ARMY & NAVY: On to Paris

ARMY & NAVY

The American Legion roared into Philadelphia last week for its annual convention, wasted little time in its important business of choosing Paris for next autumn’s jubilee. The only sign of opposition came from the Montana delegation which wanted “a little time to consider the motion.”

The Philadelphia convention had other frills: a message from President Coolidge was read; Governor Gifford Pinchot of Pennsylvania welcomed the Legionnaires, told them to fight “the war of peace” (with ballots); Vice President Dawes informed them that the generation which fought the World War “seems as a mass to be living needlessly, almost recklessly, and with little thought of the future”; General John J. Pershing appeared unexpectedly, was cheered mightily.

Colonel Yves Picot of the French Chamber of Deputies limped to the rostrum, said: “Ah, comrades of the American Legion, do not believe those hours when your hearts and ours beat in unison have been forgotten by the French.” As he finished, a battered taxicab which had seen the Battle of the Marne chugged up the central aisle. Within it was a box containing messages from General Foch, President money In every precinct of the Doumergue, Premier Poincare, Foreign Minister Briand.

Then the Legionnaires elected their National Commander for next year—Howard Paul Savage of Chicago, onetime First Lieutenant of the Engineers, who had once played baseball with the Cubs, who is now a superintendent for the Chicago Elevated Railways—and thousands went home with Paris glittering in their eyes.