Evening star., 1924-09-16
PROPOSE PERSH|NG
AS LEGION CHIEF
General "Sounded Out" on
Attitude Toward Election.
Dawes to March in Parade.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ST PAUL, Mimi, September 10
Politics came to the fore sharply to-
day in the national convention of the
American Legion, with a well-defined
boom for Gen. Pershing 20 succeed
John r. Quinn of California as ma
tiona1 commander. Legionnaires
boosting him were reported tele-
graphing "feelers" to the commander r
of the A. +. F. in an effort to ascer-
tain his attitude.
parade of the convention instead of
reviewing the procession as original
" intended was announced by
Charles q. Dawes upon his arrival
here today to be the guest for II
hours of the Minnesota department of
the legion.
The change in plans was explained
by Gen. Dawes as due to a desire to
participate in legion convention ac-
tivities as a member of his home post
of Evanston, Ills. and to avoid any
appearance as Republican candidate
for Vice President while in st. Paul.
LAS a mere member of the legion l
have no right in the reviewing stand
and so intend to hoof it with the rest
Of the boys from Evanston" Mr..
Dawes explained.
Declines to Talk Politics.
Mr.. Dawes was met by a reception
committee designated by the conven-
ton and by Mayor Arthur E. Nelson
and taken to Minnesota Club, where
during the morning he received a
number of legion members. including
Commander Quinn and Hanford Mac
Neider. and Alvin Owsley, former
national commanders.
Asked to discuss the political stu
alton. MIR. Dawes replied:
This is no political trip. The
legion is a non-political organization
and far be it from me to tranSgreSs
on any Of it's founding principles
I'll talk politics and plenty of it next
week when visit Minnesota to speak
at Minneapolis and ST. Cloud"
The second days session of the
convention got under way at s:15
am.
Greetings read to the convention
included one from the National War
Mothers.
The convention adopted a resolu-
ton introduced by Franklin D'Oliec
a past commander, instructing the
commander to send a message of con-
graduation to the world flyers.
Hits Federal Ownerxhip.
BUSINESS session aCIlN1tleS lflCluueU
addresses by Charles P. Donnelly
president of the Northern Pacific Rail-
way: Albert d. Alcorn, commander
in-chief CT the Spanish War Veter-
aEs, and John J. Tigert. United States
commissioner of education. :.
Mr.. Donnelly held up the proposal
for Government operation of rail-
roads as an effort to establish a
bureaucracy, and characterized the
issue as "a live one, potentially Sc
rious''
Mr.. Alcorn brought greetings from
the Spanish War Veterans, while
Commissioner Tigert lauded the
American Legion for its success ir
promoting educational and patriotic
work, and expressed the hope tina,
I'VE shall never abandon a sane pro.
gram for a better understanding OF
American institutions, ideals, histor,
and Government"
II hope" he continued, I'VE shall
never consciously discard the song.
and traditions through which thi.
knowledge of America has beer
largely perpetuated in the past. an6
upon which we must depend for ar
even larger knowledge in the future
At the same time, l believe there is
occasion and need for a better under.
standing and appreciation of othe,
peoples and other nations"
Asserting that Ito bring about this
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