Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29
FRIES IS ELECTED
LOCAL LEGION HEAD
Wins CIear-Cut Victory Over
Harlan Wood-Auxiliary
Support Withdrawn.

Mai. Gen. Amos A. Fries. chief OF
the Chemical Warfare Service of the
Army, was elected commander of the
District department of the American
Legion last night at the department
convention at Central High School
Gen. Fries election over Harlan
Wood, the only other candidate in the
field for department commander,
came on the first ballot and was
clear-cut victory. Gen. FRIES re-
ceived 40 votes to 81 for Wood, with
81 necessary to elect
Other elective officers of the Dis
trict depa rtment were chosen as lol-
lows: First vice commander, Iheo-
dore Cogswell, Augustus p. Gardner
Post; second vice commander, Charles
Hillegeist, Quentin Roosevelt Post;
third vice commander, Esther '.
Hall, Jacob Jones Post; national COM
mitteeman, Paul j. McGahan, re-
elected. National Press Club Post;
alternate committeeman, llllam
Wolff Smith, National Press Club.
Active in Affairs.
Gen. Fries, who was formally in
Quoted into office a few moments
after his election, is a member OF the
National Press Club Post, and has
been identified with Legion affairs in
the District of Columbia since 1919.
He is the national president OF the
Soiourners Club and is a past master
of Columbia Lodge of MaSonS. De
scribing himself as "a private in the
rear ranks" Gen Fries pledged the
convention to work for the Legion
with every effort in his power.
II shall know no post or creeo IN II
NV effort to advance the Legion,
Gen. Fries said. Il esteem it great
honor and responsibility to be elected
to this high Office
The new department commander an
nounced his intention to push lor
vigorous Americanism in the Legion.
and said that as the years go by par
ticipation of Legion members IN
national affairs will become more ana
more a fact Pointing to the large
number of war veterans in the SlXly-
ninth Congress, Gen. Fries Sald tiiat
within a few years war veterans VIII
dominate every field of political and in
dustrial activity.
Sure of Confidence i'm Him.
Gen. Fries said he knew his elec-
lion while an active officer of the Army
established a precedent, but he said
he felt satisfied the District Legion
had confidence in him and his ability
or it would not have chosen him.
Gen. Fries said he felt confident he
can dissociate his official army life
from his life as commander OF the
legion as completely as he associates
his official life from his social AFFAIRS.
The legion took significant step
early in its meeting when it Withdrew
it's support from the American Legion
Auxiliary, group of women organ
lied in the name of the legion and
who until last night had legion sup
port The action was taken after
Daniel j. Donovan, auditor Tor the
District of Columbia, had moved that
the legion recognition be withdrawn
from the auxiliary in view of the un-
settled state of affairs of the women's
organization affiliated with the legion
in the District of Columbia.
He used the term clean house In
referring to future associations of the
legion with the auxiliary.
Believes 1t Means Disbanding.
Mrs Thacker V. Walker, president
of the auxiliary who sat on the plat
form while Donovan's motion was dis
cussed, said after it's passage that, in
her judgment, the action would mean
disbanding of the American Legion
Auxiliary in the District of Columbia.
The action came on proposed
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