The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-10-15
ANNUAL MEETING
 OF LEGION WILL
 OPEN TOMORROW
New Orleans Already Crowd ed With Delegates--State Delegations Entertain
 With Various Stunts
By Associated Pre.s

New Orleans, October 14,-The American Legitn started arriving in force here today for the annual na-
 tional convention which begins Mon day and found New Orleans ready to receive them. Every train arriving
 in the city brought hundreds of visi- l tors. With them came the first view
 of the novel features the state have
 adopted to establish their identity All hotels became the scene Of i big reunions when "buddies' began | to meet and fight the war over again. The streets were crowded. National headquarters became the mecca of the arrivals. 1t was es- timatcd tonight that about a fourth | of the leeionnaires had reached the city, although no big delegations had arrived. Approximately 100000 le- | gionnaires are expected, according to 1 tho reports of the leaders of various states who are already here.
 War songs Sung
 l State headquarters have begun | blossoming forth In rapid succession. 1 Half a dozen are functioning in prac- tically all of the larger hotels. Lob | bies were the scene of impromptu | I gether, '.Hinkey -Dinkey." "Parle Vous," and many of the other war songs featured by the A. E. F..
 echoed. Iowa delegates loudly sang that their state Is where the tall corn grows"
 Warrington delegates brought I forth ead-pieces on the trder of tam O -shanters with feathers. Kan sas delegates appeared with the corn l flower prominently displayed. Mis- sourians are wearing big blue state and a badge with a miniature mule attached. The "45 and 8" got ] out of their kit bags the blue caps adopted by them from the uniform
 of the French soldier.
 l New Orleans 10 a mass of decora- l tions. All streets wefe roped off 1 preparatory to the big parade to be
 held W+ednesday afternoon.
 Bands Arrive
 Tomorrow the streets will re. sound martial music as the deless- tions begin arriving with ban is. Some streets will have as many as l four bands with them. Already
 more than 40 have heen entered in the contest az well as 25 drum corps coming from as many different states. Besides these bspds, which must be composed entirely of legion members. many delegates are bring I ing bands with them not eligible to l the contest but among which will be 1 numbered the finest musical organi- zations In the country. st
 Mascots began to appear today. A flying squirrei. member of the 40 { and G." was the first to appear.
 i Business Not<FsrGottep
 One of the features of the conven- ! ton this year is tht number of 1 women accc mpanyjng legionnaires 1 From this standpoint, 1t promises to l be the most successful yet held by l the legion. Nearly half of the ie- I Riopnaires who have already arrived were accompanied by their wives. l Rusinest was not forgotten today. The national executive committee j.hsid its ssssions. as did the finance | committee and ths American conn mission. Caucuses of ladders were held throughout the day, paving the way for the policiss and candtdates ! to be offered by the various state 1 dele ations during the convention. | each seeking supptrt for their pet measure or candfdat6s.
 Many distingujshad lsgton leaders hrytted during tho day. The vanguerd of the California
 delssation brsp&ysd to vAss viz crous nxht for the 1sss convention. ls continuation of the battle they
 vaSed et xaueas City last year whoa
 Hew osleans wes tho v1ctaE.