Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12

= "a garrison finish" is now being
staged by the members of the Depart
ment of the District of Columbia, the
American Legion, in an effort to cap
tlre the first Kentucky membership
derby, under the auspices OF the natlono
al organization, which closes on May 10
at 2 o'clock. The Department OF the
District of Columbia took sllght leao
last week over its 81 competitors IN
this race, and if this lead can be main
tanned and increased until the bell rings,
it will mean much to the future OF the
local department.
The latest report from national head
quarters at Indianapolis, Ind, shows
that the Department of the District OF
Columbia has a combined average per-
centage of the American Legion and
American Legion Auxiliary Of 1880
paid-up members. with the Department
of Hawaii trailing in second place with
1925; Department of wyoming, third,
with 1895: Department of Indiana,
fourth, $3.50. and the Department of
Michigan, fifth, with 1929 per cent
paid-up members for this year.
Department Comdr. Harlan Wood is
ably assisting Austin S. Imirie, chair
man, and Carolyn Herman, secretary
of the membership committee. in put
ting the department over 100 per cent.
and it is hoped to accomplish this feat
by May Is. the closing date for the
District With the exception of one or
two posts, the department is now 100
per cent paid up, and there remains
but little doubt that these two posts will
have attained their paid-up member
ship for the past year If this is ac-
compliShed it will be the first time in
the history of the American Legion,
according to reports, that any depart
ment in the national organization ever
had every post with its entire member
ship paid up as of the previous year.
In the local field Victory Post is lead
ing the department with paid-up per-
centage of 119: Bureau of Engraving
and Printing second, with 90 per cent:
Vincent B. Costello third, SO per cent;
James E. Walker fourth, 10 per cent,
and Kenneth H. Nash Post fifth, with
66 per cent.
The auxiliary units are gaining ground
daily and the Kenneth H Nash unit is
leading. with paid-up percentage of
"a; Vincent 3. Costello, second, with 76
per cent; George E. Killeen, third, with
66 per cent: James Reese Europe,
fourth, with &C per cent, and Henry c.
Spengler, fifth, with So per cent. The
present week will find these various
units with increased percentages, as
plans are now under way for an inten-
sive drive for new members in the final
stages OF the race, which ends May IA.
Department Comdr. Wood and mem
bers of his staff continue to make visi-
tatlonS to the various posts. Last week
visits were made to George Washington,
Vincent B. Costello, Augustus P. Gard
ner and Kenneth H. Nash Posts at a
largely attended joint meeting in the
boardroom of the District Building
Tuesday night. Shortly after 9 O'Clock
the Vincent B. Costello Auxiliary joined
the asSemblage and when the evening
concluded over SO new members had
been added to the auxiliary and MANY
new applications received by the posts
and acted upon.
Next Tuesday evening Department
Comdr. Wood and his staff will visit
the James Reese Europe and James E.
Walker Posts at joint meeting to be
held in the Y. M. C. A. Building, 1916
Twelfth street northwest.
The organization of a Past Com
manders' Club was perfected at q. lunch
con at the University Club Wednesday
afternoon and reports received as a re-
suit OF prior meeting held at the
Army and Navy Club on April 8. Rob-
ert M. Tolson, past commander of Lin
coin Post. was elected president; Wat
son B. Miller, past national vice COM
mander, vice president and w. N. Nor
rell, past commander of Lincoln Post,
secretary-treasurer
The report of the committee on con-
stitution and bylaws was presented and
approved. The committee was composed
OF j. O'C. Roberts, chairman, Amos A.
Fries, j. Thad Baker, Howard S. Fisk.
Frank L. Peckham, Robert M. Tolson
and w. N. MorrelI. The constitution
provides for meetings on the second
Tuesday of each month in the shape
OF a luncheon. The officers of the club
will be president, vice president, Sec
retary-treaSurer and four members, in
addition to the three officers, to consti-
tute a council for the transaction of
routine business of the organization.
The membership will be open to past
post and department commanders only.
The charter will be kept open until
January / next in order that COM
manders now in Office may become eligi-
BILE to election to membership
The present charter membership roll
includes Robert M. Tolson, Watson B.
Miller w. N. Morrell, Amos A. Fries.
F. w. AWl. Forest F. Bartl, G. G. Brown,
Howard S. Fisk. Austin S. Imirie,
Charles J. Painter. Frank L. Peckham,
j. O'C. Roberts. William Wolff Smith,
John Lewis Smith. Thomas j. Frailey,
H L. Wilson, Paul J. McGahan J.
Thad Baker. j. Miller Kenyon, Bernard
S. Buscher and j. A. Hunt.
Owing to the departure from the city
of A. A. Cheney, who was appointed
chairman of the convention committee
for the department to be held the week
of August IL, last week, w. N. Morrell
has been appointed by Department
Commander Harlan Wood to fill the
vacancy The other members of the
committee are Bernard S. Buscher, vice
chairman; Warren E. Miller. Lucille
Allan. Richard O'Brien, T. E. Jones,
Francis F. Miller, Thomas E. Franklin
and Wallace Streator.
A sum of $4,000 will be appropriated
by the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts,
to help entertain American Legionnaires
and Auxiliary members should Boston
be selected at the annual national con-
vention at Louisville this Fall as the
next convention city in 1880. Gov. Allen
has signed a resolve providing for a
proper representation of the Common
wealth at the national convention
should it go to Boston. The New Eng
land States plan to go to the LOUISVILLE
convention we'll organized in their bid
for the next convention.
The American Legion is powerful
organization and can exert tremendous
influence in behalf of good citizenship
and in combating lawlessness in the
opinion of John CT. Sargent, former
United States Attorney General. In an
address last week before members of
Vermont post of the American Legion
m his first nublic appearance since re-