our heroes, poke fun at some of our greatest moments in history and laugh at ideals that made our country great. They sneer at devotion to country and smile at dedication to God. The Tribune and the Legion are working together to unmask these scoffers. We know that there is treason in their way. We believe that honesty, courage and integrity in devotion to our country and its flag are never old fashioned; that they are rather the strength and shield of the freedom and liberty we love.

Over the years, The Tribune and The American Legion have fought steadfastly against the inroads of atheistic Communism, an enemy which has made no secret of their intent to destroy all that we know as the American way. There can be no appeasement and compromise with this evil ideology. We are determined together there shall be no surrender to this avowed enemy of freedom. Together we will see to it there will be no tyranny here, no dictatorship and no police state.

I accept this award as symbolic of a joint determination to continue the fight for freedom at home. The Legion and The Tribune are aware the fight is not over, that it has just begun. But I pledge to you that The Tribune will continue to fight with you for what is good, what is right and what is true. You can count on The Tribune in your fight for a free America, an America loyal to its heritage of freedom, just as we of The Tribune know we can count on you-the men and women of The American Legion.

I thank you.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS Ralph R. Storm, chairman of Indiana, reported as follows:

To the Forty-sixth Annual National Convention of The American Legion, Dallas, Texas, September 22-24, 1964.

Ninety-two members on your Committee on Credentials and Internal Affairs met at 10:00 a. m., Sunday, September 20, 1964, in the Sam Houston Room in the Sheraton-Dallas Hotel, and agreed on the following report which is respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Ralph Storm of Indiana was elected chairman and Frank Nietupski of Massachusetts was elected secretary. Following the initial organizational meeting, the committee broke up into two sections, in accordance with the rules of the convention, a section on membership and a section on credentials and other internal matters.

Mr. Storm and Mr. Nietupski were selected also to serve as chairman and secretary, respectively, of the section on credentials and other internal matters.

Edward H. Lynch, Jr., of Connecticut was elected chairman of the membership section of the committee, and Larry Coggin of Georgia was elected secretary.

The report is divided into three (3) sections: I— Credentials; II-Membership; III-other internal matters.

Section I-Credentials

It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that, in accordance with the National Constitution, the voting strength of this convention shall be based on membership in the hands of the national treasurer at the close of business August 24, 1964 (30 days prior to the national convention). Total number of delegates for each department is based

on five (5) delegates at large, one (1) delegate for each 1,000 members or major fraction thereof, and the members of the National Executive Committee, which committee includes the national commander, who exercises his vote only in his capacity as chairman of the national convention (Art. VII, Sec. 3), the five (5) national vice-commanders, and the national chaplain. All living past national commanders are members of the National Executive Committee without vote and life delegates to the national convention with vote, which is exercised with their respective departments.

At previous conventions outlying, unaffiliated posts have been authorized one (1) delegate. Since all outlying posts are now affiliated with one of the established departments, there are no delegates authorized at this convention for any outlying posts.

Pursuant to the foregoing, the voting strength of this convention is as follows:

Membership

No.

of

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION AND RULES Clarence C. Horton, chairman, of Alabama, reported as follows:

To the Forty-sixth Annual National Convention of The American Legion, Dallas, Texas, September 22-24, 1964:

Thirty-seven members of your Committee on Legislation and Rules met at 10:00 a. m., September 20 and 22, 1964, in the Alamo Room of the Sheraton-Dallas Hotel and the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, respectively.

Clarence C. Horton of Alabama and Arnold E. Swanson of New York were elected chairman and secretary respectively.

The following report, duly agreed upon, sets forth the Standing Rules for this 1964 Convention and the recommendations of the committee as to the disposition of resolutions assigned to its jurisdiction. It is respectfully submitted for your consideration.

as

The Standing Rules of Convention contained in the Uniform Code of Procedure for the organization of national conventions of The American Legion, authorized by Section 6, Article V, of the National Constitution, as approved by the Thirtyeighth National Convention at Los Angeles, California, September 3-6, 1956; by the National Executive Committee October 17-19, 1956; and amended by the National Executive Committee at its April 30-May 1, 1958, meeting; the Fortieth National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, September 1-4, 1958; and as further amended by the National Executive Committee at the following meetings: April 29-May 1, 1959; October 30-November 1, 1962; May 1-2, 1963 and April 30-May 1, 1964, are the Rules for this 1964 National Convention.

1. Robert's Revised Rules of Order shall be the authority on parliamentary procedure, with the following modifications:

2. A delegate desiring to make a motion or address the convention, shall rise, address the Chair as "Mr. Commander" and state his name and the name of the department before proceeding.

3. Debate shall be limited to five minutes for each speaker.

4. Debate on any one subject presented to the convention shall be limited to two hours except

5. But two delegates from any one delegation shall be permitted the floor on any one question. Where disagreement exists within a delegation one delegate shall be permitted to speak on each side of the question. Upon a division of the question, however, this rule shall be applied separately for each division.

6. The floor shall be permitted but once to any individual delegate on any one question, except by a two-thirds vote of the convention. Chairmen of Convention Committees may speak as frequently as may be necessary in connection with the reports of their committees. The Presiding Officer shall not entertain any motion which will curtail further debate without affording the committee chairman an opportunity for rebuttal.

7. Decisions on Rules of Debate or parliamentary order by the Presiding Officer may be subject to appeal by any two delegates under a Point of Order. Such appeal shall take precedence over any pending questions and shall be decided forthwith. An appeal from the decision of the Chair shall be put to the convention on the question: "Shall the Chair be sustained?"

8. When the poll of any department delegation is demanded by a delegate of such department, the convention secretary shall poll the vote without discussion of the question being voted upon.

9. On the Roll Calls, the delegation chairman shall poll his delegation on the floor and announce its vote.

10. In the event a delegation secretary is not an accredited delegate or alternate, he shall be seated with his delegation.

11.

Past national commanders' votes shall be cast with their delegations.

12. Only accredited delegates or their alternates, shall participate, directly or indirectly, in a viva voce vote on any subject before the convention.

13. Department delegations may arrive at a vote in such manner as they choose, but shall announce it in terms of full units and not in terms of a fractional part of a vote. The vote of any delegate absent and not represented by an alternate shall be cast by the majority of the delegates present from his department.

14. There shall be no unit rule of voting.

15. Voting shall be by acclamation, except when a Roll Call is demanded by the chairman of at least three departments. Election of national officers shall be by roll call.

16. In the event a department has not provided the method by which alternates shall be designated to serve in the place of absent delegates, the chairman of the delegation shall make such designation.

17. Prior to the election of national officers, the national commander shall appoint subject to approval of the convention, a Judge of Election and such number of tellers as he deems necessary, provided that the total tellers so appointed shall be an odd number. In a contested election each candidate going to the ballot shall be entitled to one teller of his choice.

18. Nominations for national officers shall be from the floor on Roll Call of the departments alphabetically arranged. Each department may present as many candidates as it chooses.

19. Nominating speeches for national officers shall be limited to five minutes each. Not more

than two seconding speeches shall be made for any candidate, and said speeches shall be limited to three minutes.

20. When more than two candidates are nominated for any office, balloting shall continue until one candidate receives a majority of the votes of the convention except in the election of national vice-commanders.

21. In a contested election for national vicecommanders, balloting shall continue until (a) majorities and (b) pluralities are established for one or more candidates under the following provisions:

If, on any ballot taken, less than five candidates receive the necessary majority to elect, the candidate or candidates receiving a majority vote shall be declared elected and a new ballot shall be taken for the remaining number of places to be filled. The candidate receiving the lowest number of votes on the preceding ballot shall be disqualified; except should two candidates remain to fill one place, new ballot shall be taken.

22. The convention will nominate and elect a national commander, five national vice-commanders, and a national chaplain, in this sequence.

23. At the conclusion of balloting on national vice-commanders, each department delegation chairman shall deliver a written ballot to the tellers. Such ballots shall be in the hands of the tellers before communication is made to the national commander for announcement of the results.

24. Those recognized by the national commander shall be entitled to a respectful hearing, and the Chair shall have the authority to clear the gallery or the floor or have the sergeant-at-arms escort from the convention anyone creating a disturbance or interfering with orderly procedure.

25. None of the above rules shall be construed as preventing an alternate delegate from serving on a convention committee.

26. The consent of two-thirds of the voting strength of the convention is necessary for suspension of the standing rules of the convention.

27. Any amendment to any resolution or report originating on the floor shall be presented in writing and transmitted to the Presiding Officer at the time of the introduction of such amendment.

28. Special rules applying to specific issues or order of business, shall be written and presented to the convention by the Legislation and Rules Committee for adoption by majority vote at least one hour before such issue, or order is to be considered unless such rule is agreed to by unanimous consent of the final session.

Special rules shall prevail only in the convention adopting them.

Any delegate may apply for a special rule to the Legislation and Rules Committee or may appeal to the convention for such special rule provided the rule be presented in writing, be read once from the platform, and shall lay upon the table at least one hour before the vote thereon is taken.

* * * PART II

Disposition of Resolutions

Approved: Resolution No. 382 (Ill.) Subject: "Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee." Resolutions seeking creation of a Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs numbered No. 122 (Ohio), and No. 543 (Tex.), were consolidated with No. 382 (Ill.) and approved as follows:

Whereas, The American Legion, as well as all other major veterans' organizations, favors the establishment of a standing Veterans' Affairs Committee in the United States Senate; and

Whereas, Such a committee would better serve the needs of the 22 million veterans of all wars, their widows, orphans and dependents, and would, through its professional staff, be of great assistance to the members of the Senate in evaluating veterans' legislation, and in answering constituents' inquiries on veterans' problems; and

Whereas, The House of Representatives has its own House Veterans' Affairs Committee to devote full time to the study of veterans' legislation; and

Whereas, It is believed that a majority of the members of the Senate recognize the need for, and favor the creation of such a committee; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by The American Legion in national convention assembled in Dallas, Texas, September 21-24, 1964, That we go on record as favoring the immediate amendment of the Rules of the Senate to provide for a Standing Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Referred: Resolution No. 509 (N. Y.) Subject: "Amend provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to taxation of American Legion posts," was referred to the National Legislative Commission for study and report.

Rejected: Resolution No. 321 (Pa.) Subject: "United States Presidential Executive Orders," was rejected because the subject matter of the resolution was too general and dealt with matters not considered germane to the programs of The American Legion.

Part II of the report was adopted. The convention recessed at two thirty o'clock.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS Section II-Membership

Report of Membership Section of Committee on Credentials and Internal Affairs Edward H. Lynch, Jr., Chairman, of Connecticut, reported as follows:

Forty-six (46) members of the Membership Section of your Committee on Credentials and Internal

The following resolutions are recommended to be rejected:

Resolution No. 115 (Ohio)-"Membership Dates of The American Legion"-is recommended for rejection for the reason that the resolution cannot be carried out without a Constitutional Amendment.

Resolution No. 530 (Texas)-"Include Expiration Date on American Legion Membership Card" -is recommended for rejection for the reason that some departments report the implementation of the resolution would be harmful to their present membership program.

The following six (6) resolutions, all pertaining to the Sons of The American Legion are also recommended for rejection. The actions recommended in these resolutions have now either been accomplished, or in the process of being accomplished, or are under active study by the Membership and Post Activities Committee. While the resolutions are recommended for rejection, we do suggest that the Membership and Post Activities Committee review them and take into consideration the opinions expressed therein in the further development of the Sons of The American Legion Activity.

The SAL resolutions recommended for rejection

Resolution No. 3 (South Dakota)—"American Legion Life Membership Study Plan Proposal." Whereas, There is considerable interest shown in purchase of a "now it's paid for forever" Life Membership in The American Legion, should it be made available; and

Whereas, Provision of such a Life Membership plan could have a valuable stabilizing effect on American Legion membership; and

Whereas, Some departments now have a Life Membership plan, and a nation-wide uniform plan might prove even more effective; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by The American Legion in national convention assembled in Dallas, Texas, September 22-24, 1964, That the national organization of The American Legion be urged to study the feasibility of a standard Life Membership plan.

Resolution No. 467 (Michigan)—"American Legion Life Membership Lapel Button."

Whereas, The American Legion Life Member is one of the most outstanding Legionnaires within each post throughout the entire nation; and

Whereas, This award is made for long standing personal service, inspiration of patriotism and good citizenship, and for dedicated participation in Legion programs; and

Whereas, The Life Member may receive a Gold or Silver Life Membership Card to carry in his billfold; or may receive or purchase a Life Membership Cap Insignia; or a Life Member tab for his American Legion pin, but not a complete Life Member lapel pin; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by The American Legion in national convention assembled in Dallas, Texas, September 22-24, 1964, That it goes on record to request the National Emblem Sales to make available at their earliest convenience, a suitable American Legion Life Membership Lapel Button for wear on a suit or sport coat.

"The

Resolution No. 369 (Illinois)-"Amend American Legion Post Commander's Guide' as It Pertains to the Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags."

Whereas, The American Legion "Post Commander's Guide and Manual of Ceremonies" is not precise in its ceremony for disposal of unserviceable flags; and

Whereas, The aforementioned book does not specify whether the ceremony is for members only; and

Whereas, Section 4 (j) of the Federal Code provides that American flags should be destroyed in a dignified way, privately and preferably by burning; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by The American Legion in national convention assembled in Dallas, Texas, September 22-24, 1964, That the proper action be taken by the National Trophies, Awards, and Ceremonials Committee in conjunction with the National Americanism Commission to review the present instructions for disposal of unserviceable flags and to initiate such action as may be needed to insure that the Post Commander's Guide and Manual of Ceremonies is in agreement with the Federal Code. Resolution No. 367 (Illinois) "Medical-Alert

Emblems Be Issued by American Legion Posts."

Whereas, In recent years medical science has developed many drugs which have saved the lives of thousands of persons; and

Whereas, Many of these drugs are harmful, dangerous and may even cause death to persons who are allergic to them; and

Whereas, Persons suffering from diabetes, epilepsy and other conditions must receive special kinds of treatment in emergencies; and

Whereas, There are now available permanent identification medical-alert bracelets or necklaces bearing warning of the wearer's special medical problem and other information which might be the means of saving that person's life; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by The American Legion in national convention assembled in Dallas, Texas, September 22-24, 1964, That it adopt this program under the Membership and Post Activities Committee and urge all Posts to make suitable medical-alert emblems available to needy persons as certified by their physicians; and be it further

Resolved, That this action be reported to all posts through The American Legion Magazine, Advance, and any other means deemed fit.

Resolution No. 514 (District of Columbia) — "Membership Promotion for U. S. Armed Forces Members Who Through Their War Time Service Are Eligible for American Legion Membership."

Whereas, Membership growth of The American Legion is of paramount importance; and

Whereas, A source of potential qualified veterans appears to be available amongst those now serving in our armed forces; and

Whereas, It is felt that lack of information covering the Legion's programs and eligibility provisions for membership has been a deterring factor in this connection; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by The American Legion in national convention assembled in Dallas, Texas, September 22-24, 1964, That The American Legion, through its National Membership and Post Activities Committee, sponsor and establish a program with the cooperation of the various departments designed to interest the members of our armed forces who are now eligible through war time service for membership; that qualified speakers be furnished to visit the various military centers to impart the necessary information; and that informational material be prepared to implement the project.

Resolution No. 504 (New York)-(As Amended)"Authorize Study of Developing an Eligibility Provision for Membership in The American Legion to Embrace Service in the United States Armed Forces Other Than in Time of War."

Whereas, From time to time, a number of suggestions and resolutions have been advanced proposing that the eligibility provisions for membership in The American Legion be extended to embrace periods of service in the armed forces which do not presently establish eligibility; and

Whereas, It has been the traditonal position of The American Legion that war service benefits provided by the federal government would be limited to those who served on active duty in the time of war and within a period of actual hostilities and were either released therefrom under honorable conditions or continued on active duty therein; and

Whereas, An extension of the membership eligibility provisions of The American Legion, if not conforming to the principles listed in the preceding paragraph, would reasonably be expected to result in demands for a parallel extension of war service benefits, with resulting complications for the legislative program of The American Legion; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by The American Legion in national convention assembled in Dallas, Texas, September

22-24, 1964, That the national commander name a special committee to study the feasibility of extending the eligibility of membership in The American Legion to those who served in the armed forces of our nation during a state of national military emergency; and, be it further

Resolved, That this committee be instructed to complete its study in time to report to the National Executive Committee at its spring meeting in 1965.

Section III-Other Internal Matters

Forty-six members of the Other Internal Matters Section of your Committee on Credentials and Internal Affairs met at 10:20 a. m., Sunday, September 20, 1964, in the Sam Houston Room of the Sheraton-Dallas Hotel.

Forty-four resolutions were considered by the committee and disposed of as follows:

Fifteen were rejected; 16 were referred to the standing commissions or committees; and 13 were adopted.

Rejected Resolutions

The following resolutions are recommended to be rejected:

Resolution No. 25 (New Hampshire)—"Enact Legislation Authorizing Department of Army to Furnish Government Headstones and Grave Markers with an Inserted Flag Holder Sleeve."

Resolution No. 31 (Kentucky)—“Authorize Making Department Officers Caps 'All White, Piped in Gold and Lettered in Blue' so that Respective Office Can Be More Easily Recognized." (Recommended for rejection by National Emblem Committee.)

Resolution No. 60 (Maryland)-"News Management by the United States Government."

Resolution No. 74 (Wisconsin)—"Oppose Present Method of Selection of National Officers of The American Legion." (Would require Constitutional amendment.)

Resolution No. 112 (Ohio)-"Football Hall of Fame." (Resolution asks for financial assistance from The American Legion.)

Resolution No. 114 (Ohio)—“Coordinated Legislative Program With Other Veterans Organizations on Veterans Legislation Being Submitted to Congress.'

Resolution No. 177 (Rhode Island)-"Coordinated Legislative Program With Other Veterans Organizations on Pension Legislation Submitted to Congress."

Resolution No. 246 (Georgia)—"Change Color of Lettering on American Legion Cap for Department Officers." (Recommended for rejection by National Emblem Committee.)

Resolution No. 285 (Florida) "Revision of American Legion Manual of Ceremonies to Include Use of Holy Bible in Ceremonies."

Resolution No. 312 (Pennsylvania)—"Informing the American People About The American Legion and Its Worthwhile Programs." (Already implemented.)

Resolution No. 364 (Illinois)—“Authorize Study of Socio-Economic Effects of Public Law 346, Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, Upon the Veteran.' (Suggested reports are available.)

Resolution No. 442 (Massachusetts)—"Urging Contributions for the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Library Fund."

Resolution No. 468 (Michigan)-"Reiteration of Regulations on Wearing of Awards, Insignia, etc., on The American Legion Cap."