Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1931-09-03
LEGION
OPPOSES
DRY LAW
Resolution Condemns 18th
Amendment AS Failure;
Asks Congress To Act.
FAVORS REVISION
Speakers Opposing Reso-
luton Met By Jeers
From Delegates.

LONG BEACH, Cal, Sept 3. UD
The California department of the
American Legion was on record to-
day as favoring modification Of the
national prohibition law.
A resolution adopted late yester-
day by a tumultous majority Of the
! 1000 delegates attending the closing
session Of the Legion convention
condemned the 18th amendment as
failure and called upon congress
| to remedy present conditions.
Two judges, minister and dis
trict attorneys investigator were
/ jeered when they spoke against the
resolution.
The resolution called upon con-
| greSs to take whatever action 1t
deems necessary to create In these
United States a state of temperance
in the use of Intoxicating liquors
and the elimination Of those cor
rupt influences that are striking at
our government"
Superior Judge Daley 8. Stat
ford, of Los Angeles, chairman Of
the resolutions committee, read the
resolution to the convention but
said he could not support 1t and
yielded the floor to Philip Scion,
of Oakland, past state commander.
I'VE must disassociate our gov
eminent from the profits of nation
al vice. Scion said, referring to tn
come tax collected by the govern
ment from wealthy racketeers.
1--WE read every day of the crimes
of racketers that grow out Of the
illicit profits of bootlegging.
Asks Return Of Liquor
when the bullet of gangster
reaches a child playing on the
street it is time for the American
people to inquire into the actuating
cause behind that bullet"
Joseph Fainer, Of Berkeley, told
the delegates that the return Of
liquor would get rid of racketeers,
solve the unemployment problem.
use of surplus wheat and put 2,000.-
eco men to work"
! George w. Hickman, Of Oak
! land, was jeered when he spoke
against the resolution. Shout
ing above the jeers, Hickman
said that It was not the Legion
policy to touch on moral queS-
lions.
! Other speakers against the reso-
luton included Tom Caett, district
attorneys investigator of Los An
geles, and Rev. William Patrick Of
Bakersfield. Tom McManus, Of
Bakersfield, and Milton Shapiro, Of
San Francisco, spoke in favor of the
resolution.
A record vote was not taken,
Commander B. w. Gearhart, OF
Fresno, declaring the resolution
adopted by an overwhelming ma
jority."
Other Resolutions
Other resolutions adopted at the
| closing session asked the govern
ment to place an embargo on all
products of Soviet Russia; launched
campaign for $4,000, 900 bond
issue to finance home and farm
loans under the state act, urged
/ that veterans use the American
merchant marine exclusively, and
demanded that all teachers in Cali
| fornia schools take an oath Of al
legiance to be subject to dismissal
for teaching un-American doc
| trineS.
The California department Of the
American Legion, at the closing ses-
sion of its convention, elected off,
GERS as follows.
Commander, Van Hogan, Los An
geles.
Vice Commander at Large. Mary
Dunaway, Glen Ellen.
Chaplain, Rev. John E. Lechner,
| Beverly Hills.
| Sergeant at Arms, C. C. steele.
| Gardena.
Area Commanders: l.. II. Wilson.
Yuba City; Al Mathebat, Alameda:
c. I. Willis, Lemoorm Reeves Hen
dershos, Glendale, and George II.
Frenzen, Orange.
The womens auxiliary OF the
Legion elected officers as follows
President, Mrs. Bernice Reyes,
San Diego
Vice President, Mrs. Agnes Wall
ker, Glendale.
Secretary Treasurer, Mrs. Ethel
Nj. Flynn.
Area presidents, Miss Mathilda
Allison, Napa; Emily ChEpneer.
Yreka Ruth Mathebat. Alameda;
Maxine Reynolds, Stockton; Ksth-
ryn IverSon, Walnut Park, and
Rowena Fultz, Santa Ana.