Men
United Press Leased Wire

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 16.-fThe
American Legion has only just started
to fight for adjusted compensation,
Hanford MacNider, national command
er of the organization, declared in
addressing the opening session of the
Legion s annual convention here to-
day.
The legislation viii pass, MacNidef
said, s'because it Is right, and right
always prevails.
GA great, well financed attack by
interests which we cannot help but
feel are sordid aud selfish, has given
US, one little setback he said "But
ths,sc who represent the people in WASH
ington are with US by great Majori-
ties. -
"No one man, untouched by the
war, without kith or kin to those who
served-no one group, financial o.
otherwise, can stand between the wish
es of the American people and the full
fillment of what they believe to be {.
just obligation.
MacNider s rematks were interpret
ed as a slap at President Harding. al
though he did not directly mention
him. He termed claims that the trea-
sury could not stand the payment
simply camouflage.''
The national commander received an
ovation when he appeared at the hall.
The convention formally opened with
salutes from '75s and the blare of many
bands. Streets leading to the hall were
jammed with khaki clad figures swing
ing along in columns of FOUR
Next to the bonus, care of the dis
abled is uppermost in the minds Of the
legionnaires and sharp criticism Of the
government S activities is certain.
Brigadier General Sawyer, the presi.
dent S physician, will come in for criti-
cism for his part in the administration
of government relief
The national rehabilitation commit
tee, of which A. A. Sprague is chair
man, already has placed before tic cor
vention a report in which the construc.
tion of hospitals by the government is
called - tragedy for the sick, dis
credit to0thc government and an effort
to the American Legion
Members of congress are condemned
for endeavors TO locate hospitals
where they cannot be lsed.'' Frcsi-
dent Harding, the report asserts, has
neglected since June To act on the re-
quests of the bureau for creation OF
a cooperative committee ON rehabilita-
tion.
Several candidates for the lost of
national commander, to spcceed Mae
Nider, are being actively pushed and
legion politics is scething. SO far ap
parently no candidate has the adyant.
age Those prominently mentioned in
clude:
w. +. Deegan, New York; A. A.
Sprague, Illinois; Joseph Thompson.
Pennsylvania; Alvin Owsley, Texas;
O'Neal, entuekv; and Thomas Swale,
Washington.
The election VIII be on Friday
1t was estimated $4,000 LegiOnnairos
were in the city as the convention
opened. New Orleans welcomed the
visitors royalty But the town is nos
"open' as Kansas City was last year
or Cleveland before that. Scores Of
federal agents, including some Of the
crack enforcement afficers Of the fed
eral organization, have come to the
city determined TO clamp on the lid.
At the opening session addresses ct
welcome were to be delivered by An
drew J. McShane, MAYOR OF the city.
and Governor John NJ. Parker, and
rational officers were TO report
larger number of women are in
attendance than al any previous con
vcntion and tic auxiliaries are hold
ing separate meetings.