Evening star., 1946-08-23
Legion Blocks Charter
For Roosevelt. Post;
Hits Radical Leaders

Inc Executive Committee of the
District branch of the American
Legion last night rejected an ap-
plication for charter of the proposed
Franklin D. Roosevelt Post, object
ing to its leadership as radical" and
allegedly advocating the right of
Government workers to strike.
A spokesman for the Legion said
the committees action was unan-
imous, after lengthy adverse report
by the charter Investigating Com
mittee.
No members of the proposed new
post were present at the hearing
The Legion spokesman said he did
not know whether or not they had
been invited to attend.
Leadership Radical"
The denial of the charter, he said,
was based on reports that the
leadership was considered radical,
tending toward political ideologies
which the American Legion con-
Slders un-American"
In addition, he said, questioning
OF leaders of the group prior to last
nights meeting had revealed that
some of them believed in the right
OF Government employees to strike.
Members of the proposed FDR
post had demonstrated ''insincerity'
Of principle by publicly criticizing
certain Legion policies while the
application of their post for a char
ter was pending, the spokesman de-
clared.
Approves Other Posts.
He stated that in his view the
Legion had the right to reject with
out explanation the application of
any members whose political views
were opposed to official Legion
policy.
The Executive Committee acted
favorably on applications by two
other posts, one to be known as the
Navy Department Post No. So and
the other as the Thad Dulin Post
No. SO.
The Navy Department Post, con-
sisting of Navy employees, was or
ganized by William I. Wyndham of
the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts, who will serve as temporary
commander. The application for the
post contained 104 names.
Six-Month Controversv
The Thad Dulin Post was organ
lied by Godfrey Creyke, jr.. a local
attorney, who will serve as COM
mander. Most of the 108 members
OF this post are business and pro-
fesslonal men from the Junior
Chamber of Commerce.
rejection of the Roosevelt most
application eliminated more than
SIX months of controversy over the
admission of new posts comprised of
world War II veterans. 1t was
brought into the open when Rich
ara Raymond. membership chair
man, and Abner Lakenan. assistant
membership chairman, resigned two
months ago with the charge that a
small, powerful group had been
trying to keep them out until after
the election" which was held here
earlier this month.
Mr.. Raymond said a representa-
tive of the Dulin post had tried to
Withdraw that posts membership
application as result of the delay
IN acting upon it,
charges Segregation Rule.
Ward Oehmann, member of the
Dunn Post Executive Committee,
declared last month, They're trying
TO keep our votes out of the conven-
ton to be held in San Francisco
next month
Richard M. Siegel, commander of
the Roosevelt Post, attributed the
failure of the Legion to act upon
the application of his post to ian
unWritten rule in the department
against nonsegregated posts" The
Roosevelt Post, he pointed out, con-
talns both Negro and white veterans
He accused c. Francis Mccarthy.
Charter Committee chairman. of
having broken four consecutive ap-
pointments to meet with members
OF the Roosevelt Post.
Formal application by the Roose-
velt Post. he said, was made on
February 20, 1916, when lO4 appIi-
cations with S208 in initiation fees