Imperial Valley press., 1931-09-24

ImOuSly against the measure, re-
ceived a big hand.
> Invitation Extended
In a lull after the voting L. K.
Robb arose and invited the Legion
TO Australia for "a good wet time
That was a signal for more cheer
ing and applause.
Most of the opposition to the res
olution appeared from the southern
delegates and those from the middle
western agricultural belt.
Kansas, Arkansas, MisSiSSip-
pi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ten
nessee. Texas, Utah and Wyom-
ing cast solid state votes against
the resolution.
The "wet" element got its
strength from all sections of
the country. Twenty -one dele
cations split the votes to cast
part for and part against the
measure.
Delegations voting Solidly for the
resolution were Alabama. Alaska,
Arizona. California. Canada, Col
orado, Connecticut, Delaware, Dis
3 l. lCk VI SO2G4llOAds L amt. NIOO4 : Ael'
Hawaii, Illinois, Italy, Massachu-
setts, Minnesota. Montana, Nevada,
/ New Mexico. New York. Pennsyl-
vania, Philippines, Porto Rico, Rhode
Island. Wisconsin, Havana and
London. England.
A lower interest rate on adjusted
compensation was asked in one res
olution passed. The majority re-
/ port on the bonus opposing cash
j payment, was read
Text of Resolution
/ The following is the resolution
passed by the American Legion to-
/ day:
Whereas, the 18th amendment to
! the Constitution of the United
States has created a condition en-
dangering respect for law and the
security of American institutions,
Now. therefore: be it resolved! The
American Legion, IN its 18th annual
convention assembled favors the
submission by congress of the re-
peal or modification of the present
prohibition laws, to the several
states, with request that each
state submit this question to the
voters thereof
WASHINGTON. Sept. "a U.P)-|
! President Hoover was informed OF
the Legion beer vote. His spokes-
man at the White House said Mr..
Hoover did not desire to comment
DETROIT, Sept. "a. U.P)-
The American Legion faced
crisis today after its resolutions
committee decided definitely
that the war veterans must de-
eide at this time whether they
favor the prohibition amend
ment which was passed while
thousands of them were fight
ing in France.
{ For - years the Legion had
/ avoided open conflict over the pro-
hibition question. A non-political
! organization, its leaders contended
! year after year that it should not
vote openly on the question which
many members considered political
/ in nature.
This year however, an actual vote
could not be avoided and the reso-
lutions committee decided that the
delegates must make known to the
world today whether they do or do
not favor a change in the law
Prohibition became the big is
sue before the convention last
Monday after President Hoover
made a hasty trip here from
Washington to urge the veter-
ans not to ask the government
for bonus at this time. a ma
iority Of the delegates sided
with Mr.. Hoover and the bonus
automatically was made secOn-
dary to prohibition as in issue.
AS Mr.. Hoover left the convention
hall shouts of I'VE want beer arose
and the shouting swelled gradual
" into a roar which resulted in the
committee voting 25 to l9 to submit
| to the convention a resolution call
ing for a nation wide referendum
on prohibition.
The committee decided not TO
submit resolution asking immed-
late payment of the bonus.
| Sharing the interest in today's
session with the long anticipated
vote on prohibition was resolu-
ton which called on President Hoo
yer to declare the present depres-
sion a national emergency and re-
quest him to invoke the powers OF
/ the national defense act in COM
! batting it.
Knows Strength
The resolution was sponsored By
Howard A. Coffin, Detroit, mem
Der of the council of national de-
! fense under President Wilson and
fully aware of its powers to act.
The council would be non-partisan
under the terms of the act-and
empowered to act in an almost un
restricted manner in utilizing the
resources of the nation to combat
the crisis.
When word spread that at last
the legion was to make known its
feeling on prohibition, celebrations
were held through the city in every
hotel where Legionnaires were
J o,,o-+ora1 IIiodra6c nf 6elpuatpc