Evening star., 1946-11-25
Sawyer, D. {. Lawyer,
Elected Amyets' Head
As Convention Ends
By George Beveridge
Sfor Ssoff cerespondent

a.s.s-s-75s Sfof Sfofr SoueSponoent -
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 25.-Ray Saw
yer, Washington attorney, was
elected new national commander
by the American Veterans of
World War II yesterday.
Mr.. Sawyer, a Federal Communi-
cations Commission lawyer, who
lives at 500 s. Walter Reed drive,
Arlington, was voted to the $4,000
a-year post in a hotly contested
election as the Amvets' second an
nual convention closed here yester-
day.
The 37-year-old Army veteran,
who also headed the District De-
partment of Amvets, was elected
on a third ballot over Warren
Wright, Chicago banker and for
mer Illinois State treasurer by a
vote of 202 to $50. After the bal
loting, Mr.. Wright proposed the
election be made unanimous.
Must Formulate Policy.
Besides serving as executive Of
the group, MIR. Sawyer is saddled
with the chore of formulating g.
secure policy program If Amvets
is to be major voice among vet
erans' organizations. The young
organization has nearly 100000
members.
Delegates had heard only two
policy committees going into the
election yesterday and turned over
more than 100 key resolutions on
veterans rehabilitation to the Ma
tional Executive Committee for
study before they adjourned.
With only about 40 members
present in the final session, how
ever, they suspended quorum rules
and passed on about 20 of the most
controversial subjects of the con-
vention from reports of the legisla-
tive and Americanism committees.
Included, but not controversial,
was support of national and local
suffrage for the District.
Tax Exemption Urged.
The session lodged a bonuG reso-
luton and urged an income tax
exemption increase to a minimum
of $1,000 for "all citizens, civilians
as well as veterans" The commit
tees original proposal was to ad-
vocate bonus in the event veter-|
ans were not granted substantial
tax exemptions.
Other resolutions called for:
Appointment of a World War II
veteran to the Civil Service Com
mission, retirement pay for Army
and Navy reserve personnel after
40 years, establishment of commit
tees to handle only veterans legis-
lation in both Houses of Congress,
and a reorganization to form a
department of veterans affairs
headed by an administrator with
cabinet rank.
At the same time, the delegates
urged States to revoke Klu Klux
Klan charters and registered oppo-
sition to grants of veterans benefits
to merchant marine members.
Stronger Stand Expected.
The few remaining delegates also
gave the National Executive Com
mittee power to propose new vet
erans' legislation" before the next
Congress by its own action, accord
ing to lines OF policy already estab-
IShed"
Mr. Sawyer is expected to take
advantage of this position to pro-
pose firm stands on national and
veterans issues, deyiating from the
Amvets' past middle of the road"
policies. His ideas of a liberal
Amvets" were a principal campaign
issue in his election to head the
group.
While the new leader became
known to delegates here as "a
strong liberal" his position in the
militantly progressive AVG would
be regarded as moderate, observers
feel.
Staff officers elected included
John j. Carney, Cleveland. judge
advocate; Floyd Williams, Arling-
ton, Va, finance officer; the Rev.
Sam Hill Ray, Covington, La, chap
lain; DR.. John S. Wier, Fon Du Lac,
Wis, national surgeon, and William
Kipp, Chicago, provost marshal.
Mr.. Sawyer also announced ap-
pointment of Allen P. Solada, Har-
risburg, Pa, to the important post
of executive director. Mr. Solada
will serve as chief assistant to the
commander.
Other chief elections were for six
national vice commanders. EACH
representing a region of the coun-l
try, and woman vice commander,
elected at large.
Representing the District area viii
be l.. M. Hinshaw. 80, of Asheboro,
N. C.. Others include: A. o. Jones,
So, of Phoenix, Ariz., secretary to-
Senator Mcfarland, Democrat, of
Arizona, who lives at 1928 Seventh
street NV; Albert j. Reynolds. 48,
of Roxbury, Mass; Joseph F. Crespi,
SO, of Atlanta; Arthur j. Madar, Al,
of Detroit, and Kenneth A. Ander-
sen, Is, of Denver. Miss Agnes l..
Frazee, %. of Uniontown, Pa, an ex-
marine corporal, was elected to rep
resent women Amvets.
william A. Roberts of 4440 Lowell
street NV, Washington, who served
as parliamentarian, expedited much
of the business. ny. Roberts, former
Peoples Counsel for the District, Is
senior partner in the law firm OF
Roberts and McInnis.
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