Evening star., 1946-09-30
Legion Will Increase
Demand for Benefits,
Convention Indicates
By George Beveridse
sfor Staff Correspondsn,

py SeoI9e beverage
st1r Sfoff Correspondent
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 30
Indications that American Le-
gion demands for increased vet
erans' benefits will be stronger
than ever during the next year
were evident as the Nations
largest veterans organization
officially opened It's f1ve-day
convention just before noon to-
day.
AS the bulk of an estimated 100000
ieg1onnalres swarmed into the city
late yesterday, pre- convention COM
nnttee meeting and caucuses sorted
out key policy issues for considera-
uon and solidif1ed plans for a con-
tlnued World War I leadership.
Coming in for their share of action
are national affairs, with oflcials
giving number one priority to vet
erans' housing. Numerous indorse-
ments also promise real fights on
universal military training and the
armed forces merger, with special
consideration to the future status
OF the air forces. Committee ses-
sions already have seen full share
OF high ranking air officers, headed
by Maj. Gen. Fred Anderson, AAF
chief Of staff.
Later today, delegates will hear
addresses by the AAF chief. Gen.
Carl A. Spattz, and Admiral Chester
w. Nim1tz, chief of naval operations.
Maj. Gen. Floyd Sparks, head of
war Department public relations,
also will read a message from Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, now on a
European theater inspection tour.
Also slated TO speak are John H
Hllldring, Assistant Secretary of
State; Field Marshal Sir Henry
Maitland Wilson Of the combined
chiefs Of staff, and Gov. Dwight
Green Of Illinois. Legion citations
will be presented to FBI Director
J. Edgar Hoover and Bob Hope, the
comedian. Noticeably absent from
the speaker list are any labor rep
resentatives, heretofore given key
spots on Legion convention pro-
grams. A spokesman said invita-
tions were issued to heads of both
the AFL and CIC.
At a special meeting yesterday of
the Legion's highest legislative body
the National Executive Committee
"a resolution indorsing positive
Byrnes policy" of foreign relations
was referred to committee with a
recommendation for approval. De-
msnding that foreign policy be kept
free from partisan politics, though,
the leaders said it should be neither
hostile nor subservient" to foreign
nationals.
52-20 Members Defended.
Emphasis was on veterans ben
ents, however, with particular crit
1c1sm leveled at "the recent speedy
action" in establishing limitations
Tor on-the-job training programs.
Another member upheld value of
the readjustment allowances pro-
gram, expressing the view that ''the
number of goldbricks In the 1920
club Is very, very small"
The on-the- job training linita-
tions came in for another blast
later, when caucus of World War
II members urged their organiza-
ton to call for repeal of the recent
legislation. The move came after
the younger members voted down
another recommendation that would
urge the Veterans Administration
TO stick to the law" in administer
ing the program. The motion was
made after a member charged the
agency was in some cases failing
to pay even as much as the ceiling
allowances"
The special meeting, called late
last night by H. Dudley Swim of
Idaho, who last year was one of
two World War II members elected
national vice commander, virtually
assured that there will be no or
gan1zed uprising against the World
War I leadership next year of |
Paul H. Griffith of Washington.
D. c.
Only candidate for the command
er's post, Mr.. Grifith was several
times pinned down on "touchy"
Legion questions by the younger
delegates, but had them coming up
to shake his hand at the end of
an hour.
Gives Policy Views.
Asked whether he owed any al
legiance to "kingmakers" for his
nomination, Mr.. Griffith said that
Is far as he knew no "kingmakers"
had anything to do with his nomi-
nation and that he certainly owes
no allegiance to any one except the
Legion" The questions on his pol
icy views, he answered:
l. That he does not favor the
national housing program, and that
he hopes the Legion will appoint a
well qualified" committee to study
housing problems and report to
November meeting of the National
Advisory Committee. "Nonveterans
who are not getting houses think
that they aren't because veterans
are" he said. But you know and I
know that veterans aren't either"
z. That he Endorsed Veterans Ad-
ministrator Bradley and thinks the
Legion should stand behind him
100 per cent until we're sure he will
Observation-Disclosures