The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-08
FLOOR BATTLE
EXPECTED ON
AIR QUESTION
Committee Report Expected
to Precipitate Legion's
Greatest Fight
LONERGAN FOR COL.
Delegations Provide Provost
Guard to Help Omaha
Police Keep Order

Omaha, Oct. 8.-LP)-Onc Of the
greatest fights Of the American Le-
gionS existence lOomed today. In
two little words buried far down in
today's program was hidden stu
alton that promised to develop test
of strength Of the old line leaders
and the Lcgionnaircs termed by
some "the insurgent group" with the
result possibly Of influencing the
election tomorrow Of national
commander and even the policy Of
the organization.
They were: "Committce renorts."
The promised battle ccntered on
the report of the Legionnaircs' first
aeronautical committee. That body
offers a report in which possibly
more state delegations than ever be-
fore sent members to committee
meeting labored heatedly all Of yes
terday before finally evolving a par
agraph that left out the name Of Col.
VIM. Mitchell, the air service critic,
but which would recommend support
tor some Of his proposals. The re-
port. prepared for submission to the
convention today, would recommend
that the Legion go on record as ia
voring development. with three sub
ordinate branches equally represen-
tatlvc of the army, navy and air SER
vice. The paragraph as finally
adopted was written by Reed Lam
dis, second only to Americas ace Of
aces, Eddie Rckenbacker. in shoot
ing down German airplanes in the
world war, and son Of Kencsaw
Mountain Lands.
Regarded as Compromise
1t was regarded as "A more or less
desperate compromise measure mas
much as Il heated fight over men,
tion of Mitchell's name on the floor
of the convention was promised, no
matter what wording was presented
in the committees official repor:.
Since the Legionnaires began TO
pour into Omaha last Sunday, Nit
chell. his suggestions and his pres
ent army status, have been chief
subjects of conversation in all quar-
tcrs.
LOnergan Openly For Mitchell
Early yesterday he found one o2t-
snoken sponsor in Father Lonergaa
Of Illinois. the national chaplain for
the Legion. The chaplain assented
to election as a delegate at large by
the Oregon delegation and indicated
IN no uncertain terms that he, for
one. could sponsor some sort Of
resolutions for Mitchell for the con-
vention floor. 1t was indicated early
today that there would be no minor
ity report, and while Col. Mitchell
has a number Of friends in the con-
vention and others known to r-v,r
the results produced by his free
spoken criticisms, no one in addition
to Father Lonergan had indicated he
would espouse the colonel's cause in
the open debate.
To Award Trophies
Second in Importance on today's
program was the report Of the rcso-
lutions committee which yesterday
forced reconsideration by it OF the
report Of the world peace committee.
As presented the report favored the
Leg ion supporting United States ad-
hesion to the world court and direct
ing a years study by Legion posts
Of the League Of Nations. 1t was
altered after a half days effort,
however, to have the Legion recon-
mend IAN" initial court of justice,
but without specifying. No other
change was made.
Preceding the committee represen-
tatives today the program called for
greetings from various organiza-
tlonS and awarding trophies to Lc-
gion drill teams.
Omaha More Orderly
After the selection Of 4 provost
guard Of one man from each state
delegation to assist the Omaha po-
lice, the city was more orderly last
night than any night since the open
ing Of the convention. There was
noticeable falling off in street and
hotel lobby gambling and liquor
drinking. James A. Drain, the ma
tional commander, was forced to ac-
tion by reports that scamp follow
ers" might bring the Legion into
disrepute. The disorderly element
was said not to be Legionnaires, but
professional gamblers, bootleggers
and others preying upon the dele
gates and thousands of visitors.