Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-28
STEVENS ASSA|LS
WILSON CHARGES
Untrue and Undignified, Says
New Legion Head.
Visits President.

Henry L. Stevens, jr.. new national
commander of the American Legion, to-
day assailed as untrue and undigni-
fed charges made by DR.. Clarence
True Wilson that the Legion's conven-
ton at Detroit last week was drunken
orgy"
He pointed out the fact "these men
denied themselves a cash bonus does
not suggest the work of men indulging
in an orgy"
stevens took issue with DR.. Wilson,
secretary Of the Methodist Board Of
Temperance, Prohibition and Public
Morals, following q call upon President
Hoover at the White House.
Asked for an expression regarding the
dry leaders reference to the drunken
orgy" the new Legion head at first pre-
ferred to treat the matter with quiet
dignity" as he expressed 1t, but when
pressed further for comment he said:
I'm all my experience, never saw
more sober-minded gathering than at
the American Legion Convention In De-
troit.
Committee Worked Hard.
"If Or. wilson or any one else had
seen these committeeman at Work pre-
paratory to the presentation OF Inc
major resolutions on the floor OF the
convention, he would have been con-
WINGED of the sober reflection given oy
these LegionnaireS upon the business
before them.
THE hours Of energy spent by them
in working out resolutions showed they
reflected in q most sober manner and
that their results were the outcome OF
serious, careful and sober study.
II personally did not see DR.. wilson
In Detroit in the convention and have
yet to meet one person who did see MIN
there think his reference to the con-
duct Of the men of the Legion is un-
dignified and his claims are untrutnIul
and lacking in accuracy"
Presidents Call Returned.
Mr.. Stevens called at the White
House to return formally President
Hoover's visit to the Detroit conven-
ton. and to thank him for conferrlng
that honor upon the Legion.
He also invited Mr.. Hoover to address
the American Legion Armistice day
ceremonies here on November IL. The
President addressed q similar celebra-
ton two years ago and said he would
take today's invitation under advise
ment.
Ralph T. o'Neil, retiring Legion COM
mander. and Col. John Thomas Taylor.
legislative executive of the Legion in
Washington, accompanied Comdr. Ste
vens~to the White House and intro
duced him to the President. Mr.. Ste
vens said the President thanked him In
the name of the Legion for the cordial
and kindly manner in which he was re-
ceived at the convention and also ex-
pressed his appreciation. of the Legion's
adverse action on the bonus resolution.
Stevens Encounters Drys.
Reiterating that he is "a personal
dry from a dry-voting state" Stevens
arrived yesterday from Detroit to
find the Legion the chief objective Of a
concerted attack Of organized dry forces.
Tied up with the Legion as the butt of
the prohibitionists' 1882 campaign are
labor unions, doctors and lawyers, whose
national organizations all have gone on
record recently in favor of modification
or repeal Of the Volstead act.
Anxiously anticipating week OF soli-
tude and fishing at Roanoke Island,
N. c., the new national commander, his
.
politics at the Legion convention. met
a war muster Of 6rys here intent upon
reaching prohibition adherents in the
Legion, whom they contend failed to
attend the convention and cast their
votes against the referendum resolution.
Stevens said he was in favor CT really
finding out what the American people
want" in regard to the liquor question.
This is a Government by the ma
jority," he declared. One of the best
places to feel the pulse of the people
Is in a Pullman smoking room.
Il have yet to sit in on smoker
conversation where the subject did not
eventually drift to prohibition and stay
there for a thorough discussion.
Il believe We should really find out
what the American people want. That
will end 1t, one way or another"
The method of finding out" Stevens
said, was up TO the States"
IAN Not Represented"
Ernest H. Cherrington, chairman Of
the prohibition board of strategy launch
ing the drive to corral the Legion dry
vote, believes, howevers ut Is self-evident
that the action taken by the delegates
to the Legion convention was net rep
resentative of the whole body.
has not found opportunity for express
SIGN through their organization" Cher
rington concluded.
The dry board Of strategy attacked
organized labor for its wet stand, de-
claring it failed to consider local labor
unions whose support of this national
policy is being ignored by professional
labor leaders"
The board added that It believed
majority of the Legion and labor, at
torneys and physicians rs In favor of
the maintenance Of the eighteenth
amendment" :
Notwithstanding the controversy over
prohibition and beer, Stevens said his
visit to the Capital was more concerned
with veteran rehabilitation measures
to be discussed in legislative halls this
Winter. On the bonus issue the 35-
year-old commander declared:
THE President made fine presen-
tation and 1t was cordially received.
But I realize that, even so, many bills
for the bonus will be introduced at the
next session Of Congress. However, 1t
is my belief the Detroit action was the
considered judgment Of the Legion;
that the delegates truly represented the
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