Evening star., 1946-08-18
Boschen Elected
Head Of Legion
In Hot Contest
Maryland Convention
Fovors Indorsine
Political Candidates
Sior Staff Correspondent

Sior Stoff Correspondent 7
CUMBERLAND, Md. Aug. IT.
In one of the most hotly contested
elections in its history, the Ameri-
can Legion's Maryland Department
today named John F. Boschen. 81.
Baltimore, State commander to sue
ceed Martin F. Iverson, Takoma
Park, as the organizations 28th an
nual four-day convention came to 4
close.
The Legion Auxiliary and Society
OF Forty and Eight also elected new
ofhcers at the final sessions of their
conventions here with Mrs. Earle
Poorbaugh. Baltimore, succeeding
Mrs. E. Kemp Troupe, Halethorpe.
as department president of the
auxiliary and Ralph D. Dolby.
Baltimore. succeeding Chester l..
Stine, Hagerstown, as grand chef de
gare of the Forty and Eight.
Earlier the Legion approved
resolution recommending that it's
NATIONAL constitution be amended
to permit the organization to partic-
1pate in politics by indorsing party
candidates.
Feete Releases Delegations.
A roll call of the approximately
l,l00 delegates representing 163
Legion posts gave Mr.. Boschen $50
votes to 470 for Joseph L. Ferri,
Baltimore labor official, and l3 for
c. Floyd Feete, Brunswick funeral
director. A total of 535 votes was
required to win.
When the voting was completed
and totals were being computed.
Mr.. Feete suddenly announced that
he was releasing the delegations
voting for him and asked that they
be polled again.
After MIR. 1verson ruled that any
post could change it's vote before
the results of the election were
announced, the convention was
thrown into an uproar with scores
OF delegates shouting their opposi-
ton to the ruling.
Mr.. 1Verson was supported, how
ever, by John B. Zebelean, ir
Baltimore, convention parliament.
tartan.
Posts Switch Votes.
Chopper Michael Post No. IN
Boonesboro, Immediately announced
1t was switching its 10 votes from
Mr.. Feete to Mr. Boschen. Delegates
from several other posts followed
SUIT, changing their votes to Mr..
Boschen. until the latter's election
was assured.
Election officials said that prior
TO the vote changes. Mr. .Boschen
was leading Mr.. Ferri, 525 20 474,
with Mr.. Feete having Al votes.
Other officers elected, all members
OF Mr. Boscnens slate, are:
Godfrey Childs, Pocomoke Citv.
national executive committeeman:
John R. Kelly, ST., Cumberland, all
ternate national executive commit.
teeman. Paul B. Milburn, Baltimore.
treasurer: Evan Crosley, Hagers.
town, Judge advocate; John Scham-
mel. Baltimore. sergeant at arms:
j. Carroll Moore. Baltimore, chap
lain, and Archie Price, Dundalk.
historian. Mr.. Crosley is the only
World War II veteran in the group.
The new department commander
Is sales manager for a trailer COM
pany. He served in the field ar
tlllery during World War and
has been active in Legion affairs
since 1928. He is a past State COM
mander of the 29th Division Asso.
citation.
Regulation Called Absurd
The resolution recommending that
the Leglon's national constitution
be amended to eliminate the pro-
vision prohibiting the organization
from taking part in partisan poll
tics was presented by Snyder Farm
er-Butler Post No. 3, Hyattsville.
In urging its adoption, H. VIM
ship Wheatley, jr.. post commander,
charged that the present regula-
ton is absurd"
Declaring that the Legion, with
a membership of 3,50O,000 is the
largest organization of its kind in
the world. Mr.. Wheatley said the
time has come for it to take the
full part it deserves in national
and local affairs.
Mr.. Wheatley contended that the
did not mean that the Le-
gion could take part in partisan
politics. only that it could support
veterans running on nonpartisan
basis. He was contradicted by J.
Nelson Tribby, department adjutant.
Mr.. Tribby claimed that the reso-
luton, if adopted at the national
convention, would have the effect
Of putting the Legion squarely into
politics and urged that it be re-
ferred to the National Constitution
Committee of the Legion without
any recommendation by the depart-
ment.
Representative Short Rebuked.
In other resolutions, the depart-
ment rebuked Representative Short,
of Missouri for a speech
before Congress June 25 in which
he allegedly criticized the "caliber
and fitness" of American soldiers:
bigotry. mob violence
and racial prejudice anywhere"
and recommended tlne or a prison
or both, for any one pre-
venting the promotion of qualified
veterans employed by the Govern-
ment.
Joseph A Cantrel. Chevy Chase.
past department commander, and
Mr.. 1verson were awarded wings by
the national organization for mem
oership gains in the department
during the last year and diamond
studded past commander badges by
the department.
New officers of the auxiliary, in
addition to Mrs. Poorbaugh, include
Mrs. Hugo Deeput, Seat Pleasant,
and Mrs. Giles Lewis, An
treasurer.
Other new officers of the Forty
and Eight Society include Thomas
Williams, Frederick; James Martin,
Bethesda. and Horace Potter. Sc
verna Park, sous grand chefs de
train; Raymond A. Burket, Chevy
Chase, grand commissaire intendant;
Bernard Kersey, Anne Arundel