Evening star., 1938-08-12
LEGION LAUNCHES
CONVENTION WORK
Resolutions Committee and
Nominations Feature
Business Today.

Business I00ay.
REPORTS from the Resolutions COM
nittee and the nomination OF omcers
will feature the second session OF the
eoth annual convention Of the District
department Of the American Legion,
which opened last night with . parsoe
through downtown Washington to con-
yention headquarters at the Maynowef
Hotel. i.
Tonirht's meeting will be 1t .
o'clock. and the three-day program VIII
close tomorrow night with election ana
installation of officers.
Likewise, the District Department.
Of the Legion Auxiliary was to open
its convention tonight at 7:1o O'CLOCK
At the Carlton Hotel, with Mrs. Doro-
thv Harper, president, in the chair:
Mrs Harper brought the greetings OF
the auxiliary to mems units last n'sn1'
johnson Makes Speech.
A surprise speaker before tne sev-
sral hundred lesionnaires and tneif
families. who crowded the man moor
and surrounding balcony Of the man
main ballroom. was LOUIS 0otA.son
Assistant Secretary Of War. he Grew
loud applause when he declared tnst.
In u months, the United States VIII
be 80 strongly armed that no foreign
aepressor would dare come to our
shores.
This defense program has been the
dream Of the Legion for ID years" ne
said. and has been made possible
through the efforts Of the Legion IN
large measure. As long - am IN the
War Department will keep faith With
the Legion principle Of adequate ma
tional defense"
Principal speaker Of the opening ses-
mon was Brig. Gen. Albert L. COX,
commander Of the District National
Guard, who also stressed that the
"safe way" to peace u through aoe-
ouate national defense.
Pointing to the failure Of treaties IN
keeping the peace. Gen. Cox said there
is a way" to peace and safe way"
The way" he said, WAS available TO
mau nations as well As large and
could consist Of an ignominious peace
with an aggressor. The safe way OF
adequate armament to prevent aggres-
sion. is open to nation Of our size and
resources, he declared.
"Force for Good"
Phil Conley, national vice COM
nander for the mid-Atlantic area, told
the convention the million members
of the Legion and the half million
members of the Auxiliary is q won
derful force for good" and the great
est enemy Of communism In the United
States"
I'VE are surrounded by radicals" he
said, who follow the American nag,
but the only color they see in it is red.
The American Legion u still old-faSn-
toned enough to believe in democracy"
A welcome was extended the con-
vention by Commissioner Melvin G.
Ha1en, who urged the support OF the
group in making Washington the "city
beautiful" that It's planners intended.
Thomas M. Owen, jr., national his
torian, and Mrs. Helen McCabe. La
Chapeau Departmental Of the Eight
and Forty, also greeted the delegates.
Citations Of Distinguished Citizen
ship were given by Department Comdr.
Thomas Mason. jr, to Police supt.
Ernest w. Brown, Robert v. Fleming,
president of the Riggs Bank; Benjamin
M. McKelway, managing editor Of The
Star; Isaac Cans, Of the District A. B.
c. Board, and J. Edgar Hoover, head
Of the Federal Bureau Of Mvestiga-
ton. L. 3. Nicholas. Of the Depart
ment Of Justice, received the citation
on behalf Of Mr.. Hoover, who is on the
West Coast.
Brown Congratulates Legion.
Maj. Brown congratulated the
Legion for its cooperation in law en-
forcement in the District and wished
success to Its program Of Americanism.
Indications Of hotly contested race
for the post Of department commander
were given - several posts questioned
the seating Of voting delegates and
demanded recount. Omciab said q
recount would be made tonight.
Candidates prominently mentioned
Aol AIC kOoV AASAAAC CAWoAA AN 0AAO4AS
department membership ofacer for the
past two years: James T. Brady, So
licitor Of the Veterans AdminStra-
ton and commander Of the National
Cathedral Post, and Joseph Idhler.
commander Of Department OF Justice
Post No. Al.
Supporters Of Mr.. Idhler secuted
convention rumors that he had with
drawn to throw his support to Mr..
Dixon and declared Joe Il most en-
phatically still candidate"
Politics Hold Attention.
Legion politics were the talk Of the
convention as groups met in the rear
of the hall and outside the session to
discuss the election.
Nearly 1000 persons. representing
the Regular Army, most Of the local
Legion Posts and the auxiliary units
and several civic musical organisa.
tions, participated in the parade that
wound through the downtown streets
from John Marshall place to Connec-
ticut avenue NV. where It passed .
reviewing stand Of Legion officials and
their families.
Grand marshal of the parade was
Col. Jonathan M. Wainwright. COM
mandant Of Fort Myer, who led the
long line Of Legionnaires and high
stepping musical units past the stand.
Several hundred persons lined the
Mayfiower Hotel block to watch the
cavalry and artillery units from Fort
Myer and the mounted band, as well
- to pick out friends and relatives