The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-09-24
Drain is Elected
Legion Commander
For Coming Year
First Ballot at Convention Makes
Washington Man New Chief.

St. L0uiS-James A. Dram OF Wash
ngto., y. C., Mas elected nationa
commander Of the American legior
at the closing session of its sixth an
aral convention here today.
Drains election came on the first
ballot and he had majority Of all
accredited votes before the roll call
was two-thirds completed and as the
poll ended, his total had been swelled
considerably.
Only two other names were present
ed to the convention, those Of John
R. McQuigg of Cleveland, and f. E,
Stafford Of New York.
/ The following were unanimously
elected national vice commanders of
the legion:
Eugene Armstrong of Connecticut.
Frank Mcfarland of Kansas.
/ A. L. Perry of Panama.
William Stern of North Dakota.
Peyton S. Hoge of Kentucky.
The vote on national commander, be-
fore the convention made it unani-
nous was: Drain IT'S; McQuigg 142;
Stafford So; absent 81.
The Texas delegation, headed by
Miss May Peterson, atop the "Old
Gray Mare paraded to the platform.
its band flaring "The Old Mare" one
Of the songs made famous by the con-
vention.
Soon every department standard
was grouped on the platform around
the new commander, as the cheers and
songs Of the demonstrative legion
nairies continued for several minutes,
until retiring Commander John r.
Quinn, Of California, restored order.
! The convention, on motion Of the
Missouri delegation, voted to make
General John ]. Pershing the "perma-
ment distinguished guest of this and
evey other American legion conven-
ton
Thanking the convention for his
election to commander, Mr.. Drain ac-
cepted the post because he believes
in the American legion and the legion
naries, who always are thinking Of
what they can give, more than what
they can get"
The new commander pledged him
self to do everything he could ito the
best of his ability to forward the work
and ambitions of the American legion.
Commander Drain, as attorney Of
Washington, D. c., began his military
career in the national guard lin the
state of Washington, where he rose
from private to brigadier general.
Drain was captain in the Spanish
American War and in the World War
he was ordinance officer with the
tank crops and member Of the An
glo American tank commission.
Dates for the 1925 convention in
Omaha win not be decided on until
the January meeting of the executive
committee, it was learned today.
Father Joseph Lonergan, Durand,
H., a Catholic priest Of Durand, Ill.
was unanimously elected national
chaplain.
Establishment of a welfare endow-
ment fund to receive assignments OF
insurance benefits any veterans wish
to make was ordered by the legion con.
vention.
Presentation of the colors to the
new national commander and to the
retiring commander completed the
work and the convention adjourned.
Admission of Germany to member.
ship in the Inter-Allied Veterans as
sociation to promote world peace. ;
viii likely be granted soon, according
to statement made to the American
legion convention today by Colone
Ernest Thomson Of Amarillo, Texas
one Of the American Fidac represen
tatives.
} Full support" for the legion's pro
gram Of national defense and chill,
welfare was promised in the Nationa
! Chaplains' association report read t
the convention by Rev. E. C. Cleman.
Z Of Minnesota, retiring national chap
lain.
Rev. Clemans was elected presiden
!, Of the chaplains' association and Re,
: W. P. Callahan of Montana named sec
!. rotary.
e B. II. Connor Of Paris, commando
e Of the department of France, extende
a the invitation of his department an
I the government Of France to hold tn