DIGEST OF MINUTES National Executive Committee Meeting National Headquarters The American Legion INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA November 18, 19, 20, 1948 PRINTED IN U.S.A. 43 INDEX Page American Legion Auxiliary, Greetings from Mrs. Hubert A. Goode, President 5 Appointment of National Officers 93 Appointments of Subcommittees 9 Call to Order 3 Citation of Appreciation and Recognition to Thomas M. Owen, Jr.. 130 COMMISSIONS, Reports of: Americanism James F. Green, Chairman 56 Child Welfare David V. Addy, Vice-Chairman 44 Convention Commission Vincent A. Carroll, Chairman 68, 92 Economic Lawrence J. Fenlon, Chairman 64 Finance Sam W. Reynolds, Chairman 59, 78 Supplemental Report 63 Foreign Relations Anson T. McCook, Chairman 11 Internal Affairs B. C. Hilliard, Chairman 88 Special Report on Personnel Problems 90 Legislative Lynn G. Peterson 13 Public Relations George A. Bideaux, Chairman 59-77 Publications Vilas H. Whaley, Chairman 60 Rehabilitation W. Rex McCrosson, Chairman 123 Security Lewis K. Gough, Vice-Chairman 99 COMMITTEES, Reports of: Agriculture 66 Bond, Special Committee 40 Civil Defense 100 Constitution and By-Laws 89 Emblem 81 Employment 67 Endowment, American Legion 63 Graves Registration and Memorial 90 Housing 66 Membership and Post Activities 90 Merchant Marine 103 Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials 89 Universal Military Training 101 Veterans’ Preference 66 Confirmation of Cancellation of Post and Squadron Charters 42 Convention dates and place 92 Eligibility of National Officers 99 Final Report of Convention Corporation Joe H. Adams, President 40 Forty and Eight, Greetings from Harold J. Riley, Chef de Chemin de Fer 6 Introductions 131 Judge Advocate, Report of 7 National Commander, Remarks of: Opening 4 Closing 132 New Orleans invitation 93 Painting of President Truman 123 Project to Finance the Repair of Saint Die Preventorium 121 RESOLUTIONS: Page APPROVED: Abolition of Postwar America Committee 109 Agricultural and Conservation Committee 10^2 Amend charter to control use of emblem 87 Authorization for Alexander Gardiner and/or Frank Lisiecki 63 Change the National Legionnaire 76 Clarification of convention mandates 119 College Campus Posts 131 Contest rules for 1949 National Convention 73 Continuance of National Medical Advisory Board 130 Demonstration of service at graveside 97 Distinguished Service Medal Award to President Truman.... 123 Dividends from Democracy Program 122 Eisenhower-type jacket have button or zipper front 86 Establishment of Personnel Practices 94 Expulsion of Karl H. Frederick from Bermuda Post No. 1. .. 118 Foreign Departments and Outlying Posts 98 General John J. Pershing Honor Award 96 Legion Publications Contracts 62 Liaison Committees 108 Mancel B. Talcott Trophy 93 Maritime Service under Navy in wartime 105 Memorial: Arthur G. Bouton, New York 120 Horace C. Parrish, Michigan 120 Christian Pfeiffer, New York 120 James A. Raper, Indiana 120 Harry J. MacSherry, Nevada 120 Brown W. Wilson, North Carolina 120 National Convention Registration Fee 72 National Initiation Team Contest 73 National Rehabilitation Conference 130 New Headquarters’ Building in Washington, D. C 55 Optional material for Legion shirts 83 Pacific War Memorial 122 Participation in the 1950 White House Conference on Child Welfare 51 Pocket-size laminated calendar to be used as a membership stimulant 95 Prima facie eligibility to out-patient and hospital care 129 Service Officers’ Manual ■ • 129 Surety Bond Plan for persons handling American Legion Funds 97 Universal Military Training 106 REJECTED: Rating Schedule Committee 129 Study of fiscal policies and financial outlook of the National Organization 98 NO ACTION: Uniform Poppy Day 122 REFERRED: Distinguished Service Award to Major General Frank Parker 106 Roll Call 3 Special Order of Business 74 SUBCOMMITTEE, Reports of: Appeal of Massachusetts Post 117 Appeal relative to Expulsion by Bermuda Post 117 Committees 132 Enlarging National Headquarters 52 Legislative Program 118 Reorganization 106 Revising Rules of National Executive Committee 109 Resolutions: Preliminary 10 Final 122 Study American Legion Magazine and National Legionnaire.... 59,74 World War II Consultants 44 DIGEST OF MINUTES National Executive Committee Meeting The American Legion THURSDAY MORNING SESSION November 18, 1948 The opening session of the National Executive Committee of The American Legion, held at National Headquarters, Indianap- olis, Indiana, November 18, 19, 20, 1948, convened at 9 :20 o’clock, Thursday morning, November 18, Perry Brown, National Com- mander, presiding. National Adjutant Henry H. Dudley acted as Secretary. Invocation by the National Chaplain, Rev. Thomas Grice, California. Roll call by the National Adjutant showed the following- present : National Commander Perry Roane Waring, Tennessee Brown Warren H. Atherton, California National Chaplain Rev. Thomas John Stelle, Illinois Grice Paul H. Griffith, Pennsylvania Past National Commanders: James F. O’Neil, New Hampshire John R. Quinn, California National Vice-Commanders: Milo J. Warner, Ohio Walter E. Alessandroni, Edw. N. Scheiberling, New York Pennsylvania Louis Johnson, West Virginia Edward J. Kelly, Connecticut Harry W. Colmery, Kansas James Lane, Alabama Raymond J. Kelly, Michigan Leonard W. Moody, Arkansas Lynn U. Stambaugh, North Dakota Committeemen Alabama—George L. Cleere Delaware—George Ehinger Alaska—Frank Nash (Alternate) District of Columbia—Owen C. Arizona—John R. Stille Holleran Arkansas—Hendrix Lackey Florida—E. Meade Wilson California—Edward W. Bolt France—Sedley Peck (Alternate) Canada—C. M. Simpson Georgia—Guy O. Stone Colorado—Leo Crowley (Alter- Hawaii—Orvel T. Shonk nate) Illinois—Leonard W. Esper Connecticut—Arthur J. Connell Indiana—George N. Craig 3 Iowa—G. M. Brown Ohio—Don W. Schoeppe Kansas—Walter Reed Gage Oklahoma—Dr. A. B. Rivers Kentucky—G. Lee McClain Oregon—Herschel Taylor (Alter- Louisiana—J. E. Snee nate) Maine—Hector G. Staples Panama—Leroy Schick Maryland—Harry S. Allen Pennsylvania—Harry K. Stinger Massachusetts—Tracy Dibble Puerto Rico—Charles H. Julia Michigan—Lawrence C. Knox Rhode Island—George Andrews Minnesota—Roy T. Anderson South Carolina—James F. Daniel, Jr. Mississippi—H. Kirk Grantham South Dakota—Carroll H. Lockhart Missouri—William B. Stone Tennessee—Halbert Harvill Montana—E. O. Orleman Texas—H. Miller Ainsworth Nebraska—John E. Curtiss Utah—F. J-. Springer Nevada—Thomas W. Miller Vermont—H. Nelson Jackson New Hampshire—James W. Doon Virginia—F. Clinton Knight New Jersey—Wm. G. McKinley Washington—Jack M. Baldwin New York—Leo V. Lanning West Virginia—Dr. P. E. Kercheval North Carolina—Robin S. Kirby Wisconsin—Wm. R. Kenney North Dakota—Wm. Stern Wyoming—Ward W. Husted Reading of the minutes of the two preceding meetings was suspended. The Secretary read a communication from Joe Kirkpatrick, member of the committee from New Mexico, who was unable to be present; and a communication from Oscar Rohlff, Wyoming, former member of the committee. Opening Remarks of the National Commander I think, just for a moment or two this morning, if we can orient our- selves by meeting the new members who are here, it will help. First, I would like to introduce the official family. It so happens that my name is Perry Brown, and you have made me National Commander. Jim Lane from Alabama, Vice-Commander; Leonard W. Moody, from Arkansas Vice-Commander. James Annin, from Montana, was obliged to return home on account of a death in the family. Edward J. Kelly, Con- necticut; Walter E. Alessandroni, Pennsylvania. Now will the new committeemen stand for a bow as your name is called? These are the new men who are here for the first time, with perhaps one or two exceptions. Alaska, Frank Nash, alternate for Walter B. King, who is absent; Arizona, John R. Stille; California, Ed Bolt; Colorado, Albert F. Cruse is absent, and his alternate, Leo Crowley, is here in his place. Delaware, George Ehinger; District of Columbia, Owen C. Holleran; Idaho, Bert Weston is absent, and his alternate is also absent. Kansas, Walter Reed Gage- Maine, Hector G. Staples; Maryland, Harry S. Allen; Mississippi, H. Kirk Grantham; Ohio, Don W. Schoeppe; Philippine Islands, Marc A. Stice, absent, also his alternate. Tennessee, Halbert Harvill; Texas, H. Miller Ainsworth. Then may I again introduce—although he was introduced to you earlier and you all know him and love him Tom Grice, your National Chaplain. It was suggested, because some 16 of you are here for the first time and about 22 of you are here for the second year, and because of repeated 4 requests that have come to me that you would like to know more about what makes these divisions of yours click, and why they are there, it has been suggested in the reports from the commissions, whether it be through the chairman or whether it be through the director, that they present to you something of the background as to the reason why that division exists—a little of its history—and bring you up to date, so that it might help you apply the mandates of the Miami Convention here at this meeting. Now, to some of you old men here, that may be an old, old story, but please remember that over 30 of you are here as newcomers and only a part of those have been here for one year. I recognize, of course, that the Finance Committee will make its report later on in the day, but this is the time for you men to find out what makes this thing click. If you want to find out how much each man on the staff gets, ask them while they are here. Ask them, so that you understand what each division