New-York tribune., 1922-10-21
Dvsley Heads
Legion; Deegan
Sec ol,tl in oIe
|sesxas Attorney Who Fought
ID France as Major Of.
Infantry i'm Boil, Divi-
sion Is New Commander
Election Closes Meeting
victory Comes at New Or
leans as West and South
Ioin and North Splits Vote
By Walter J. Fcnton
ss,ssytccn Loyiom Editor of Tht
Tribune

s,.s,;ccn Legion Editor Of TIE
Tribune
vrw ORLEANS, Oct. 20.-Alvin III.
.,..,s,e,, of Texas, was elected nationa,
sa,nrnsnder Of the American Legion
& its convention here to-day. William
neegan. the New York candidate,
VAS second and Joseph thompson,
of Pennsylvania, was sne tnard man
81 the race. The nfst pailo. showed
sass @ o"1 VA Thompson 20t. The Texas
Sas,rasss sos seized their candidate and
n.5ssJ him on their shoulders TO the
ss1. sso~m. Deegai1 went to the plat
1890 sc did Thompson, and when Dee
an sugceyted tiat the election be
,as,sde unanimous Thompson was the
Srst 10 agree. The election Of officers
sencIuded the business Of the conven-
sicn.
that the Texas delegates would not
support Owsley. A statement to this
Il was announced at that time that
Texas was interested primarily in the
election OF Wayne Davis as first vice.
commander. The Texas delegation
patched up its difference last night,
! and while the early evening report
slowed an increase in the delegates
gedged to Deegan, some of the legion
.sires worked through the night in
Iehalf of the candidate from Texas.
South and West Join
The South stood solid and was Joined
by the West in the support of Owsley.
ine Northern states early this morn
srg were split and their vote was
sAitered, with Deegan the fayorite
Thompson seemed to gain ground, but
vhen the final tally was taken Owsley
yas proclaimed she victor.
Mr. Owsley served during the last
adninistration as acting director of
the Americanism commission of the
tmerican Legion. At the outbreak of
sss var he resigned as District Attor-
Isy to attend an officers, training eamn
1t Camp Bowie, Texas. He was as
signed as major Of infantry in the
SSth Division. In this capacity he re-
syuited his own battalion and large
wgtion Of the division I'm northern
Texas. He served as division insurance
! fseer and later as senior instructor at
u Third Officers Training Camp ct
! Cap Bowie. He went overseas with
BIZ division and was made divisional
i ssjutant. He served in the two major
agreements In Champagne and the
/ Arg9nne.
When discharged from the army in
July, 1919. Mr.. Owsiey resumed the
practice of law. He was later appoint
edAssistant Attorney General of Texas.
Asheaa Of the Legion's legislative com
mittee S.l Texas, he won out in a fight
fcr a 100000 hospital for disabled
Een. He resigned IS Attorney General
% become assistant director of the
Iegicn's Americanisnl commission. La
Ter he vas appointed acting director.
He maintains membership In the Ar
thur hcNitsky post Of the Legion at
penfon Texas, where he was born
He enlisted the man whose name SIS
fprne by the post and was with Nc
lltzky when he was killed overseas.
There are just four things that
Legion means to push, just four
Hbgs that are on our standard" MIR.
! pgsley said. They are rehabilitation,
capitalization, adjusted compensation
@ Americanization We're going to
fight for the adjusted compensation to
finish, and we'll win it too. / will
tiye everything have to this service"
The vice-commanders chosen are: e.
lsBarrett, of Wisconsin; +. Blood, of
New Hampshire; Charles F. Plummer,
af Wyoming; Earl Cooke, of Georgia,
tnd Watson B. Miller, OF Washington,
PC.
Four ballots were required to select
Irrational chaplain, and when the de-
Eidins vote was cast Father William
unanimous choice of the delegates.
Deegan Promises Support
At the conclusion of the election Will
jam +. Deegan, Of New York, issued
this statement.
IL will support the new commander
"a all his undertakings. He will find
re willing and ready to fight in behalf
o. any disqualification program for the
disabled veterans and for the adjusted
tompeasation"
!. In calling the roll for nominations
Eonlscteut yielded to Massachusetts,
Snd department Commander Harlow in
dominating William F. Deegan declared
Lnat ne WIS man who fought "withln
Sas very Wall Street district" for the
bonus.
Allied Delegates Speak
Butler, Of Missouri, took the plat
wfnf and made the seconding address
spr fhe New York candidate.
Beside the election of officers The
na days session was featured by ad-
sses by the various delegates from
seven Allied countries. Major
sla, representing the British Legion.
nduced a resolution adopted by
@ Allied Veterans and asked that the
fglonnaires confirm the decision. TIE
molution pledged friendly feeling
ktyeen the Allied veterans and the
enibers Of the American Legion. nc
Bertrand, head OF the Allied Veterans,
Fgsnization, also addressed the CON
hntioH. = He spoke in, French, hut, h;s
kmarks were understood by many OF
the doughboys who served in France
Ind they acted as interpreters far
f5asc who could not understand. He
sold of the fighting Americans aud
prged an everlasting friendship be-
scen the French and Americans.
The American Legion Auxiliary con-
fiuded its convention with the election
v Rr. Kate Waller Rarrett, of Alex
fadfis. Va. Others in the race for
!ais Office in the order of the
saHi tally we're Mrs. Donald Me
Ssc lr, Of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Mrs.
sy,.sp Z, 0ilphant, Of Trenton, N. j., and
p,s- w. II. Cudworth, cf Milwaukee.
Many Of the Lsgionnaircs and mem
Psfs Oh the auxiliary will leave here
sehight. The New York delegation
ssas on the special train at O'clock
Ws sSa age scheduled to reach New York
as 1890 O'clock Sunday night.
Il 4 ~