Evening star., 1922-10-20
|0WSLEY ELECTED
NEW LEGION HEAD
Texan Wins Honor After a
Hot Fight on Conven-
tion Floor.
BY the Associated Press.

, BY the Associated Press
CONVENTION HALL. NEW Or
LEANS. October 20-Alvin NJ. owsley
OF Texas was elected national COM
mander Of the American Legion at
the close of its fourth annual con-
|! vention here today. The vote was
overwhelming.
Owsley was carried on the shoul-
place on the platform beside the re-
tirfng commander, MacNider, who
grasped his hand and then turned to
the assembly. The Texas band broke
While. Aassider terked thssgons
led in. the .capituIation Of defeated
candidates. Deegan moved the vote
be made unanimous. The vote was
announced as Owsley. STA; Deegan,
251: Thompson. 205: Mccormick, IL.
Watson P. Miller of Washington,
national vice commanders.
Owsley Addresse. Delegates.
owsley was introduced by Com
mander MacNider.
"PleasS accept my heartfelt graft
tude." he said. for the greatest honor
that could come to one who served in
the world war.
I'VE pledged to America in the
world war that we were her defend.
ers We must now pledge even
greater service.
There are tour great principles on
which we rest:
Disqualification.
Rehabilitation.
Adjusted compensation.
Characterization.
II pledge the best energies of my
manhood and my sacred honor"
With Judge Kenesaw Mountain
Landis between them, the new and
old commanders of the legion posed
on the platform for photograph.
Tie women OF the A.. . CO.. =. gion
Auxiliary will conclude their sessions
today after listening to reports of COM
mittees and the nomination and election
Of officers.
The representatives Of the veterans
Of eight Of the allied nations today made
their plea to the American Legion to
help them end war for all time.
The legion, after a long business ses-
sion yesterday. In which a resolution
was adopted criticizing severely Brig.
Gen: Sawyer. In spite OF the protest Of
the legion's hospitalization commissioner,
A. A. Sprague of Chicago. entertained
Gen. Pershing, head of the Army in
France.
Gen. Pershing. in his address. said
there is an undoubted desire for peace
but 1t would be folly, he asserted, not to
make reasonable preparations for de-
fense or to fail to provide adequate
forces to compel obedience to the
country's laws.
When Gen. Pershing finished speak,
ing, Commander MacNider pinned q
legion distinguished service medal
on hin, and President G. c. Dyett Of
the Australian Returned Soldiers and
Sailors Union, on behalf of Aus
traiian veterans, presented him a
large framed picture of the Landing
OF the Anzecs at Gallipoi."
Plea for Peace.
President Dyett proposed an inter-
national organization of English.
speaking veterans of the world war
and said Australian veterans were
desirous of securing for Gen. Pershing
the first presidency of the proposed
organization. BE-.
Blind in both eyes and cropping his
way to the speakers stand. Capt,
Appelby Of the Kings Own Rifles.
representing the British Legion, was
introduced to Gen. Pershing. Capt,
Appelby then addressed the conven-
ton: ....-..
Sod bless - you. and keep you
clean" Capt. Appelby said. Keep out
of politics. Go, along as you are
going and the legion viii not only
lead America, but the balance, too, of
the civilized world"
The Americanism committee report
was read. 1t called on Congress to
period" to stop the pernicious "in-
1uence" Of the influx of radical for
eigners. The resolution also pro-
posed an -Americanism day as q holi-
day to counteract the effect of May
day celebration of labor radicals.