Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-21
LEGION IN SPIRITED
FIGHT VOTES UNITY
FORU.S. DEFENSES
Committee Report Adopted
After Bitter Debate on
Floor of Convention.
REMARKS OF MITCHELL
ExPUNGED FROM RECORD
Stormy Petrol Starts Argument by
Demand for Separate Avia-
tion Department.

PALAIS DU TROCADERO, Paris,
September 21.-The aviation report
of the national defense committee of
tLe American Legion, presented at
today's session of the Legion conven-
ton, called for the consolidation OF all
branches of national defense into one
department, with secretaries for each
branch, including aviation. 1t preclpi-
tated a spirited fight.
Former Brig Gen. William Mitchell,
long the stormy petrol of the Amerl-
can aviation service, was the man
who started the fireworks, and Tor
some minutes feeling ran high, unth
finally, upon the motion of Legion
naire Gilligan of Ohio, the former
GENERALS remarks were stricken from
the record.
An attempt to obtain a vote, Vlve
voce. proved an utter failure several
times and a roll call had to be re-
sorted to, an amendment to the report
being finally defeated by 622 to ZS9
and the report adopted. Several
States split on the roll call and some
changed sides during it.
Fight on Resolution.
Ten. dShlIiS5 loA tiC oNOP
ton of the recommendation without
amendment shouted: "a department
OF aviation at once under direct
cabinet officer is what is wanted
The former air chief, speaking with
spirit, argued. that while Europe was
honeycombed with a network of so
called commercial air lines, which
from night to morning may be turn
ed into military weapons" the United
States has been standing still.
1T has been proved that $4,000
arp!ane can destroy in a few hours
$70,OO0,000 worth of battleships," he
shouted.
The fight on the resolution turned
simply on the question of whether the
immediate organization of such de-
partment be recommended or whether
It be recommended for organization
''as soon as warranted" These latter
words which were included in the res.
olution of the committee were object
ed to by a number OF delegates who
held that if the department were need
ed it should be organized at once.
AS eventually adopted, the recon-
mendation contained the words as
soon as warranted" Henry d. Lind.
sleyn, American vice president of the
Federation of War Veterans, present
ed a report and told the delegates: 1T
is our obligation, when We go nome,
to tell the American people what a re-
ception was given us by the hundreds
of thousands of people OF Paris and
thus procreate a feeling which will
prevent forever more misunderstand'
ings between the two peoples"
A committee on constitutional
amendments then reported approval
of new provisions whereby the Legion
convention city will be chosen two
years in advance, instead of one.
Texas City Gets Convention.
The selection of San Antonio, Tex,
for the 1928 convention of the Legion
by the Legion's committee was APP
proved by the convention.
Rice Means of Colorado announced
that a big fight was probable to get
the laws for the hospita liZation of vet.
Grams amended so that eX-service men
NAV be assured of the care that they
deserve. One hundred thousand OF
them were now cared for by the Gov
ernment, he said, but the law ought
TO be revised to make their welfare
more certain.
"The mother of the Blue Devils"
Nine. Saute, in the black of war;
bereaved mother, touched the conven-
ton to the heart when she entered
at the head of a delegation from the
association of the famous French
Light Infantry to present to the
Legion a photograph of their famous
flag.
Former Gov. McGovern of Wiscon.
sin was the leader of those opposing
use of the words ''as soon as war
Ianted," introducing an amendment
striking them from the recommenda
ton.
"If needed he shouted. 1T is
needed now"
National Comdr Howard p. Savage,
speaking on the question, said that
the Legion's committee of national de-
fense had been chosen from the most
competent Legionnaires, but former
Gov. McGovern insisted on his amend
ment and the question went to the
convention. The vive Noce vote was
doubtful and was tried time and
again with the result always indefi-
mite. Finally a roll call was ordered,
after former Gov. McGoVern had re-
minded the convention that the War
Department was against a separate
aviation department.
The third-day session, which Sas
adjourned shortly after ] o'clock, was
given a colorful tinge by the presence
of Comdr. Evangeline Booth of the
salvation Army; Gen. Marriott, one
diers' Home; Admiral Guepratte, who
went down standing at attention on
the bridge of his battleship when it
was sunk in the Dardanelles, and
Mother Saute. The presence Of these
distinguished figures served to throw
much war enthusiasm into the other
Wise routine session which had been
proceeding calmly until the intrQduc-
lion OF the aviation problem.
Festivities Tell on Members.
The uninterrupted series of festivi
Tics arranged for them is telling more
and more on the members OF the
legion.
Their fatigue was evidenced by the
snarsely occupied seats In the conVen'
lion hall this morning. Texas was
there. however, with a conspicuous
calico poster inviting the convention
TO san Antonio in 1873.
Hot Springs, taking time by the
forelock, posed its candidacy for the
convention of 1882 in huge red type on
white poster.
Florida was represented on the plat
, form by the Miami Fife and Drum
Corps. "Tipperary" opened the musi-
cal preliminaries. played with great
eusto by the Ohio Band.
When Comdr. Savage called the
meeting to order there was still only
sprinkling of delegates present Rev.
Percy D. Cross in the invocation