Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-28
|PEYSER HOLDS KEY .
NLEG|ON ELECTION
Has Balance of Power Be-
tween Wood and Fries.
Promised National Post.

Although he has withdrawn from
the race for department commander,
julius I. Peyser, who closes a term
as head Of the legion in the District
of Columbia today. holds the balance
of power in the election for depart
ment commander to succeed himself
The election tonight at Central High
School, according to preliminary es-
Inmates Of the voting strength Of the
two candidates nominated last night,
finds Peyser controlling enough votes
to elect either Harlan Wood or Maj.
Gen. Amos A. Fries, the two men re-
naming in the race. If Peyser throws
the 10 votes he controls to Wood, he
has been assured he will receive IS
votes from the Wood supporters in
addition to the strength he already
has, a number considered sufficient to
elect him to the post of national
executive committeeman.
In case the Peyser controlled votes
do not go to Wood for department
commander. the Wood voters have
been instructed to vote for either
Frank l.. Peckham or Paul McGahan
for executive committeeman.
E. Madison Hill, campaign manager
for Wood, and Austin Imrie, serving
in similar capacity for Gen. Fries,
both claimed % solid votes today, a
few hours in advance of the actual
balloting. In view of these known
votes. It was claimed that the Peyser
votes will swing victory either one
way or the other. Peyser, Wood AMI
Fries are all members of the same
Masonic lodge and are warm personal
friends. The campaign for department
commander so far, has been free from
other campaigns.
Fisk Declines Nomination.
Howard S. Fisk of George Wash
ington Post, No. ], considered in pre-
convention summaries as a dark
horse candidate, was not placed In
nomination. Wood Is a member Of
McGroarty-O'C Post, and Fries,
who is chief Of the Chemical Warfare
Service of the Army, is a member Of
National Press Club Post.
Two Army figures who played lead
ing roles in the World War and the
events since the war, were placed in
nomination for high legion posts last
gates from the District department to
the national convention at Philadel-
phia in October to present the name
Of Gen. John J. Pershing for national
commander, was passed by the con-
vention last night. William Mitchell,
former stormy petrel' of the Army
Air Service, who is slated to become
commander of Costello Post and will
likely be a candidate for department
commander next year. was nOminted
for delegate to the national conven-
ton. The resolution indorsing Gen.
Pershing came from George Wash
ington Post, while Costello Post pre-
scented the name of Mitchell. The
former assistant chief of the Army
Air Service sat in the audience at the
convention last night, but did not take
part in the ovations which greeted
the nominations Of Wood and Fries.
He marched in the parade Of veterans
from Columbia road and Biltmore
street to Central High School. which
preceded the formal opening of the
convention.
French Assurances Read.
Another development was the posi-
tive assurance that the legion will
carry out it's announced plan to hold
the 1927 national convention in Paris.
Statements were read from the COM
mander of a French veterans organi-
Zation claiming a membership of
1000, 900 men and from Aristide
BRAND, former premier Of France and
a member of the French cabinet, as
surfing the legion that recent dis
turbances in France were isolated in
cidents and do not reflect the senti-
ment Of the entire nation toward
Americans. Both messages pledged g.
cordial welcome for the American
Legion delegates to the national con-
vention.
Withdrawal of Capt. Peyser as a
candidate for department commander,
came only a few hours after he had
been approached by a delegation from
Costello Post with the request that he
withdraw and the pledge that he
would receive support for the post
of national executive committeeman.
He announced his withdrawal in
prepared statement read to the con-
vention, declaring that his reelection
would set a bad precedent and that
even though he had been persuaded
by friends a month ago to run. he
was convinced at the time against his
rived at the very definite conclusion
that it would be best not to set such
a precedent" Although several posts
had asked Fisk to become candidate,
he had never requested that his name
be presented, although both Wood and
Fries had urged him to accept vice
commandership on their ticket.
The states prepared by supporters
of Wood and Fries were placed in
nomination last night almost without
change. J. Thad Baker, a pre-con-
vention choice for senior vice COM
mander on the Wood ticket, was
placed in nomination for that post
along with Theodore Oogswell. chair
man Of the convention committee.
Thomas d. Walsh. also named as a
Wood supporter, was nominated for
Junior vice commander with Charles
Hillegist, who had figured in pre-con.
vention straw votes as q supporter Of