The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-09-19
WINS AN EASY
VICTORY OVER
2 OPPONENTS
Washington, D. c. Lawyer,
Former Tank Corps Officer,
Is Elected Head
NO. DAKOTA HONORED
William Stern of Fargo
Named One of LegiOn's
Vice-COmmanders

Vice-COmmanders
St. Paul, Sept. l9.-William
Stern of Fargo, North Dakota,
was elected a vice-cOmmander
of the American Legion today.
st. Paul, Sept. 10 (By the A. P.o
After naming John A. Drain of
Washington, d. C., as national
Commander and choosing five ma
tiOnal vice-commanders and the
national chaplain, the sixth annual
convention of the American Legion
adjourned sine die today at 1858
p. m. to meet in Omaha in 1925.
Dates for the convention in Omaha
will not be decided on until the
January meeting of the executive
committee.
The new commander declared he
would move to indianapolis as did
past national Commander Quinn
and administer the Legion from
the national headquarters.
Commander Drain in his address
declared that the Legion would
have no entanglements in >poli-
tics.
I'VE shall stand for God and
country" Commander Drain said.
without partisanship in politics,
without intolerance in religion,
making as we always have, care
of our disabled buddies, our first
concern. care of orphaned child
rem. the second consideration. and
q brsiness.likc administration ef
the American Legion.
We shall strive to make better
citizens in and out of the Legion,
in short, to translate through the
American Legion into peace.t;.ne
life precisely the same spirit which
moved us in war;
The following were unanimously
elected national vice-commanders,
without opposition: William Stern
of Fargo; Eugene Armstrong of
Connecticut, Frank Mcfarland of
Kansas; A. l.. Perry of Panama
and .Peyton H. HOge of Kentucky.
st. Paul, Sept. 19-James A.
Drain of Washington, D. C. was
elected national commander of the
American Legion at the closing
session of its sixth annual con-
vention here today.
Drains election came on the first
ballot and he had majority of
all accredited votes before the roll
call was two-thirds complete, and
as the poll ended, his total had
been swelled considerably.
Only two other names were pre-
sented to the convention, those of
John R. McQuigg of Cleveland and
E. 3. Spafford Of New York.
Minnesota presented the name
CT Mr.. Drain to the convention, it's
state adjutant, Stafford King
making the nominating address.
Given Big Cheer
Peyton Hogue Of Kentucky, ma
tional executive committeeman,
seconded the nomination. When
the roll call had been completed
the election of Drain was made
unanimous on motion of King of
Minnesota, and amid a rousing
demonstration was escorted to the
platform as the band played "cheer
cheer the gangs all here"
The Texas delegation, headed by
Miss May Peterson, atop the "old
gray mare" paraded to the plat
form, its band blaring "the old
gray mare," one of the songs made
famous by the convention.
Soon every department was
grouped on the platform around
the new commander, as the cheers
and songs of the demonstrative
Legionnaires continued for several
minutes until retiring John r.
Quinn Of California restored order.
Commander Drain, an attorney
of Washington, began his military
career in the national guard of the
state of Washington where he
rose from private to Brigadier-
General. He was a captain in the
Spanish-American War and in the
World War he was an ordinance
officer with the tank corps and a
member of the Anglo-American
tank commission.
The vote on NATIONAL commander,
before the convention made it m-
animous, was Drain 715; McQuigg
142; Spafford 96, absent 21.
Accepts Post
Thanking the convention for his
election, Mr.. Drain accepted the
post because he believes in the
American Legion and in the Le-
gionnaires who always are think
ing of what they can give, more
than what they can get"
The new commander pledged
himself to do everything he could
ito the best of his ability" to for
ward the work and ambition OF the
American Legion.
Father Joseph, LQpergan, q Cath
olic priest Of Durant, 1lliHoix. was
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