Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-10-02
The Americas Legion Goes On
Record.

Oh wednesday VI idot WCCA anu Wdo COu-
tinued for three days. with much meriment.
President Hoover attended the conven-
tion and delivered brief address before
the body Of Leeionnaires. who represented
returned to Washington. His address con-
tanned the following paragraphs directed
TO the assembly:
but there is today an even greater ser
vice to our country. That Is the determined
opposition by you to additional demands
upon the nation until we have won this
war against world depression. am not
speaking alone Of the veterans legislation
which has been urged for action at this
convention, but am speaking equally Of
demands for every other project proposed
in the country which would require in
creased Federal expenditure. 1t is an
attitude and an action toward the whole
field Of government expenditure that is
before US.
1.-THE first stone in the foundations OF
of stability and recovery. both at home
and in the world. is the stability Of the
Government of the United States. It is
my purpose to MAINTAIN that stability and
invite you to enlist in that fight.
"The country's need Of this service is
second only to war. invite you to study
the relation Of their governmental finance
TO the daily welfare and security Of every
man, woman and child in the history of
Europe during the past six months alone.
II 10 for US to observe these lessons and to
be helpful but our first duty is to the
people Of the United States. Nothing
would give greater glow Of confidence to
our country today than your enlistment
and the vigorous support you can bring
20 this effort to prevent additional burden
on the Government from any quarter what
soeVer."
Contrary to prevailing opinion, the as
sembly did not demand full settlement by
the Government Of the soldiers bonus
certificates Of indebtedness
Congress was asked to order referendum
in all the States on two questions-frst,
the repeal Of the Eighteenth Amendment,
and. second, the modification of the Vol
stead Act to legalize light wines and beer.
The vote on the resolution OF the States
voting solidy was-against. nine, for,
20; divided States, against, 1874 for
zoos. Maryland cast IL for. against.
Henry L. Stevens, Jr.. was made Chief Of
the Veterans and visited Washington City
last Sunday. The Post of that city obtained
from him the following information
Stevens reiterated he is personal dry
from dry voting State.
But this is a government by the ma
jority" he said 'One of the best places
to feel the pulse of the people is in Pull
man smoking room.
Il have yet to sit in on smoker con-
versation where the subject did not
eventually drift to prohibition. believe
we should really find out what the Ameri-
can people want. That will end it. one
way or the other"
THE method of finding out. Stevens
said. was up to the States"
As the American Legion's advocacy of a
national referendum on the Eighteenth
Amendment stirred both vets and drys
into increased agitation for their causes II
became clear that the rural sections Of the
nation. for the time being at least, would
be made the battle ground OF the prohibit
ton fight
indication Of this was given in an an
nOnncement Of plans by the board OF
strategy Of the National Conference Of
Organizations (thirty-three Of them) sup
porting the Eighteenth Amendment. This
board laid emphasis on the necessity for
conducting IAN extensive information and
organization campaign among the farmers
Of every State"
Moreover, the board added to its number
Louis j. Taber, master of the National
Grange, with the expressed hope that his
election would mean that "the State oranges
and other farm groups will more enthusi-
astically cooperate in the movement"
The vets, on the other hand, were quick
TO respond with resentment to the charac.
terization by DR.. Clarence True Wilson, OF
the Methodist Board Of Prohibition, Tenn.
perance and Public Morals. that the Legion
convention in Detroit was an "orey Of
staggering DRINKS" Representative Brit
ten (Rep., No. contended that DR.. Wilson
had publicly insulted every Leeionnaire IL
the United States
Henry Clay Hansbrough. former Repub
lican Senator from North Dakota and nov
national chairman Of the newly-createC
League for Modification OF the VolsteaC
Act. held that DR.. Wilson's "hysterica
outburst" was the best evidence that tn,
tide had turned against the prohibitionists
Mr.. Britten. contendine that when tn,
Legion voted il sounded the death knel
Of the silly Volstead law and the cost,
Eighteenth Amendment, gave notice tina
as soon as Congress convenes be will in
troduce legislation "for the complete repea
Of the unpopular Volstead law"
Issuing a sharp warning to his part,
leader in the White House. Mr.. Britten
whose RepubIicanism has never been Ques
toned. declared that practically the entir
adult population Of the United States
impressed with the necessity for Leadership
that viii take us out Of our present de
pressed economic and political condition
and am quite convinced that there is N
single administrative act that could b
promoted by the Hoover Administrator
that would bring more immediate Joy I'M,
the hearts Of our people than a suggestion
for the repeal or the substantial modifica
ton u the volstead law"
Mr.. Hansbroueh. aside from the Wilso,
incident. saw the Legion action resulting
In nationwide political upheaval" an,
IA bound 10 cause Republican and Demo