The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-06
PRESIDENT HARDING PAYS TRIUTE ID
 AMERICAN LEGION
Executive Thoroughly Enjoys Day in Home Town, Greet ing His Friends and Fora
 mer NeighborS
By Associated Press

Marion, O., July 5.-(Special. )- So long as the American Legion is consecrated to the preservation of the constitution and of law and order, the American republic is everlast- ingly secure, President Harding as- serted in brief address today to sev- eral thousand World war veterans who held a reunion here.
 Reminding them that they were now charged with greater respon- sibillty than on the battlefields of France, MT. Harding declared the destiny of the United States was In the hands of former service men.
 q have no hesitancy in saying" he added, that It is in good hands," He urged the men who had par ticipated in a historical parade which he reviewed, to serve their country as civilians with war time conservation and devotion.
 The President started off his last day among the home folks with a morning round of golf on the new links here with o. s. Rapp, close Marion friend, General Pershing and Charles c. Dawes, former budget bureau director. After luncheon at the home of Mrs. Harding's brother, the President went to a reviewing stand to witness the parade which depleted various stages of Marion's history.
 During a 4B-minute wait for the procession to start, MT. and Mrs. Harding were serenaded by the Buckeye Republican Glee cub of Columbus. AS the parade passed both the President and Mrs. Harding frequently recognizing an acqualnt- ance in the procession waved a greeting.
 The President entered into the spirit of the pageant with tho en- thusiasm of A school boy. He gr ned broadly when a float passed on which a colonial mother was rock Ing cradle plaoarded with 2 sign:
 No flapper rocked in this"
 An old prairie schooner, drawn by 90 mules, ard a dilapidated rural frontier wagon in which there was a smoking stove, also caused the President to smile. Mir. Harding leaned over the railing to wave to four-foot drum major who strutted by at the head a band. Both the President and Mrs. Harding ap- plauded when an automobile ocou- pied by war veteran, his wife and baby girl passed. On the machine was a placard announcing that the child was the first American baby born on the Rhine.'
 Former service men from all parts of Ohio had flocked into Marion to participate in the parade and to hold a reunion later at the fair grounds.
 Speaking extemporaneously, the President addressed the war veterans for about five minutes. He paid ri la NTr N fa a G. A. R., declaring 1t had played a Wonderful part" in Americas his- tory in the last 50 years.
 Nothing has happened during that time, he added, which did not have the conscientious sanction of that or- ganization.
 Pershing Speaks
 General Pershing declared the American Legion creed could be en- dorsed by everyone without reserva- tion and urged members of the Legion to live up to it's standards.
 Hanford MacNider, national com mander of the Legion; Charles s. Darlington, commander of the Ohio department of the Legion; Eddie Rickenbacker, an .'ace" aviator dur ing the war, and Brig. Gen. John R. McQuigg, Cleveland, who commanded an Ohio regiment of engineers over seas, were others who spoke briefly.
 The President and Mrs. Harding spent their final evening in Marion at @ pageant which portrayed the his- tory of Marion and brought Marion's centennial and homecoming celebra- tion to close.
 The presidential party is expected to leave Marion tomorrow morning on its return trip by automobile to Washington.