Evening star., 1936-08-30
MARYLAND LEGION
ELECTS J. B. HOBBS
Laurel Man Wins Close Race
for Commanders Post
at Convention.
D. the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, August 29.-Mary-
land members Of the American Legion
elected as their commander today
j. Bryan Hobbs of Laurel. one Of the
pioneers in their organization.
Hobbs, a Sd Corps Area headquar-
ters clerk, defeated Bruce T. Bair,
Westminster attorney. l55 to l4S, on
the first ballot at the closing session
Of the eighteenth annual State con-
vention. He succeeded Charles S.
Houck, jr., of Walkersville.
Before closing their four-day meet
ing the Legionnaires decided to meet
next year at Hagerstown.
The Ladies' Auxiliary, meeting with
the Legion, named Mrs. George F.
Bamford of Sparrows Point president
to succeed Mrs. Frank p. Farley Of
Chevy Chase, whose term will expire
In October. Mrs Bamford defeated
Mrs. Adolph G. Winkler of Hamilton,
90 to "a.
Mrs. Mann Is Treasurer.
Other officers elected by the auxil-
larry were Mrs. Amanda Mann. treas
urer; Mrs H. Cameron Elgin, Hag-
erstown. historian. and Mrs. J. M.
Paxton. Halethofpe. chaplain.
Other officers named by the Legion
are:
Vice commanders. Robert Forrest
Of Oxon Hill, for the Southern Mary
land district; c. d. Stine. Hagerstown,
for Western Maryland; Joseph L..
Ferry, Baltimore district; Linwood
Cohen, Baltimore, colored vice COM
mander at large; Harry j. Reuwer,
Reisterstown, north central district;
Ray Tabler, for Northeastern Shore
district; Clinton H. Jones. Snow Hill,
Eastern Shore district, and Thomas
F. Connolly. Cumberland, mountain
district.
DR.. Ray Cook Of Baltimore was
elected chaplain; Claude Freeberger,
Baltimore, treasurer; Bernard Wilson,
Laurel. historian; John Koch, West
port, sergeant at arms; John J. Jen-
nings, Baltimore, national executive
committeeman, and Emerson c. Har-
rinston. jr.. Cambridge. alternate ma
tional executive committeeman.
The new State commander served
with distinction in the World War.
Gen. Pershing awarded him a citation
for neritorious services and he re-
ceived the Purple Heart decoration.
Hobbs took an active part in the Le-
gion from its start. He was prominen.
in organizing the first Legion post at
Laurel In 1920 and served three times
rs post commander.
He served on many important State
Legion committees and in 1885 was
made national chairman of the Com
nittee on Veterans Employment.
The convention acted on a number
OF resolutions during its closing day
One favoring basic military training
for the 100000 men and boys enrolled
In c. c. C. camps was tabled after q
warm debate.
James Curtin. commander of the
Laurel post. offered this resolution,
which aimed toward supplementine
national defense forces in the even,
Of emergency.
Call Proposal Out Of Place.
Opponents of the resolution argued
the Legion is essentially q peace-pro-
posing organization and the proposal
was out Of place at the convention
They also contended military training
was out of order in the c. G. c. because
persons In that organization had en-
listed to obtain emergency employ
ment.
One resolution adopted called for
the establishment of rehabilitation
hospital for veterans in the Baltimore
vicinity. Another proposed the erec-
tion Of an armory near the water front
for the training Of Naval Reserves.
Further resolutions asked that the
Army and Navy be provided with
funds necessary to procure efficient
aircraft and to train pilots in such
numbers as will safeguard us against
foreign attack" favored amending the
World War veterans act to permit re-
newal Of the five-year level premium
term insurance policy and petitioned
the Legislature to provide for the edu-
cation of World War orphans.
An amendment to the department
constitution created a new mountain
district" in Western Maryland. This
district will be composed of Allegany
and Garrett Counties. Washington.