Evening star., 1950-10-13
American Legion Ends
Los Angeles Meeting
In Fighting Mood
BY the Associated Press

I'LL tIyIliIIiy FlVVU
BY the Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13.-The
American Legion ended its con-
vention last night after adopting
resolutions demanding shakeup
lin the State Department, uni
versal military training ana out
lawing of the Communist Party.
Erie Cooke. jr., 30, of Dawson,
Ga, World War II hero and air.
lines executive, the new CON-
mander elected by acclamation,
was pledged to advance the Le-
gion's demands for the State De-
partment's reorganization and a
two-f -fisted preparedness program.
Resolutions Voted.
The 3,277 delegates. represent
ing about million Legion mem
bers, were unanimous in favoring
UNIT and in attacking commu-
nism at home and abroad. t
But the argument over censur-
ing the State Department was al
most as hot as the weather. a
sweltering SO degrees and the hot
test October IL on record here.
AS finally passed, the resolution
did not name Secretary of State
Acheson, but left no doubt as to
its target The original wording
of 1--WE urge that the President"
was changed on the floor to read:
1--WE demand that the President
take all necessary steps to re-
constitute that (the State) de-
partment.
Condemns Failure"
The document added eve con-
denim the failure of the State De-
partment to deal adequately with
the grim and bloody advance of
Communism" and blamed this
failure to a refusal of the
Secretary Of State to -evaluate
properly the gravity. Of the dan
gers to America and all free peo-
pies which Communism presents" >"
AS this paragraph originally was
read to the delegates it stated:
Secretaries of State. past and
present. to evaluate properly" etc.
Comdr. Cooke, who succeeds
George N. Craig, Brazil Ind), at
torney, said the only way to pre-
vent any further manufacture of
American war veterans" is to fol-
low the conventiqp's program of
peace through strength" which
include UNIT and industrial mobil-
ization.
To accomplish these objectives,
he added, the Government must
cut nonessential expenditures and
civilians must accept the neces-
sary degree of belt-tightening."
Assisting Mr.. Cooke are five new
regional vice commanders: Her.
bert jacob. Washington; Joseph
H. Adams, Miami, Fla; Felix
Pogliano, Denver, Colo; Lewis H.
Cough, Pasadena, Calf, and
Frederick Bramlage, Junction
City, Kans.
Rabbi David Lefkowitz, 80, of
Shreveport, La, was elected Ma
tional chaplain. succeeding the
Rev. Edward j. Carney, Lawrence,
Mass, Roman Catholic priest who
heads the Legion's new "Boysville"
program.
Next Convention at Miami.
The 1851 convention will be at
Miami, Fla.
Registrations at the 1850 con-
vention, not as large as some, ex-
ceeded $4,000. Legionnaires and
members of their auxiliaries
poured out o. the city today by
special train, plane and automo-
bile. Many units plan vacation
side trips before they reach home.
Among many resolutions adopt
ed yesterday were those advocat-
ing civilian defense with local au-
tonomy and with Legionnaires
playing a leading role; construc-
tion of long-range, flush-deck
carriers and placing the Mer-
chant Marine under military con-
troll in wartime, with the same
pay for merchant mariners as
others in military service; further
Soviet aggression to be met with
atomic retaliation; military and
other aid to Western Europe, in
cluding Spain, and recognition of
that country.
Continued defense of Formosa
and non-recognition of Red China
were demanded, and strengthen
ing of the United Nations charter
by removing the veto power in
matters pertaining to aggression.
Earlier, the convention de-
manded outlawing of the Com
munist Party and imposition of
the death penalty for sedition and
espionage in time of peace as well
as war.
The Legion came to Los Angeles
In a f1ghtlng mood, and it left the
same way.
Unusually DecOrOuS.
The 40 and 8 had its hi-jinks
and there was a certain amount
of horseplay from time to time
near downtown headquarters but
in the main it was a relatively
quiet, decorous and sober gather
ing.
Retiring Comdr. Craig took
cognizance of the department of