Evening star., 1946-11-21
.Amvets Open Session
With Policy Platform
As Major Business
By George Beveridee
Stor StoH corssspondsnt

By George Beveridee
/ Star Staff Correspondent
/ ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Nov. 2l.-I
About 1000 members of the
American Veterans of World War
II opened their second annual
convention here today deter
mined to adopt policy platforms
that will put the organization
on firm basis for its drive to
represent veterans of the last
war.
While Amvets claims 10000 mem
bers, mostly recruited in the last
year, its leaders have been large
Y without an established pat
tern of expression. National officers
were chosen at a convention last
December, and guided almost solely
with statement Of intentions" set
down for the groups members.
1000 Resolutions UP.
Policy committees today had be-
fore them about 1000 resolutions
submitted from posts on veteran,
national and international issues.
Among the foremost are calls for
support of World War II bonus.
A recent Anlvets survey revealed
the group favors bonus, three to
one. Another popular proposal
would exempt ex-servicemen from
tax on incomes ranging up to $500
a year.
The District department will urge
local and national suffrage for|
washington residents as high light
Of an extensive program submitted
by Department Ray Sawyer. The
program asks for revision Of the
courts martial system, Democratic
practices" In labor union elections,
immediate cash payments for ter
minal leave bonds and authorization
for memorial auditorium in the
District Of Columbia.
Mr.. Sawyer, Federal Communi-
cations Commission attorney Of 500
South Walter drive, Arlington, Is also
chairman of the Amvets National
Housing Committee and is inl
charge Of drawing up that phase of
the conventions national policy
platform.
| Mr.. Sawyer has been a live wire
Iof the District Amvets since he
Joined the first local post in October
1945. The District department now
has membership of about 1000 in
10 spots.
Seeks National Leadership.
Mr.. Sawyer is actively seeking the
post of Amvets commander, which
promises to be the most hotly con-
tested issue of the convention. AS
activities got under way this morn
ing, Mr.. Sawyer was lined up against
Warren Wright, a Chicago banker
and head of Amvets in Illinois,
and an Alexandria (Va0 resident,
James Tate, 2 Wilton road, Amvets
national service officer. The real
battle appears to be between the
former two.
A Virginia delegation caucus,
meanwhile, threw its support last
night to a dark horse In the race,
Joseph McCaughan, a radio store
operator Of Richmond, who will be
proposed as compromise candi-
date n ~
The choice of a leader this year
! is seen by delegates as crucial
point in the Amvets' future as a
veterans organization. For the
last year, under National Com
mander Jack Hardy, Los Angeles
attorney, the organization has fol-
lowed straight middle of the
road policy, with few deviations on
any issue. .rtj
/ Wright for Conservative Program.
| While Mr.. Wright pointed out
this was partly due to q hck Of
established policy, he Indicated In
an interview that he wants to see
Amvets follow a conservative pro-
gram, built along lines of older
veterans organizations, with en-
phasis on a strong program of
posts to meet problems in local
communities.
"Amyets shouldn't try to settle
all national questions" he declared,
outlining program strong in claim
and service officers for veterans.
Asked about a possible merger
with the strongly liberal American
Veterans Committee, Mr.. Wright
said he thought the two groups
could get together If "AVC would
get rid of Merchant Marine mem
bers and other non-World War II
veterans"
Nv yUr;obt hoe oo,,,a ;o +o~ ~
position because of service in both
World Wars I and II. Supporters,
on the other hand, claim he is the
man to pull the Amvets' financial
condition-which an official termed
very bad"-into better shape. The
51-year -old banker served as Illinois
State treasurer for two years before
entering the service in 1943, after
having been twice defeated for the
post on Republican tickets in 1890
and 1896.
Other C0ntenders More Liberal.
While both Mr.. Sawyer and Mr..
Tate outlined more liberal ideas
for Amvets policy stands, Mr..
Tate declared he would throw my
support to Mr.. Wright if it comes
to a showdown between Wright
and Sawyer" Mr.. Tate, 38 years
old, served as Government eco
nomist with number of Federal
agencies before entering the Army
in 1912.
Mr.. Tate said he felt Amvets
Stands in the past have taken on
deaf and dumb" trend, and added
that, nobody can stand in the
middle of the road and move very
far down 1t. Amvets must take