The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-10-20
LEGION At ODDS
WITH NATIONAL
ADMINISTRATION
Efforts of Conservatives to Pre-
vent Breach ineffective When
Sawyer Question Arises.
POLITICAL MEANING SEEN
SmoIdering Resentment Against
Harding Flames Forth at
National Convention.


efforts of conservative leaders, the
American Legion has come into open
conflict with the Administration on
the eve of d national election through
its demand for the removal Of Briga-
der General Sawye-. chic co-ordi-
nator of the Federal disqualification
board. Added interest attaches be-
cause Sawyer is the Presidents per
sonaI physician and lifelong friend.
Rank and file of the legion got up
on their legs in convention THURSDAY
and ran away from the leaders, who
had been followed docilely. 1t was
the first time the convention had not
voted YES without debate on anything
suggested to it.
Cause for the Revolt
The cause for the revolt was the
conciliatory attitude OF the rehabIlita-
ton committee OF the legion toward
Sawyer. This committee presented its
report, in which was a resolution de-
claring that the legion has tentative
" accepted the statement OF Brigadier
General Sawyer as a pledge that he
viii cooperate Fundamentally with
the committee in matters affecting
capitalization.
The legion accepts for the time
being the pledge OF cooperation given
by Brigadier General Sawyer in the
hope that it viii be carried out by him
in spirit as we'll as in letter" the resO-
luton read, adding that the commit
tee would maintain its '-constructivcly
critical" attitude toward the Govern
ment.
Veterans had expected some criti-
Cism OF Sawyer. because they blame
him for delay in the erection Of hos
pitfalls. They objected 10 the arms
tice. which n. \. Sprague of Chi
CagO, chairman Of the permanent re
Mobilization committee. had patched
up They were nettled. too, because
the conventions committee. a tenn
pOrary and interlocking body Of which
Col Rise Means Of Denver was chair
man, had discarded a dozen resolu-
tons criticising Sawyer.
G.. S. Barron. young State com
mander of Minnesota, started the fire
works by moving TO amend the report
with a resolution which bitterly de
uoUnced Sawyer and demanded his
removal
The convention debated pro and
con for two hours in turmoil. and
finally adopted the resolution COL TO
375.
Means, as chairman, argued more
could be obtained through cooperation
and committee members supported
him, including SpraEue.
Kings Impassioned Attack
Delegate Stafford King Of Mime
sofa threw the convention into an up
roar with an imprisoned attack on
Sawyer in which ne said men We're
dying like flies IN this country We
must have those hospitals" King
said THE fact cannot be argued.
We have a man in Washington W >
has all the responsibility. He has had
two years 20 do something and has
done nothing. Now. he has promised
again and we come in here and are
hoodwinked with another falsi1iCa-
ton"
Watson Miller Of the District OF
Columbia. said the last thing he did
before he came 10 the convention he
called on SAWYER. and the latter said:
Honest TO Geo I am with you I
have made many mistakes; my letter
writing has been Untactful, but I am
with you"
TT. Brady Of New York Joined in
the attack.
Gilbert Bettnan. State commander
Of Ohio, based his argument against
removal on the theory that it would
he futile to demand It.
What If Harding does not remove
Sawyer, where are me-" he asked.
Cries came from all paris Of the
hall. Then wen remove Harding"
HARDIN even trusted the life of
his wife to Sawyer" Bettman shouted
during the uprcar. This was greeted
with Kisses. bcos and shouts Of sit
down, sit down. " and later, when Bett-
milan said II Harding didn't comply
il would be a slap in the face Of the
legion, there was another demonstra-
ton.
Aaron Sapir9 OF California replied
10 Bettman by saying the legion had
entrusted the lives f 100000 disabled
men 70 Saver.
Washington can't do any worse 20
uc than they have this past year,
he argued.
There y ere other arguments against
The resolution. but the tide could not
be stemued.
SpragUe had sown Well the seeds
of dissatisfaction with Sawyer in the
rows he had with him in recent
months. And it was ironical that
Sprague. although now supporting
sawyer IN the belief THAI he has
signed con the dotted line" could
Tot turn back the tide.
There is one story that the whole
trouble began when Sawyer promised
a hospital to Sprague months ago for
his horf8o state Of Illinois, and later
ar the behest Of Michigan politicians,
doctors, and legiOnnaires, gave it to
Michigan. At least Michigan showed
irs gratitude for the hospital it gor
by voting solidly for Sawyer.
New York seconded the resolution
for removal. New York is the home
State Of William T. Deegan. most
active candidate for legion commander
whose chief political medicine has
been attacks on Sawyer and forces.
As a consequence the condemnation
Of Sawyer is counted on by Deegan
supporters to aid his candidacy.
An analysis Of the vote, however
indicates the delegates cast their bal
lots without regard for the national