Show washington 0 C VAN COMMANDER FIRST BALLOT ELECTS NATION AL COMMANDER OF LEGION AT ST PAUL MINN james jame A drain will succeed john R quinn of california general pershing is very highly honored st paul minn james A drain ot of washington D C was elected national commander of the american legion at the closing session of its sixth annual convention here drains election came on the first bal ballot lot and he had a majority of all accredited votes before the roll call was two thirds completed and as the poll ended his total had bad been swelled considerably only two other names were presented to the convention those of john R of cleveland and E E spafford of new york the rev E C clemens of minnesota retiring national chaplain was elected president of the chaplains association and the rev W P callahan of montana named secretary minnesota Alinne sota presented the name of mr drain its state adjutant stafford king making the nominating address peyton hogue of kentucky national executive committeeman seconded the nomination when the roll call had been completed the election of drain was made unanimous on motion of king of minnesota and amid a rousing demonstration nion drain was es courted to the platform as the band played cheer cheer the gangs all here the vote on national commander before the convention making it unanimous almous was drain spafford 86 96 absent 21 the texas delegation headed by miss may peterson atop the old gray mare paraded to the platform its band flaring the old mare one of the songs made famous by the convention soon every department standard was grouped on the platform around the new commander as the cheers and songs of the demonstrative le gionna ires continued for several minutes until retiring commander john R quinn of california restored order the convention on oil motion of the missouri delegation voted to make general john J pershing the deper permanent distinguished guest of this and every 0 ther other american legion convention thanking the convention for his election to commander mr drain accepted the post because he believes in the american legion and the legionnaires who always are thinking of what they can give more than what they can get |