Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-23
L.E:G|O|vIAIRES PICK
DRAIN IS CNIFFTAI
ON OPEN|NG BALLOT

ST. PAUL, Mimi, Sept. 30
James A. Drain, of Washington, was
elected commander of the American
Legion here today.
After naming the national com
mander and choosing five national
vice commanders and the national
chaplain, the convention adjourned
sine die today at 1858 p. M, to
meet in Omaha in 1925.
Drains election came on the first
ballot and he had a majority of ali
accredited votes before the roll call
was two-thirds completed, and a. the
poll ended, his total had been swelle1
considerably.
Rapidly disposing of other bust
ness, the convention reached the
nomination of candidates at 1915 a.
M, with each nomination speech
limited to five minutes, and second
ing speeches three minutes.
Miscellaneous announcements de
Iayed the actual nominations. Ala
bama yielded TO Minnesota, which
placed Mr.. Drain in nomination.
Arizona yielded to Kentucky, which
seconded the nomination.
Commander Drain, an attorney of
Washington, D. c., began his mill
tary career in the national guard of
the state of Washington where he
rose from private to brigadier gen
eral.
The Texas delegation, headed by
Miss May Peterson, atop the "Old
Mare" one of the songs made
it's band flaring The Old Gay
Gray Mare" one of the songs made
famous by the convention.
Pcrshing is fionOred
Soon every department standard
was grouped on the platform around
the new commander as the cheers
and songs of the demonstratiVe le-
gionaires continued for several MIN
ut es, until Retiring Commander John
r. Quinn, of California restored
order.
The convention on motion of the
Missouri delegation, voted to make
General John j. Pershing the per
manent distinguished guest OF TINS
and every other American Legion
convention.
With the election of the com
mander out of the way the conVen-
ton proceeded to the nomination
and election of five national vice
commanders.
Vice Commanders Named
The new commander declared he
would move to Indianapolis and adj
minister the legion from the national
eaduuarterS
Commander Drain in his address
declared iha. the legion would nave
no entanglenlents in politics.
The following were unanimously
elected national vice commanders
ithout oppoSition'
Eugene Armstrong, of Connecticut.
Frank Mcfarland, of Kansas.
A L. Perry, of Panama.
w. M. Stern, o. North Dakota.
Peyton H. Hogue, of Kentucky.
Department Commander E. +.
Spafford, of New York, was placed
in nomination by his own state, and
the band played "Sidewalks of New
York"
Ohio placed in nomination John K.
McQuigg, of Cleveland, O., and the
department band of that state pa
raded around the hall. Frank Nc.
Cormack, of South Dakota, seconded
McQuigg's nomination.
When the roll call had been com
pleted, the election of Drain was
made unanimous, on motion of stat
ford King, of Minnesota, and amid
a rousing demonstration, Drain was
escorted to the platform as the band
p.ayed Cheer, Cheer, the Gang
All Here"
The vote on national commander,
before the convention made 1t unanl'
nous was Drain, us; McQuigg, 1879,
Spafford, 90; absent, 81.
Besides Drain and McQuigg, seven
other probable candidates had been
considered by all-night caucuscs.
They were Villas II. Whaley, Wiscon-
sin; E. Z. Spafford New York; o.
J. Burlington, Illinois; O. l.. Boden'
hafAer, Arkansas; Robert Campbell,
Tennessee; William B. Healey, Penn
sylvania, and Charles P. Plummer,
Wyoming.
Only the actual delegates and alter
mates it seemed today, still were In
the city, for nearly all the social
delegates" had left for their homes
when the final session got under
way.
The speed with which the conVen-
ton accepted preparedness, Ameri-
canism and other resolutions yester-
day, had cleared the way for quick
disposal today of business other than
the election of officers, is only the
report on international organization
remained to be heard.
Omaha in 1925
The 1925 legion convention as we'll
as those of the auxiliary and the
Forty and Eight will be held in
Omaha, Neb.
Those nominated for president of
the legion auxiliary yesterday were
Mrs. Edgar H. Loyhed, of Minnesota;
Mrs. Ruth McCurry Brown, Ark
ansas; Mrs. Dorothy B. Harper,
Hawaii; Mrs. Jennie Stewart, Okla
homa; Mrs. Walter Beals, Seattle;
Mrs. Adalin Wright McCauley, Wis
consin, and Mrs. o. j. Oliphant, New
Jersey.
The 40 and convention ended
last night with the annual initiation
after the election of officers. George
Dodson, of Passaic, n. J., was
elected chef chemin de fer.
Mayor Arthur L. Nelson, himself
a legionnaire, told the convention
mot cents worth of property had
been destroyed during the cOnVen.
ton and absolutely no rowdyism"
was charSeable TO the visiting
lecionnaires.
Establishment o: welfare en-