Evening star., 1932-08-30
HOOVER WON'T Join
IN LEGION SESSION
Neither He Nor Any Official
Spokesman Will Go to
Portland Convention.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

Neither President Hoover nor any one
officially representing him will attend
the forthcoming convention Of the
American Legion to be held in Portland,
Ore despite the definite information
the White House has received that this
veterans organization is prepared to 90
on record favoring the immediate pay
ment Of s2,4o0, 100000 on bonus certif1-
Gates.
This was the opinion expressed today
by White House authority. 1t was
explained that there was not the Slight
est likelihood of Mr. Hoover getting
away from the Capital and the prob
lens facing him for sufficient length
Of time to permit him to journey across
the continent to address this conven-
tion as he did last Fall in Detroit, and
the year before at the Legion conven-
ton in Boston.
No Official Spokesman.
There may be several high admin
istration officials present, but they will
be there as Legionnalres and not as
spokesmen for the administration. It
was explained further that Mr.. Hoover
will commission no one to represent
him in Portland or to speak for him.
II any members Of his administration
attend the convention as Legionnaires,
| and II they speak during the meetings
Of the convention, they will be voicing
their own opinions and not those of the
| President.
In representing this attitude Of Mr..
Hoover, no reference was made at the
White House to the recent hostile re-
ception accorded Assistant Secretary of
War F. Trubee Dawson when he re-
/ ferred to the eviction of the bonus
marchers in Washington during the
course of speech before the New York
! State Legion convention.
| 1t was said, however, that if Secretary
Of War Hurley goes to the Portland
convention he will not 60 as repre-
sentative of Mr. Hoover, but as men,
ber of the Legion and Furthermore that
Mr.. Hoover will not feel responsible for
any utterances Mr.. Hurley might make
on that occasion In the capacity of a
Legionnaire.
huFley May Attend.
Mr.. Hurley, it has been reported,
| is considering attending the Portland
convention, solely as member of the
Legion, but that he will not be a spokes-
man. He has attended virtually all the
annual meetings of the Legion and has
been represented as not wishing to miss
the forthcoming one.
Regarding the full cash bonus reports
at the forthcoming Legion convention
representatives at the White House
would make no comment other than to
say that the Presidents attitude on the
subject is well known, inasmuch as he
has frequently expressed himself very
clearly, and that as matter Of fact 1t
is matter for the Legion to determine
at this time.
Hurley Non -Committal.
AS Secretary Hurley was leaving the
Presidents cabinet meeting today he
: indicated he would 60 to the conven-
/ ton, but when pressed for a definite
answer, he asked to be excused.
He said: Il am not saying yes or nc
| at this time"
The same reply was given when asked
If he would make a speech in the event
he attended the convention.
The indication that he would attend
was taken from the fact that Mr.. Hur-
ley added, during his conversation with
newspaper men at the White House:
Il have not yet missed Legion con-
vention."