Evening star., 1940-09-30
World War Officers
Eager 10 Serve
Military Order Convention
Suggests President
Declare Emergency

The men who were officers in the
World War, most Of whom have
been retired from duty for years,
would like to serve their country
again.
Delegates to the Goth annual con-
vention Of the Military Order Of
the World War, at the Mayflower
Hotel, indicated that by the first
step taken at their opening meeting
today.
They adopted . special resolution
which virtually asks the President
to inform Congress national
emergency" exists. If Congress gave
the President emergency powers, he
would have the right to call retired
officers back to service.
Offered by Admiral STANDBY.
The resolution, written by q spe-
cial committee and introduced by
Admiral William H. Standley, U. S.
N, retired, former chief of naval
operations. read:
Whereas conditions in the world
today threaten democracy with ex-
tinction; and
Whereas these conditions consti-
tute a serious menace to our ma
tional ideals and security, such as
to create national emergency;
Therefore be it resolved that the
Military Order of the World War in
annual convention, strongly urges
that immediate action should be
taken to give our constituted au-
thorities full power to meet this
emergency, to mobilize our national
resources and to utilize our armed
Services-mllltary, naval and air
IN either ocean, as may be necessary
to assure our national security"
Every man here" Admiral Stand
ley told reports. feels this is our
responsibility and we should be TAX
ing it. They'd all be glad to serve.
They feel the emergency is here
and they'd like to be in it. They
all want to come back into active
duty"
Speed Called For.
II the President were granted
emergency powers. he said, he would
be given a chance to prepare quickly,
which is impossible to do under
peacetime democratic processes.
The desire to serve again was ex-
pressed by every man interviewed.
One of them, 1t. George Bradley
of Newport, r. l., holder of a Con-
gressional Medal and a junior vice
commander in chief in the military
order. said. "All Of us are anxious
to go back into service"
1t. Bradley has been retired nine
years, after % years in the Navy.
Considered a torpedo expert, 1t.
Bradley was instructor at an ON
GERS school during the last World
War. He won his citation in the
Vera Cruz expedition in 1914
In everything that was said at the
opening session, the majors ard
colonies and captains who served
in the last war had brought home
to them the needs OF their country
now.
President Roosevelt. In a message
to the convention. told them that"ss
you gather for your convention YOU
are perhaps bound more closely than
ever before in a warm comra deship
born In service TO a great common
cause. That comradesh,p is
strengthened today in another coln-
mon cause AS the thoughts Of all Of
you are directed toward OR IA.
tional security"
MacCracken Speaks.
Former Assistant Secretary of
Comerce William P. MacCracken,
now chairman of the Aviation Com
mittee for the Washington Board of
Trade, warned that "one of two
things is certain to transpire before
you can hold another annual meet
ing. This country will either remain
at peace or be at war"
In the latter event, which I still
hope and pray will not come to
pass he said. your sole objective
will be to win that war But should
We remain at peace you will have
an objective just as important and
perhaps more dimcult"
The ideals of American liberty, he
said, are beset with greater dangers
today right here at home than they
have been At any time since the
Constitution was ratified"
Led by 1t. Comdr. Charles A..
Mills Of Miami, Fla, commander in
chief OF the order, the delegates
were to make a pilgrimage to the
Tomb OF the Unknown Soldier this
afternoon. Tonight they will at
tend a memorial service conducted
by Mai Arlington A. McCallun