DIGEST OE MINUTES National Executive Committee Meetings The American Legion / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA October 8 and 12, 1950 PRINTED IN U.S.A. INDEX October 8, 1950 Call to Order 3 Charge for Firing Squad Services 37 Commissions, Reports of Americanism 24 Child Welfare : 6 Convention 33 Finance — 42 Foreign Relations 7 ...... Internal Affairs 9 Legislative 4 Publications 41 Public Relations 48 Rehabilitation 20 Security 23 Confirmation of Coneellation of Post Charters 34 Confirmation of Interim Committee Appointments 33 Confirmation of Telephone and Mail Votes Emergency Statement , '• 29 Retirement Plan 30 Invocation 3 Mexican Flags 32 “Red, White and Blue” 9 Resolutions: Approved: Benefits for Veterans 22 Citizens Must Vote Campaign 32 Continue Contract with John Thomas Taylor 5 Emblem Merchandise 10 Goodwill Stations 33 Insurance Advisory Board 23 Medical Manpower 22 Memorial: John Beckwith, Oregon 30 Milt D. Campbell, Ohio '. 30 Edward Power Conway, Arizona 30 Walter D. Day, Maine 31 J. Fred Eaker, Oklahoma 31 Frank E. Flaherty, Montana 31 David M. Goodrich, New York 31 Dr. Edson E. Goodrich, France 31 George F. Hickey, New Hampshire 31 Andrew P. McArdle, Massachusetts 31 John A. McCormack, Colorado 31 Donald H. Norton, Vermont 31 John G. Pipkin, Arkansas 31 Bradford Morse Risinger, Oklahoma 31 John F. Roehl, Michigan 31 Wm. B. Stone, Missouri : 31 Harry A. Sullivan, Colorado 31 J. H. Williams, South Dakota 31 Official Emblem Representatives 18 Oppose Veterans Benefits to Former Members of Merchant Marine, Red Cross, etc 6 Roll Call 3 Subcommittees, Reports of Americanism Direct Mail 29 Publications Liaison 12 Theatrical Enterprise 29 ☆ ☆ ☆ INDEX October 12, 1950 Appointment of National Adjutant 39 Auxiliary Participation in Security Conference 38 Call to Order 37 Dates for Fall Meetings 39 Introductions of New Members 38 Invocation 37 Roll Call 37 Final Adjournment 39 DIGEST OF MINUTES National Executive Committee Meetings The American Legion SUNDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 8, 1950 The National Executive Committee of The American Legion convened on Sunday afternoon, October 8, 1950, at 1:45, in the City Council Chamber at Los Angeles, California, with National Commander George N. Craig, presiding. Henry H. Dudley, National Adjutant, served as Secretary. In the absence of the National Chaplain, invocation was offered by the National Executive Committeeman from Minnesota. Roll call by the Secretary showed the following present: National Commander George N. Raymond J. Kelly Craig Milo J. Warner Roane Waring Past National Commanders: Edw. N. Scheiberling Hanford MacNider John Stelle John R. Quinn Paul H. Griffith Louis Johnson James F. O’Neil Edw. A. Hayes Perry Brown Frank N. Belgrano, Jr. National Vice-Commanders: Ray Murphy Milton G. Boock Harry W. Colmery Dave H. Fleischer Daniel J. Doherty J. E. Martie Stephen F. Chadwick Dr. D. R. Perry Department Committeemen Alabama—George L. Cleere Iowa—Paul A. Tornquist Alaska—Frank Nash (Alternate) Italy—H. Armand deMasi Arizona—Raymond J. Prochnow Kansas—Walter Reed Gage (Alternate) Kentucky—John F. Hagner Arkansas—Harry G. Miller Louisiana—Leonard L. Jackson California—Harry L. Foster Maine—Hector G. Staples Canada—C. M. Simpson Maryland—Harry S. Allen Colorado—Leo J. Crowley Massachusetts—Tracy A. Dibble Delaware—George Ehinger Mexico—Roscoe B. Gaither D. of C.—Owen C. Holleran Michigan—Guy M. Cox Florida—E. Meade Wilson Minnesota—Roy T. Anderson Georgia—Guy 0. Stone Mississippi—H. Kirk Grantham Hawaii—Earl L. Holman Montana—J. B. C. Knight Idaho—Bert Weston Missouri—Rush H. Limbaugh Illinois—John S. Gleason, Jr. Nebraska—John E. Curtiss Indiana—Harry E. Fitch Nevada—Thomas W. Miller 3 New Hampshire—James W. Doon Rhode Island—Arthur E. Marley New Jersey—Wm. G. McKinley South Carolina—James F. Daniel, New Mexico—Reed Mulkey Jr. New York-—Leo V. Lanning South Dakota—Claude Hamilton North Carolina—Robin S. Kirby Tennessee—Halbert Harvill North Dakota—William Stern Texas—J. M. Willson (Alternate) Ohio—Don W. Schoeppe Utah—Robert L. Shelby Oklahoma—Dr. Chas. W. Hoshall Vermont—H. Nelson Jackson Oregon—David Blakeman Virginia—Lemuel W. Houston Panama—Nelson W. Magner Washington—N. P. Peterson Pennsylvania—Harry K. Stinger West Virginia—Dr. P. E. Kercheval Philippine Islands—Marc A. Stice Wisconsin—Walter A. Rose (Alter- Puerto Rico—Vicente Reyes Fitz- nate) patrick Wyoming—Ward W. Husted Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was sus- pended. Legislative Commission The following report was presented by Elmer W. Sher- wood, Indiana, Chairman of the National Legislative Com- mission: The National Legislative Commission met in Washington Hall, 1816 Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California, at 9:30 A. M., on October 7, 1950. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Elmer W. Sherwood. The following members of the Commission were present: Elmer W. Sherwood, Chairman Charles M. Blackburn, Vice-Chairman Lynn G. Peterson, Vice-Chairman Donald R. Wilson, Vice-Chairman Hugh Askew William C. Brooker William G. Burns Jerome Duggan George E. Flood Raymond F. Gates Douglas A. Graham Vincent A. Maher Winford H. McMains Frederick L. l^llin James E. Snee Bradley R. Taylor Ernest S. Goens Members of the Legislative Commission Liaison Committee present were: Chairman Thomas W. Miller, Dr. P. E. Kercheval, and Paul A. Tornquist. The following members of the staff were also present: Miles D. Ken- nedy, Director; Clarence H. Olson, Assistant Director; John Thomas Taylor, Legislative Consultant; and Kathlyn Burch, Executive Secretary. The following business was taken up during the course of the meeting. Chairman Sherwood presented to the Commission for consideration certain resolutions hereinafter referred to and the action taken thereon is also indicated as follows: 4 Resolution 626, Philadelphia, 1949, titled “Interpretation of the Missing Persons Act” and referred to the standing National Legislative Commis- sion, was rejected. Resolution 625, Philadelphia, 1949, titled “Re-examination of the Guerilla Affairs in the Philippines” and referred to the standing National Legislative Commission, was rejected. A resolution, same bearing number 509, submitted to National Head- quarters by Mr. Roland F. Cowan, Adjutant, The American Legion Depart- ment of New Jersey, having to do with the evacuation and return to the United States of-the remains of deceased members of the United States Armed Forces now buried on foreign soil, was rejected due to the fact it had not been properly submitted through regular channels. Resolution identified by Register Number 261 and entitled “Oppose Curtailment of Postal Service,” submitted by the New Jersey Department Executive Committee (New Jersey Res. Nos. 511-512), was rejected. A Resolution by the Quentin Roosevelt Post No. 8, Department of New Jersey, Passaic County, requesting the Justice Department to make a full report on the 1945 Amerasia case as requested by the Federal Grand Jury, was rejected. A resolution was offered by the National Legislative Commission that we recommend to the Convention that The American Legion oppose the payment of veteran benefits to former members of the Merchant Marine, American Field Service, Coast Guard Temporary Reservists, Civilian Air Patrol, Russian Railway Service Corps, American Red Cross and other non-military or quasi-military groups. A copy of said resolution is attached hereto. It has been referred to the Resolutions Bureau for number and assignment on the form prescribed by National Headquarters. A motion was duly made, seconded and unanimously carried recom- mending to the National Executive Committee that John Thomas Taylor be retained as Legislative Consultant, and that this recommendation be submitted by Mr. Thomas W. Miller, Chairman, Legislative Commission Liaison Committee, to the National Executive Committee at its meeting scheduled to be held October 8, 1950. The resolution reads as follows: RESOLVED, By the National Executive Committee, that John Thomas Taylor be retained as Legislative Consultant to the National Legislative Commission, his services as such to continue from the termination of his present contract, December. 31, 1950, and for which he shall receive the sum of $12,000.00 annually, payable in equal monthly installments, and continue unless terminated by action of the National Executive Committee upon advice of the National Commander then in office. MR. SHERWOOD: As I have just stated, we confined our proceedings to resolutions which I will now turn over to your Committee on Reso- lutions. Continue Contract with John Thomas Taylor The following resolution, emanating from the Legislative Commission, was presented by E. Meade Wilson, Florida, Chairman of the Resolutions Subcommittee, and approved unanimously: RESOLVED, By the National Executive Committee, that John Thomas Taylor be retained as Legislative Consultant to the National Legislative Commission, his services as such to continue from the termination of his present contract, December 31, 1950, and for which he shall receive the sum of $12,000.00 annually, payable in equal monthly installments, and 5 continue unless terminated by action of the National Executive Commit- tee upon advice of the National Commander then in office. Oppose Veterans Benefits to Former Members of Merchant Marine, Red Cross, Etc. The following resolution, also emanating from the Legis- lative Commission, was presented by Chairman Wilson, and approved: WHEREAS,.It has been the traditional policy of the United States to limit veterans’ benefits to full-time active duty