The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-10-19
FORBEsW|LL NOT
ADDREssLEG|ON
AT NEW ORLEANS
Director of Veterans Bureau
Quits Convention
INCENsED BY CRITICISM
Resents Charge that He Had
Been Commissioned to Rep
resent Administration

New Orleans, La, Oct 19.-Col. c
r. Forbes. director OF the United
States Veterans bureau, who came
here Saturday as the invited guest Of
the American Legion and its national
commander, Hanford MacNider, has
left New Orleans with his entire staff
and cancelled arrangements to ad.
dress the Legion convention. He
was scheduled to talk on the work OF
the Veterans bureau.
The reported charge, originating. 1t
was said, with supporters of William
+. Deegan Of New York, candidate
for national commander OF the Le-
gion. that Forbes had come here at
the instance of President Harding TO
lay politics during the convention,
was understood TO have been the rea.
son for Col. Forbes's departure.
The Veterans bureau head de-
clined to make any public statement,
except that he felt his presence was
not desired and might embarrass the
Legion officials who invited him.
After parading in their annual re-
view, voting to continue the fight for
adjusted compensation, receiving an
embossed message from the British
Legion, signed by the prince OF
Wales. and an ivory gavel from the
Alaska legionnaires. the election Of
officers was almost solely occupying
the attention of delegates to the con-
vention in session today
The election, due 10 be held Fri
day, promises to be one Of the hard
est fought in the history OF the lie.
gion's four years existence. With
nine states running favorite sons and
each one claiming sufficient votes to
give serious consideration to their
candidates, delegates who have at.
tended all OF the national conven-
tions admit they are at sea as to the
| final results.
1t was definitely announced by the
Texas delegation today that the
name OF Alvin NJ. Owsley OF their
state chairman OF the Americanism
commission. will be formerly pre-
sented to the convention with the
state Endorsement. ,sl',
Something of surprise was thrown
! into convention circles when II be-
came know that Col Forbes, who
came here upon the invitation of Han
ford MacNider. national commander
OF the American Legion. had sudden
| ly left New Orleans and returned to
Washington.
1t had been openly charged by
william +. Dineed OF New York,
commander Of the Legion in h S state
and announced candidate for ma
tional commander. that Col Forbes
had actually come to the convention
by direction OF President Harding In
an effort to procure the selection OF
man for national comrl nder who
would MAINTAIN a lukowarm attitude
toward proposed national legislation
for a soldier bonus.
Kenesaw NJ. Lands, supreme com
missioner OF baseball, was in,roduc'
ed by Commander MacNider as the
man who. in his opinion. more nearly
Itypifles the Rooseve'tian tadition. A
great outburst OF applause greeted
the veteran jurist when he addressed
the assembled veterans.
Adjusted compensation for the wal
veterans Is purely measure of right
said the commissioner, and will Ger
tainly come within the near future
THE politician who did nothing fol
the country in time of war and is
now coming up for rec ection should
be passed" he advised the Legion
lraires.
After the presentation Of the leg
islative committee report the follow
ing resolution was adopted by th'
convent on
Resolved, that the American lie
gion. at its fourth annual conven
ton assembled, reaffirms its belief il
the American Legion plan for ad
justed compensation, with full con
fidence in the support OF the Ameri
can people. and does now instruc
the new national commander, the ma
tional executive commander and tn
national leg!s ative commander tC
continue the fight for the Legislation
. until II has been enacted into law