Evening star., 1924-08-24
Veterans of Great War

The executive committee of the De.
partment of the District of Columbia
held its first meeting since the annual
convention at the Service Club, 22t
NJ Third street northwest, Wednesday
"a evening. The newly elected depart
# ment commander, Frank l.. Peckham
al presided The commander announced
M the appointment of Joseph j. ldler
hi commander of Edward Douglas White
II Post, as department adjutant and
M executive officer. Mr.. Idler has serv-
III ed as department executive officer for
&# Ire past two years and Will now
Il fnssume the additional duties of ad-
HH1utant.
The following were elected to mem
SH oership on the department budget
committee: Watson 3. Miller of Henry
NC Sprngler Post, a former commander
e of the department and newly elected
*#head of the local. Societe des 40
"a Hommes ct Chevaux; Percy b. Nc
~ Coy, commander of George Washing
# ton Post; Austin S. Imrie of Quentin
n Roosevelt Post; Charles l.. Ladson,
commander of Bureau of Engraving
and Printing Post. and George l.. TAFT
of Henry c. Spengler Post, who was
~ chairman of the committee during
the past year.
BY unanimous vote the committee
adopted a resolution, presented by
Commander Mccoy, of sympathy in
the death of Richard NJ. Whitney. late
director of the American Defense So
ciety.
The commander laid before the
meeting a communication from DR..
Kate Waller Barrett. chairman of the
National Service Club. offering the
legion space in the Service Club for
it's department headquarters and
meetings. The commander called at
tention to the desirability of close CO.
operation between the legion and the
auxiliary and to the possible advan-
tages that might result from both
organizations being quartered in the
same building. On motion of Past
Commander James A. Drain, the eX-
ecutive committee adopted a reSolu-
tion authorizing the department COM
mander to conclude such arrange
ments relating to the housing of de-
partment headquarters as the COM
mander might deem advisable.
The committee adopted resolution
disseminating the welfare assessment
Is of August l and fixing the depart
ment dues at IS cents for the remain
der of the current calendar year. In
conformity with motion made by
Commander Joseph w. Rabbit of the
Robey D. Evans Post, the department
commander appointed First Vice Com
man of the entertainment committee,
with instructions to select other
members of the committee and to
make arrangements for an appropri-
ate celebration on Armistice day.
The commander announced the as
signment of special duties to the de-
partment vice commanders as follows:
First Vice Commander Miller to have
supervision over matters relating to
membership, employment, civil service
and veterans preference. and to be
chairman of the committee on mem
bership and the committee on en-
ployment and civil service: Second
Vice Commander Bernard S. Buscher
to have supervision over welfare and
relief work and to be chairman of
the committee on welfare and relief
and Third Vice Commander Helen
ONeill to have supervision over mat
terS affecting women who served dur
ing the war and to maintain liaiSon
between the legion and the auxiliary
and to be chairman of the committee
on ex-Service women and auxiliary.
Post commanders were requested to
nominate from the membership of
their posts persons especially quail
fed to serve on the respective COM
mittees. Appointments to member
ship on those committees will be
made from time to time by the de-
partment commander.
Post commanders reported that the
members of their posts were enroll
ing for Defense Test day at a salts
factory rate. Indications are that the
entire membership of this department
of the legion will report for duty on
that day.
Adjt. Idler reported that GER
tificates for reduced rates to St Paul
for the national convention of the
legion to he held September 1913
had not yet been received at depart
ment headquarters, but would be
available by September 1. The COM
mlttee authorized the department
commander to enter into a contract
for hotel Accommodations for the de-
partment delegation to the national
convention.
In the course of his opening re-
marks. Department Commander Peck
ham said: The executive committee
of this department represents the
consensus of the opinions and wishes
of all the legionnaires of this DEPART
ment. This committee must formu-
late and determine the policies and
control the activities of this depart
ment. The other officers and myself
are merely servants whose duties are
to carry out to the best of our ability
the mandates of this body. NV au-
tiiOiiIS oS utPdI lIleHL commander is
limited. Between conventions all
the powers of the legion are con-
centrated in your hands. 1 am under
your control and subject to your or
ders, and l shall conduct myself ac-
cordingly.
From time to time I may suggest
that certain action be taken or GER
tain policies be declared. Please be
assured that 1 shall only make sug-
i7ip f,,lI
the executive committee, are entitled
TO pass final judgment as to what
shall be done in all matters. 1 shall
have no pride of opinion and shall
ungrudgingly put aside my own
wishes and conform to the deliberate
judgment of this body"
Boston members of the Military
Order of the World War have organ
lied a regiment of hosts to receive
and entertain the annual convention
of this military organization when
It's annual convention takes place in
that city October 2, and 4. This or
der comprises in its extensive mem
bership all those who served as Off
GERS in the World War, who thus as
Sociated are pledged to civilian and
military usefulness.
The convention business sessions
will begin October 2 and continue
with morning and afternoon sessions
until Saturday noon. The tentative
plans for the social side of the con-
vention period show the festivities to
begin the evening of October J. The
event of that evening will take the
form of a good fellowship night" at
the Cadet Armory from 1:30 pm. un-
til midnight. A special program has
been arranged, including dancing
On the following day there will be a
parade, in which many branches of
the service in and about Boston will
participate. This will be reviewed