Evening star., 1925-09-29
FACT|ONAL STRIFE
DIVIDES LEGION
Bitter Controversy in Local
Organization CenterS Around
WaIcott Post Head.

Seething with internal politics on
the very eve of the national conven
ton of the Legion at Omaha next
week, the District of Columbia depart
ment of the American Legion is today
torn with dissension as the two sides
in a controversy centering around
Charles i. Riemer, commander of
Stuart Walcott Post, align their forces
in preparation for the expected bitter
fight for and against the oustins of
Riemer from the legion. Charges
and counter charges are flying back
and forth between the opponents in
one of the bitterest fights the local
department has known since its or
ganiZation in 1919.
The entire situation may be aired
on the floor of the legion convention
next week, as Riemer has demanded
an investigation of department head
quarters here. and Gen. James A.
Drain, national commander of the
legion and past commander of the
District of Columbia department, al
ready has made a plea for harmony
in legion ranks in the Capital.
Dispute Aired in Committee.
Discussed under cover for months,
threatening to crop up on the floor OF
the department convention last June,
the whole matter came to a head last
night when the executive committee
Of the District department criticized
Riemer for his alleged charges against
the conduct of legion affairs here,
named charges of misconduct on
Riemer's part as unbecoming mem
Der of the legion and appointed a
board to try him on the charges. De-
partment Commander Julius l. Peyser,
who presided at the meeting last night,
named Past Commander Frank l..
Peckham, Thomas d. Walsh, COM
mander of Vincent B. Costello Post;
George H. Rycaw, commander of
James Reese Europe Post tcolored
veterans); ]. Thad Baker, commander
of Sergt. Jasper Post, and c. H. Hille-
geist, commander of Quentin Roose-
welt Post, to constitute the trial board.
The situation is entirely without prece-
dent in the District department. Sup
porters of those favoring the ousting
of Riemer declare they are going to
put him out of the legion. His friends
and supporters are just as firm in de-
claring that Riemer will be in a
stronger position after the trial than
ever before, and that they have ample
ammunition" to back up Riemer' s
allegations of loose conduct of legion
affairs.
Trial Board to Meet Tomorrow.
A meeting of the so-called trial
board will be held tomorrow at depart
ment headquarters for the purpose of
ascertaininS whether Riemer actually
made charges or only expressed his
personal views, which his friends
claim any legicnnaire has the right
to do.
While Capt. Peyser holds that the
action taken last night by the eXecu-
tive committee is the proper way to
arrive at a basis for proceeding
against Riemer. those who are lined
up against the Stuart Walcott Post
commander claim another committee,
headed by Gen. w. A. Bethel. should
first draw up bill of complaint and
file specific charges with the trial
board. The claim is made that the
charges Riemer is said to have made
against another post commander. Ray
mond II. Burke of McGroarty-McCon-
nell Post, should be sifted by the ex-
ecutive committee, and not by a trial
board.
Dispute Impedes Fund Drive.
While both sides marshaled their
forces today for a showdown in sit
legion. many members deprecated the
advent of internal politics at this time
| because the legion is engaged both in
a membership drive and a drive for a
| S., ,000. 900 endowment fund. The share
of the District of Columbia in the en-.
dowment fund is $4,000.
FGemer, in statements to the news
papers more than a month ago, said
! that those in charge of legion affairs
| here were self-seekers, motivated not
! by the interests of their fellow mem
| bers. but by their own ends The
statements constituted an attack OF
the conduct Of legion affairs. Addi
| tional fuel was added to the contro
| versy today when Howard s. Fisk
! past commander of George Washing
| ton Post, No. 1, wrote Commander
! Peyser dema nding that John J. Idler
! department adjutant, be relieved o1
! his post. He asked Commander Peysel
why Idler had been reappointed Il few
weeks ago at salary of $4,000 a year
when Idler. according to Fisk, hac
| been a detriment to the legion rather
I than an asset.
Delegates to Leave Friday.
| Twenty delegates and alternates
from the District department viii
F., leave Washington Friday afternoon al
2 o'clock for the national convention
at Omaha, accompanied by the Cos
tello Post Drum Corps. Six hundred
dollars was voted to pay the expenses
I Of the drum corps.
BANDITS MISS $4,000.