Evening star., 1937-09-24
Ne'o Commander of Legion
Doesn't Drink, Smoke or Cuss
Daniel D0herty, 43 and
a La1Uyer, Doesn't
Gamble, Either.

NEW YORK. September "a IN. A
N. A).-The American Legions new
national commander, Daniel j
Doherty. is . 43-year-old Woburn
Mass. lawyer and political figure who
served his time in the war in th<
Paymaster Corps of the United States
Navy In stations in Norfolk, Wash.
ington and Philadelphia.
Not only is he what the boys used
to call, between pay days, q jughead
but he Is also q teetotaler.
|. There Is = rumor going around
among observers Of the antics OF the
last few days Of the Legion convention
here that 1t was his teetotalism that
won out for him and that Mr.. Doherty
coasted into ONCE on the crest of Z
wave OF remorse. But that rumor
didn't stand up among those who had
been watching the behind-the- scene.
manipusetions, trades and deals that
marked his campaign under the
guidance of Bill Doyle, Massachusett,
politician.
No. only Is young looking Mr.
Doherty = teetotaler, but, as hi,
sergeant at arms told q State caucu,
last year in Cleveland where the
Woburn lawyers campaign for the
commandership was unsuccessful. He
don't play cards, he don't play the
horses. he don't shoot craps, he don't
gamble with nothing. He don't even
cuss."
What" demanded perplexed
Legionnaire at this point, "the he'll
does he do for fun?"
Job Is . Sacrifice.
Mr.. Doherty was present and pro-
vlded the answer himself.
Il do what want to do" he ex-
planned. Il don't think . man can
have fun unless he does what he
wants to do"
Although very few Legion command
ers have been able to use the national
spotlight that follows them into ofice
to advance themselves in later politi-
cal careers, friends Of Mr.. Doherty
here are confident the Woburn lawyer
Is shrewd enough to do 1t. Paul v
McNutt, former Governor Of Indiana
present United States high commits
sioner to the Philippines, is the only
past commander who turned q Legion
following to account At the polls and
attracted national attention, while the
late o. L. Bodenheimer of FL Dorado
ran for the Senate in Arkansas and
Was defeated by Mrs. Hattie Carraway
However. it seems to be true that
whatever position Comdr. Doherty
ever found himself in, he has Used II
to advantage. That seems to be more
than implied In the fact that, while
he started out as newsboy and has
been . practicing lawyer only is years
many Of which have been devoted
to unpaid work for the Legion-he i,
making q financial sacrifice to take
the s.. s.0o0-a-year job of commander.
Comdr. Doherty is q little man, with
black. wavy hair, a square, rosy face
and hard blue eyes that hide discreet
ly behind rimless, octagonal glasses
He played . little bit of every sport
while working his way through Bur-
dett College, specialixing in cross
country running. Now" he says, q
little mournfully, "the only chance ]
get to run is when I'm catching q
train" But he manages to keep look
ing very 1T, chiefly by playing golf
He is an expert golfer, shooting fire.
r,,av,flxy }ya tha eAuanf{ac
Comdr. Doherty was the oldest OF
the seven children of . foreman in q
local tannery. Cutting up the slim
pay envelope among . family Of nine
did not leave much for such luxuries
as education and good times. But the
Doherty boys buckled to on their own
and 50 did two of the girls. John L.
is now . doctor and Joseph A. a
dentist. Two of his sisters are nurses
and the man 100000 Legionnaires
are starting today to call Dan Is what
he is.
Politics is Comdr. Doherty's chief
hobby. He was elected alderman on
the City Council Of Wo5urn when he
was Il and reelected at the expira-
ton OF his first term. But the war
interfered with the conclusion Of that
term and he has never run for another
ONCE. He has been appointed to his
other oficial jobs-secretary to the
Mayor in 1881, assistant district at
torney Of Middlesex County and special
assistant district attorney.