Evening star., 1946-02-05
SteIIe Calls Legion
Farley 10 Discuss
Bradley Charges
Special Session on
Feb. II to Consider
Criticism. of Bureau
By MIRIAM GUTENBERG.


national commander whose at
tack on Gen. Omar N. Bradley
last week unleashed a storm of
criticism, has called a special
meeting of the policy-making
National Executive Committee
Of the Legion to explain his po-
sition, it was learned today.
The special meeting, called by Mr..
Stelle as chairman Of the National
Executive Committee, viii be held
February II at the Legion's national
headquarters In Indianapolis.
1t. Col. Joseph j. Malloy. Legion
national executive committeeman
from the District, said he had re-
ceived Q telegram from Mr.. Stelle
last night announcing the meeting.
To Examine Evidences.
The telegram, Col Malloy said,
explained that the special meeting
Ras c4lled b .coiisidef the kxiiibltl
Of evidence compiled by the ma
tional organization In connection
with the Veterans Administration
and the statements issued by the
national commander in regard
thereto"
Col. Malloy said he understood
that q fact-finding body" had
examined the shortcomings Of the
Veterans Administration and the
Stelle statement was supposed to
have been based on the fact-finding
body's study.
The special meeting is considered
an aftermath Of disaffection within
the Legion itself as a result of the
Stelle charge Of a tragic break
down" in the Veterans Administra-
ton under Gen. Bradley. Ranking
Legion officials and a number of
Legion posts already have come out
strongly for or against the national
commander.
Meeting Date Advanced.
Legion officials explained that the
next regular meeting Of the Execu-
tive Committee would have been in
May, but that special meetings could
be called If sufficient notice were
given and the reason for the meeting
explained formally.
Two Washington area Legion
posts have come out in support Of
Mr.. Stelle, according to Ray Burke,
commander Of the My Maryland
Post No. 126, Seat Pleasant. Mr..
Burke said his Executive Committee
passed q resolution supporting Mr..
Stelle and that similar action was
taken last night by the Columbia
Post No. "a in the District.
Although Col. Malloy was at the
Columbia Post meeting last night
with the District Department COM
mander, Herbert J. jacob, and the
past commander, Lee Pennington,
Col. Malloy said he had not taken a
position on the Stelle attack. It
was emphasized also that neither
Mr.. jacob nor Mr.. Pennington had
Influenced the post to support Mr..
Stelle.
Col. Malloy said he had served un-
der Gen. Bradley in five overseas
campaigns. He. said his only In
formation about the Stelle affair
had been obtained from the news
papers, but that he was under the
impression that Mr.. Stelle had
called the special meeting because
"he wants to tell US why he made
those statements
The national commanders action
also is expected to be reviewed in
detail at four forthcoming national
Legion group meetings here. The
executive section Of the Legion's ma
tional Veterans Preference Com
mittee is meeting here February II
and IL, the national Employment
Committee February II, IS and 10;
the conference Of department en-
Iployment chairmen February 20 and
81 and the National Rehabilitation
Conference February 26 to 28.