Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26


BY mcmb7,eaip race, under auspices OF
the national organization last Saturday,
the Department of the District OF Co
lunbia, the American Legion, defeated
81 competing departments throughout
the United States and territorial pos
sessions in a race that extended from
January 2 until o'clock last Satur-
day afternoon. It was one OF the
greatest membership campaigns ever
staged by the national organization
and congratulations have been pour
ing into local department headquarters
all during the past week.
The Department of the District OF
Columbia finished with a combined
membership average of both the Amerl-
can Legion and American Legion Aux
Hilary of 1888; Department OF Hawaii,
second with 134.9l, and the Depart
ment of Kentucky, third, with 114.16.
The District led the race from start to
finish leading its nearest competitor by
15347 per cent. The high percentage
of the auxiliary of the District OF Co
lurlbia, which brought up the average
Joint percentage, was the great 1eature
of the race. In both Hawaii and Ken
lucky the American Legion depart
ments ran a little ahead of the aux
iliaries. But in the District the Legion
percentage was 131. 80 and the auxiliary
544.93; in Hawaii the Legion was
1S8.48, and the auxiliary, 164.91; in
Kentucky the Legion was 1851 and
the auxiliary 1921.
The first prize, which comes to the
District, is 5000; to Hawaii, $3.50, and
to Kentucky, 500. In addition to the
derby there was sweepstakes race,
the prizes being $500, $85 and $50,
offered the Legion and auxiliary
hnfw
as for the derby, except that 1t was
Legion department. against Legion de-
partment and auxiliary department
against auxiliary department. The
Department of Mississippi won the
sweepstakes with percentage OF
122.69; Department of Indiana, sec
ond, with 1924, and the Department
of Panama 111.58. The auxiliary,
sweepstakes were: Alabama Auxiliary,
first, 1902; wyoming Auxiliary. Sec
ond, 1868, and Michigan Auxiliary
third, with 105.28.
Further inducements were the three
sprint prizes for the Legion depart
1nent and auxiliary against auxiliary
increase between April 5 and May ID
No department was allowed to win
more than one prize. The, winners In
the sprint were: Nevada, first; Okla
homa, second, and Michigan, third
The Kentucky Derby membership race
was patterned after Churchill Downs
world famous event as a compliment
to this great race, and also because
of the special interest IN Louisville
as the city will be the scene OF the
eleventh annual national convention
September 80 to october 4.
Department Comdr. Harlan Wood
who has been the active leader in the
membership campaign, has received
the following cablegram from Depart
ment Comdr. T. j. Cassidy OF Ha-
wall: Hawaii, Pearl of the Pacific
congratulates Columbia, Gem OF the
Legion" 80
tional Comdr. Paul v. MeNutt, as fol-
lows:
The James E. Walker Post, No. 26
American Legion, has completed pan:
for the annual observance OF Memorla
day. The members Of the post WIN as
semble at post headquarteTs, 1921 -
street, today at 2:30 pm. They Will 81
by automobiles to Payne and GoodlaWI
cemeteries to hold brief services ant
decorate the graves of deceased com
rades. At 7:30 pm. the post Will par
ticipate in a joint memorial service un'
der auspices of the Joint Memorial AS
ISOLATION of Military Societies at Trln
ity Baptist Church, Thirteenth and Cor
coran streets.
The post will assemble Thursday a
9 am. in front of the Twelfth Stree
Grams of the G. A. R., Army and Nav.
Union, Spanish War and American LIE
gion. Prof. James Miller and go mem
beers of the crack Community Center
Band will lead the procession south OF
Twelfth street from the ~" to Yer
mont avenue, to Thirteenth street, Il
PENNSYLVANIA avenue, to the Munlclpa
Building. They will join with a gen
eral parade of all the patriotic bodle
prior to the trip to Arlington Cemetery
Victory Post, No. 4, met May IA IL
the Woodmen's Hall, 933 Grant place
The drive for the Kentucky Derby wa
completed giving Victory Post 1O'
members and the lead locally. Depart
ment Comdr Harlan Wood. in a shor
address. congratulated the members OF
their achievement.
Abuses of veterans preference laws II
the Government was discussed and &C
ton taken by the post commander
Manager Kliendenst and the Victor!
Post base ball team were guests.
The Victory and Lincoln Post team
opened their season on the Whlte 10
Sunday and were serenaded by Victor,
Post Drum Corps
Charles Knight and members Of Vic
tory Post will assist the Gold Sta
Mothers in placing flags on the mark
ers on Sixteenth street today. The Vic
tory Post Drum Corps wild drop fora
anchor off Hams Point today at
O'Clock in honor of the avy dead. The
will then proceed to President Wilson
tomb where, at o'clock, Department
Comdr. Harlan Wood and his staff vii
lay wreath. At $3.50 o'clock the drum
corps will lead Bishop Freeman and hi
choir to the massing of the colors serv
ice, sponsored by the Military Order
the World War.
The corps will form at Seventh stree
and Pennsylvania avenue Thursday a
8:45 am. and march to the Distric