Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29
FRIES is ELECTED
LOCAL LEGION HEAD
OVER HARLAN WOOD
Continued from First Page.)

" oIllnlIeu from l. lTSt I'dRe.J
amendment to the constitution which
would have authorized the legion To
sever it's connection with the auxil-
larry at future time. Donovan i'm
mediately took advantage of the mo-
ton and pressed it through to con-
clusion.
On motion of Col William Mitchell,
former assistant air chief the Dis
trict Department voted to extend it's
sincere and hearty sympathy to the
widow and family of Comdr. John J.
Rodgers, who was killed in an air
plane accident Friday. The vote was
unanimous.
The election of Gen. Fries came rs
climax to month of caucusirg
and electioneering among the mem
bers of the legion here. during which
the retiring commander. Capt. Julius
|. Peyser. announced his candidacy.
withdrew his name and later became
a candidate again. He retired from
the race Friday night at the opening
meeting OF the department Conven-
ton.
Election Made Unanimous.
The election of Fries was made
unanimous on motion of Harlan Wood.
comman der. who said it was quite
an honor to he defeated by such an
honorable man as Gen. Fries"
Capt. Peyser. who was nominated
Friday night for a national executive
committeeman. withdrew in favor of
McGahan or Frank l.. Peckham.
Delegates and alternates to the ma
tional convention al Philadelphia were
elected rs follows: Howard S. Fisk,
Col. William Mitchell. Esther V. Hall.
Thomas n. Templeton, Harlan Wood
and Joseph j.. Idler. Alternates:
Francis J. Herney. Helen c. McCarty.
NJ. Zacharias, F. G. Frazier. William
F. Franklin. Floyd Wooley. Gen.
Fries and Capt Peyser will he sent
to the convention at Philadelphia
under n resolution adopted Friday
night to send the retiring comma nder
and the new department head to the
national meeting there.
lIanford Mac Nider, Assistant Secre
tary of War and a former national
commander of the Legion, told the
District department that the members
of the American Legion today. by
their service in the World War. hold
the right of stewardship over the
conduct of future wars in which the
a shaft of criticism at pacfist organ
izations and those who deplore mill
tary preparedness. Mr.. MacNider said
the United States is not for peace at
the cost of national honor or loss of
citizenship to any of it's nationals.
He said the men who served in the
war and are now members of the
Legion hold the responsibility for the
national defense.
"A few moments previously Past
National Comma nder James A. Drain
had told the convention that 1926 is
certain to be big year for the
Legion.
The intention of Legion leaders to
withdraw support of the District de-
partment from the auxiliary became
evident early in the meeting, when
f.. Madison Hill urged that it he with
drawn and that the entire matter in
so far as Legion support was con-
cerned be settled Immediately.
The Donovan resolution came after
Mr. Donovan had said it is common
knowledge that there is dissension and
bitterness among members of the
Auxiliary which reflects seriously on
the Legion itself"
The landslide for Gen. Fries which
swept him into office on the first bal
lot came as distinct surprise to many
in the convention, who had foreseen ii
long drawn out test Of strength be-
tween Gen. Fries and Wood, with the
Peyser votes deciding the contest.
Unable to conclude its business, the
convention adjourned shortly before
midnight to meet again at 8 O'Clock
tomorrow night at the club house of
George Washington Post, 1929 street.
The school regulations forbade using
the auditorium at Central High School
after 1870 and the convention was
forced to adjourn without concluding
much of it's business. The report of
the resolutions committee was among
the unfinished business