Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-04
STAFFORD HAS
GOOD WARTIME
navy RECORD
Legion Comnaan lei
Served Group Well
Before Election; To
Be Here Sunday

-" "&AEARAAhN aAAAAA 49,
1878. He was educated in the public
schools. where he made a local rec
ord as an athlete and a scolar. He
vas graduated from the Naval
Academy with honor, and remained
In the service until December, 1914,
when he resigned his commission as
a lieutenant commander in the Unit
ed States navy.
Stafford has a splendid record in
the navy. While a lieutenant he
TUNED down an offer 70 be on the
staff Of Fighting Bob" Evans in
order TO get clear Of staff duty. The
staff position was later filled by a
captain many years Spafford's
senior.
Stafford concentrated his efforts
on gunnery, and some Of the record
which his ship made probably still
stand as tributes 70 his ability and
judgment.
Spafford resigned his commission
in the navy to study law at Colum-
bia University. His studies were
interrupted after two years when
he re-entered the naval service for
the war. Commander ~Spafford's
record In connection with the world
war won for him the distinguished
service medal and included the fol-
lowing:
Good War Record
Established submarine chaser base
and fitted out first submarine chas-
ers for service abroad.
Established naval base at Corfu
Greece, and served as chief Of staff,
directly in charge OF all operations.
Credited with first enemy subma-
rine ever located BY sound contact,
tactics which he developed.
WAS senior American officer in
Adriatic and received Austrian ships
which were turned over 20 Ameri-
cans.
Went 10 Paris to report on condi-
lions in cara, Fiume and Dalmatia.
Served on Joint Merchant Vessel
board and board of inspection and
survey.
Spafford's record since the war Is
replete with successful American
Legion service in the department Of
New York state, and in the nation
as chairman Of the Legion's nation
al naval affairs committee. He has
been engaged in several different
projects and at the time of his cleo
AA0AA W0 MAAA0AAAA ANAAAAA4AAANAn ~"
preparing for the practice or law in
the firm Of Fischer and Strachan,
Ill Broadway, New York City.
Also Served Legion
Soon after the war. National Com
mander Galbraith felt that the Lee
gion should take a definite stand on
maritime affairs. and he organized
the committee. naming Spafford as
aLH--r.u. EDrh urraaarafnn nnt4nnnI
commander r~c-appoined Snafford un-
iii 1928 when ne was elected COM
mander Of the Department Of New
York.
To his credit belongs much Of the
successful opposition TO the ultra
s&ncifists who were actively trying
10 scrap the navy. Col. Henry
breckenridge. assistant secretary Of
War under President Wilson, stated
that had Il not been for the work Of
tbs American Legion. the navy of
the United States would have been
strapped in 1922. Spafford led the
Legion in this defense.
As state commander. Spafford Wis
tied every county in New York. He
took office when \ referendum was
before the people 90 determine
whether an amendment to the con-
~xtitution should he passed in order
that d bonus might BE- given to
those who had served their country.
Stafford prepared arguments and
placed them in the hands Of every
Legionnaire. The amendment was
passed.
His ability In the management Of
biz issues - illustrated in the ad-
justed compensation fight he con-
Quoted. when the secretary of the
treasury had a favorite scheme for
reducing taxes, and ii was stated Of
f~icially that the adjusted compen-
eation could not be passed and taxes
also reduced.
On January S, 1921. al the Nation
al Republican club in New York
City. Spafford debated u. S. Senator
Borah and the undersecretary Of the
treasury who represented Secretary
Mellon, and the president OF the
Anti-Bonus League. The debate was
broadcast. Spafford showed that he
could handle the economies Of tax
reduction as well as the justice Of
the adjusted compensation. Many
persons reversed their opinion after
that meeting.
IL - AAMtAIf NAN nNLNEQ IN NUE
navy with Spaff0rd, told he follow
ing story in a recent issue Of the
Nassau County On. W Legionnaire:
Il was an eye witness and shall
eve forget the cool bravery or
Stafford which saved the lie OF
ore Of bis shipmates.
We were on the armored cruiser
Washington tnow in Seattle) sail
fam E4nwrNrr AnMra - wN-
weather deck matches were closed
securely, for a gale off Hatteras
49, making y run far from pleas
Ht- Boatswain's Mate Faraday
ventured out on the ~forecastle to see
that everything was secure; a green
sea broke over the ship and Faraday
was swept overheard. Engines were
stopped and life-buoys let 20.
with others Of the crew I went
aft and there I saw Stafford III the
life boat waiting for the order 20
lower. The storm was so severe
that until the captain arrived on
deck and gave his permission, no
one dared give the order to lower
that boat. If one thing went wrong.
Spafford y every other man IN
that boat would be lost. The captain
eAAu coAANAIAAA 70 0FaAANLQs ana ne
answered, but what that ~conversa-
ion was ! do not know.
There was Faraday in the buoy
now TO wirdward Of the shin. at
tcmnts TO bring the ship alongside
the buoy had failed, and Faraday
was being slowly drowned by the
spum whipped Of the waves. / have
never seen q more angry sea.
The boat was lowered safely, and
some Of the men in that boat after
ward told me that they saw the
keel of the ship. Skillfully handled.
but often lost to the sight OF those
on board the ship, that little beat
worked its way 70 the buoy. Fara-
dnv. By this time unconscious and
unable to help himself, was dragged
into that boat by Spafford.
The boat returned and eventually