The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-01
MOBILE MAN IS NEW HEAD
 OF LEGION FOR ALABAMA
F. Taylor Peck Wins Over Four Opponents
 Next Meeting Place

MOBILE, Ala. August 31.-(spe- eiaI Leased Wire.)-F, Taylor Peck of Mobile was unanimously elected commander of the Alabama depart ment of the American Legion, to sue ceed R. E. Steiner of Montgomery while Tuscaloosa was named the next convention place without dissent at the final meeting of the fifth conven- tion of the Alabama department of the American Legion shortly before adjournment at i o'clock.
 Mobile was well represented in the roster of officers selected for the coming year. Dave Holt was named historian of the department and Rev IT. " Lofquist, chaplain of the depart ment Captain Leon Schwarz was named alternate on the national executive committee and Mobilians who will represent the state depart ment at the national convention in San Francisco are Taylor Peck and Edmund A. Chester. All of the nominations and elections were unanimous.
 Four candidates were nominated for the office of state commander and the first ballot showed 61 votes for Marion Rushton of Montgomery, 55 for Peck, 26 for G. c. Blanton of Selma and four for Fred Johnson of Florence.
 Rushton was nominated from the floor by J. E. Pitts of Auburn and Blanton was given his nomination by Congressman Lamar Jeffers. Peck was nominated by Matt Murphy, for mer state commander of Birmingham, and Fred Johnson of Florence was put into the race by a delegate of the Tuscaloosa post. Dave Holt second ing the nomination of Peck, em- phasized his work for the Mobile post and his fitness as state com mander. Mir Holt said the candidacy was offered without political aim.
 Comrade Smith of Montgomery spoke on the candidacy of Rushton.
 In the nomination of Johnson it was emphasized that the office should be rotated and should not be held every year by the posts of the larger towns.
 Peck Takes Lead.
 On the second ballot Peck gained two votes from Rushton. resulting in 57 for Peck, 59 for Rushton, 2e for Blanton and four for Johnson. One of the voters of Rushton did not cast his ballot in the third polling, result ing in 57 for Peck, 5S for Rushton, 26 for Blanton and four for Johnson.
 It was believed after the first bal lot that the Selma post, casting Is votes for BIanton. would determine the election in the latter balloting, but after the third ballot was cast a recess was called. and Rushton's en- tire strength was thrown for Peck. In the fourth ballot not vote was cast for Rushton.
 MT. Rushton asked that his candi- dacy be withdrawn and the teller be instructed to write an unanimous vote for Peck.
 Vice commanders were nominated by districts laid off by the Legion department. The nominations were unanimous and those named were G. Bailes, Birmingham. first district: Jo- seoh Willett of Anniston. second dis trict: NJ. Frolich of Selma. third dis trict; Gus J. Bryan of Opp, fourth | district.
 Matt Murphy Of Birmingham. for mer state commander, was elected 1 master at arms and on the state 1 executive committee selected by con- gressional districts were J. K. Funk enstein of Demopolis. first district; A B. Webb of Atmore. second lis- trict: Kirk Newell of Auburn third district; Harry Ayres. fourth lis l trict; no delegate nominated from | fifth district: c. II. Nandegriff. sixth district; C. A. Donaghue. ~enth dis- l trict: T. w. Wirt of Decat- '. eighth district: Joseph Yates. ninth district: and Carl Ford of Hamilton, tenth district.
 Bare Is HOnOred.
 Walter Bare of Birmingham was reelected national executive com