Evening star., 1947-09-04
VFW
Continued From First Page.)

vice-chairman of the powerful VFW
Americanism Committee, which will
consider the resolution.
So far, he said, 81 VFW State de-
partments have pledged full support
for the move.
Would Investigate Textbooks.
I'VE want to 60 much further than
to put our opposition to communism
on paper" he declared. I'VE want
to carry the ball on this thing.
Mr.. Sullivan said other District
resolutions include one to have the
VFW carry on investigations of
textbooks used in schools all over
the country, land to weed out the
Communist ones"
The District VFW strongly con-
demned use of r. o. Hughes book,
Building citizenship" in Wash
ington schools, during controversial
meetings with Board of Education
members in recent weeks.
1--WE set up a special committee
to read that book he declared,
"and we found it definitely pro-com-
munistic. We sent a letter to the
Board of Education, but we haven't
received an answer yet"
Department Commander Albert
M. Armstrong said about 400 Dis
trict VFW members will be among
the $4,000 conventioners expected
to be in this city by nightfall.
Present indications are that the
lengthy meeting will concentrate
on policy committee sessions, with
the accent off numbers of high
powered speakers. Principal guests
include Secretary of the Navy
Forrestal, who will speak tonight,
and Chairman Bridges of the
Senate Appropriations Committee
who is on the program tomorrow
In all, officials said, more than
1900 resolutions will be considered
by the convention committees.
One, submitted by Pennsylvania
delegates, asks for a subsistence al
lowance" of $75 a month for see
ing-eye dogs, who guide blinded
veterans.
Officials say delegates undoubted-
ly will 60 on record in favor of more
subsistence allowances for GI stu
dents. They also are expected to
vote strong support to a bill intro
duced by Senator Bridges to estab-
lish Veterans RFC"-to make
funds available for businesses that
will speed employment of veterans
On the housing front, the big
issue will be the Taft-Ellender-
Wagner bill. The measure, support
ed by VFW last year, has drawn
considerable objection from South
ern departments who object to Fed
eral controls, according to Vet
erans' Housing Committee member
Another heated issue is expected
to develop from a statement from
VFW Rehabilitation Director George
F. Ijams, criticizing the Veterans
Administration policy of allowing
Army engineers to supervise con-
struction of veterans hospitals.
The policy, Mr.. Ijams charged
has slowed down construction and
added to costs"
While Veterans Administrator
Bradley will not be on hand per-
sonally to defend the policies, DR.
Paul r. Hawley, medical chief o1
the agency, is expected to be pres
ent at committee meetings.
In the meantime, it is nearly Ger.
tain that the 100000 VFW mem.
bers will not have a World War II
commander next year, and possibly
not for another year after that.
Leaders said there is no opposi-
tion to the candidacy of Ray Bran
naman, popular Colorado ranchel
and former school teacher. Mr.
Brannaman, present senior vice
commander, will take the tradi.
tional VFW step up the ladder II
he is elected
The ascension of Lyell T. Beggs Of
Illinois, present junior vice COM
mander, however, is not certain
While no other candidate has beer
announced, high officials say con-
siderable opposition has been lev.
eled at his nomination. Mr.. Beggs
who served in World War I, is g
former member of the Illinois Leg.
islature.
The No. 3 position, however, is g
wide-open race, entirely between
World War II men, so far. Candi-
dates include Edward H. McAloon
81, of the Bronx, N. Y, present
VFW judge advocate general, ano
James M. Hayes, jr., %. of Winston
Salem, n. c., VFW inspector gen.
eral.
Mrs. Dorothy Mann, senior vice
commander of the auxiliary, is ex-
pected to take over the commander
cI,i,, without oo,,ocitioY,