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

Incident to the approaching depart
ment convention to be held in August,
Department Comdr. Harlan Wood has
appointed q convention committee to
arrange all details in connection with
this annual event. The committee was
authorized at the last meeting Of the
department executive committee to Sc
lect the dates of the convention during
the week beginning August IL, and also
a suitable hall for holding the con-
vention. Last year the convention was
held in the northeast section of the
city, and there Is q possibility that the
convention will be held in new Sec
ton Of the National Capital. The con-
vention will cover period Of two and
possibly run over into third day
Prior to the opening of the convention
on the first night, the Legionnaires of
the District participate in a parade,
headed by the two drum and bugle corps
in the local department. The COM
mittee in charge of the convention de-
tails this year Is composed OF A. A.
Cheney, chairman; Bernard S. Busch
er, vice chairman; Mrs. Lucille Allan,
Warren z. Miller, Richard A. O'Brien,
Wallace Streater, Francis F. Miller, T.
E. Jones and T. E. Franklin.
In the national membership race for
honors in the American Legion and
Handicap, which closes May 10, the De-
partment of the District Of Columbia is
still holding first honors, with the De-
partment of Hawaii, which won the
Henry D. Lindsey Trophy. runner-up.
The District percentage Is 145.49 OF
paid-up members this year, while Ha-
wall has a percentage Of 1925. The
Department of wyoming is third with
97.O8. Department Of Indiana fourth
with $3.50 and the Department of
Michigan fifth with q percentage of
92.43. Department Comdr. Harlan Wood
Is stressing the necessity of every men,
Der of this department putting forth
every effort to increase the .r&d to the
finish in order TO win this membership
race. Announcement of the winner will
be made through the press of the coun-
try on the afternoon of May Is, the
same time that the winner Of the fifty
fifth annual derby winner Is announced
at the Louisville race track. Legion
naires are urged to put applications Of
their wives, mothers, sisters and daugh-
tiers in the various auxiliary units of
this depaT ment, as every new member
in the auxiliary is equal to ten in the
Legion in this cooperative membership
race. There are SO departments com :
peting for first honors, and while the
District increased its lead by . small
margin last week over Hawaii, Depart
ment Comdr. Wood and the members
of his membership committee are de-
SirouS that there be no let up in the
drive. One advantage which the Dis
trict has over Hawaii in this race is
that the rules call for all membership
cards and checks must be in the hands
OF the national treasurer at Indianapo-
lis, Ind, not later than 2 o'clock on
fAA nff - r..
for the Lindsey Trophy the District
led the field for weeks and at the finish
the Department of Hawaii came through
with enough members to nose into first
place and win the honor.
In the local field of posts participat-
ing in membership campaign at the
same time the national race Is going on
Victory Post Is leading the field with a
percentage of ia paid-up members this
year over last year, with the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing Post second
with 80 per cent; Vincent B. Costello,
third, 70 per cent; James E. Walker
fourth, rs per cent, and Kenneth H
Nash, fifth, with Sc per cent. Among
the auxiliary units Kenneth H. Nash
/ unit jumped out into first place last
week with paid-up membership Of 81
per cent; with George E. Killeen and
Vincent B. Costello units tie for second
honors with so per cent each, and Henry
c. Spengler unit next in line with 40
per cent, followed closely by James
Reese Europe unit with 80 per cent.
Department Adult. Howard S. Fisk
has been advised that the second an
nual memorial pilgrimage to the tomb
Of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington
National Cemetery, under the auspices
of the Kings County committee, the
American Legion Auxiliary, Brooklyn
department Of New York, will take
place this year May %, "a and rs. The
members of the American Legion ano
American Legion Auxiliary will leave
New York at 1870 pm, daylight saving
time, and on arrival in this city will
make their headquarters at the New
Ebbitt Hotel The pilgrimage to Arling-
ton will be made Friday morning, May
"a, where a wreath will be placed or
the tomb at 1890 o'clock with an APP
propriate ceremony. Members of the
American Legion and Auxiliary ano
Gold Star Mothers are invited to join
the aSsemblage at Arlington and par
ticipate in the exercises. The Kings
County Legion will send wreath to bt
placed on the tomb Of the Unknown
Soldier and also one on the grave Of
Floyd Bennett of North Pole fame, who