Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-29
Vote Scheduled
On Ending Ties
-
With Fun Group
Koreu al MEMBERSHIP
Cutoff Dote Provides
Other Touchy Issue
BY George Beveridqe

By George Beverage
American Legion delegates will
vote this week on q threat, to
sever relations between the lie.
gion and its fun-making group.
the Forty and Eight. unless tho
latter group wipes out a rule
limiting. membership to white
males"
A resolution pembodying this
threat took a big jump toward
the convention floor when it
was Endorsed unanimously yes
terday by the Legion's top-level
Internal Affairs Commission.
The resolution, which may
stir a convention floor fight, was
one of a number of important
actions affecting Legion mem
bership. Another-possibly the
TOUGHEST to come before the con-
vention-would set July 81, 1853.
the end of Korean War hostil-
tiles, as the cutoff date of Legion
membership eligibility for serv-
icemen who were in that war.
The commission, in turn, was
only one Of a number Of groups
pushing resolutions through the
Legion's complex legislative ma
chinery.
States Send 625 Proposals.
In addition to resolutions under
study by numerous permanent
commissions, those which come
from Legion State departments
"a total of 625 so far-all will
be acted on by convention COM
mittees to be set up Monday.
The committees, which will get
resolutions according to specific
subject matter. in turn will re.
port them to the floor for dele
gates action this week.
The Forty and Eight move had
Legion headquarters buzzing yes
terday, but there was no unani-
nous opinion on the reaction Il
will bring. Some veteran officials
feel sure there will be a floor
fight. Others think it will 60
through smoothly.
The Forty and Eight Is an
Independent group. but its
members all are active Legion.
naires. It is recognized officially
by the Legion, bears its emblem.
takes part in Legion activities
and generally is regarded as o
Legion adjunct.
The commission resolution
would strike from the. Legion
constitution a clause giving the
Forty and Eight afflliation. un-
less by the start of the 1855
Legion convention the Forty and
Eight wipes the racial restric-
ton from its own books.
Might Leave 1t to Posts.
Some officials believe the mat
ter will be Strengthened out by
eliminating this national re-
striction, but assuring the Forty
and Eight its State and local
posts can regulate their own
membership.
Samuel M. Birnbaum Of New
York, subcommittee chairman
who reported the resolution, said
the restriction is "in direct con-
flict with eligibility provisions
of the Legion" which contain
no such ban. He said the close
association between the groups
has made the Legion also bear
the "brunt Of criticism" brought
against the provision.
"The claim of independence
by the Forty and Eight due 10
the fact that it has a corporate
charter issued by the State Of
Indiana" he said in q report.
"is without merit and does not
absolve it from its incorrect
action, nor free it from Legion
control"
He emphasized that the reso-
luton is being pushed only after
years of negotiation to get the
restriction removed have failed.
The touchy resolution to rec
ommend to Congress a cutoff.
date for Korean veterans men,
bership would have a double
barreled effect: It could force
some veterans to give up Legion
membership and open member
ship doors to others, officials
said.
Korea War Date Never Set.
Legion membership is open
only to wartime veterans. The
cutoff World War I date il
November IL. 1918. 1t is Sep
TENDER 2, 1945. for World War
II men. But a cutoff date for
the Korean conflict never has
been set by Congress.
Since the cessation Of HOSTILE
ties regulated the cutoff for the
two previous wars, commission
officials feel the same should
apply to Korean veterans.
Some veterans who entered
service after July q. 1858, and
for various reasons got early
discharges, have been given
Legion membership. however. II
the resolution goes through and
Congress acts on 1t, ofncials said.
these would have to give UP
membership.
Oficials said they don't know
how many such members there
are. and guessed the number Ia
small. But at least one such
member repeatedly is up for the
commanders job at his local
post. VA
Affects Men Still in Service.
The resolution would aid q
larger group, officials said. ~
offsetting a ruling by Legion
lawyers that men who served
during the Korean war and are
still in uniform could not join
since they are not yet veterans
A specific war cutoff date, how
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