Evening star., 1927-09-22
EDWARD STAFFORD
CHOSEN BY LEG|Ol
New Yorker Is Named Lead
er Five Minutes After
Nomination.

Continued from First Page)
was adopted, calling for the construc-
ton of hospitals in Chicago, Hot
Springs. Louisville, St Cloud, Mimi.
and Fort Shelling. Mimi; also in New
England. North and South Carolina,
and Virginia, where there is an
insufficiency Of beds.
California Gets Prize.
California was awarded first prize
for the greatest number of miles
travelled to reach this convention.
A resolution asking transfer of the
National Soldiers Home to the Cen
trail National Veterans Bureau and
another removing all time limits for
compensation we've adopted.
Count de Jean of the French foreign
office. who arranged for the reception
of the Legionnaires and their families
in France, was awarded the Distin-
guished Service Medal of the Legion
by unanimous vote amid applause.
Boy Mascot Presented.
Jay Ward, a 5-year-old of Pennsyl-
vainia. chosen as mascot for his State
from among q thousand candidates,
was presented to the convention by
can boy" He was dressed in pure
white with a blue cap and had the
Distinguished Service Cross on his
breast.
He sang: I've Are Americans"
song especially written for the oc-
casion. Thereupon he was chosen ma.
tional mascot of the Legion. on motion
of the New York delegation, seconded
by Alabama.
Frank Schoeber. ir., Of Chicago,
blinded in the Argonne, was pre-
sented by Comdr. Savage.
Il only served as the others did"
the veteran said in a voice that shook
with feeling. Il am glad of this honor
because l know it is not meant for me
personally but for the thousands of
disabled not only back in the United
States, but in other countries. My
name means nothing"
immigration Resolution Offered.
A resolution recommending that the
President be authorized to suspend
immigration from any country when
circumstances warrant and that for
eigners who illegally enter the United
States be liable to immediate deporta-
ton caused a furry in the convention.
Finally it was referred back to COM
mittee.
A Chicago man from the Polish
quarter of the West Side objected to
increasing the Presidents power.
A Pennsylvania delegate shouted:
Don't forget that the Legion numbers
among it's members sons of Italy, Po-
land and many other countries provid-
ing immigration to America who
fought side by side with us
Delegate Dougherty of Arizona
shouted: This resolution was drawn
up to prevent just such manifesto
tions as that at the last convention,
and such manifestations in the United
States as occurred recently at the I'm
known Soldiers tomb in Paris"
Other resolutions tending to resist
efforts to obtain more liberal immigra-
tion legislation were adopted.
Boy Scout Movement Backed.
The convention approved the Boy
Scout movement on a resolution by
the committee on Americanism. 1t
also cheerily adopted resolutions rec
that progress in aviation
be favored in every way possible by
the Legion, that cities and towns be
urged to establish airports wherever
practicable and that signs aiding air
men in finding their way be placed
on the roofs of conspicuous buildings.
The proposition that November IL
be each year observed as a national
holiday, under the name Of Armistice
day, was unanimously adopted.
Count de Jean, presented to the con-
vention by Comdr. Savage to receive
his Distinguished Service Medal, was
given a rising ovation. He responded:
81 lived six years in your country.
That's why l love it.
Illinois, it was announced, has been
awarded first place in the quartet
with Wisconsin second.
Welfare Work Disputed.
The child welfare committee then
raised another storm by proposing
that the convention express dissatis-
faction with the present chairman OF
the national welfare committee. The
report alleged that $4,000
was spent to distribute 900 to chill
dren. Legionnaire Wilson of Michi-
gan protested against the proposed
resolution, and bitter criticisms and
warm defense of the present system
of child welfare work followed for
more than an hour.
The committee report finally was
tabled for further discussion later as
the time became pressing, and much
work has been left undone along rou-
tine lines as we'll as the election OF a
commander.
The naval committee proposed
resolution that the 5-5-3 ratio set
up at the Washington Naval Confer
ence be maintained. The resolution
was adopted.
The question of the deficit incurred
by the American Legion Monthly then
came up and the committee on finances
asked that the Legion dues be raised
% cents a year in order to put the
magazine on a paying basis. Many
delegates resisted this proposal, Ma
tional Comdr. Savage declared that
the magazine must have extra money
or be discontinued.
The convention by a viva voce vote
adopted the committee report propos-
ing the increase in dues assuring