Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-09-18
WARREN C. HARDING
NAY 7 ATTEND BIG
LEGION MEETING
NEW ORLEANS TO BE SCENE or
BIG GATHERING OF WORLD WAR
VETERANS DURING THE MONTH
OF OCTOBER.

New Orleans, Sent, lS-(By the As
ISOLATED Press )r-"rho Ireseent city
is preparing TO entertain the largest
gathering IN its history when 10000
members of The American Legion and
other visitors come 10 the legiOns ma.
tional convention here October l6.
20
with TIE tentative acceptance of
the convention Invitation by PresI.
dent Harding and General Pershing,
and tho definite acceptance Of Major
General John A, Lejeune. command.
ant of the United States marine
corps; Samuel Gompers, president Of
and Kenesaw VI, Lands. commission
er Of baseball. the legion meeting will
assume national Importance. Con.
vention officials also expect to en-
terrain famous marshal of France
and other world war notables. Prom.
inent among the distinguished guests
will be twenty-five wearers of the
congressional medal Of honor the
highest award for bravery made by
the United States.
President Harding has written TO
convention headquarters that he will
come to New Orleans If the pres.
sure Of public affairs does not inter
fere and a similar message has been
received from General Pershng. who
led the legion men in France, and
who WAS n gHest at their national
gathering In Kansas City last year
The visit at, General Lejeune will be
Of special interest to legionnaires
since the marine corps leader is
native of Louisiana and was one of
the most popular commanding gener-
ais in the American expeditionary
forces. The presence of Mr.. Gompers
at the convention is expected to de-
velop closer relations between the
legion and organized labor. Judge
Lands is the father OF former serv.
ice man and has spoken at legion
gatherings in all parts of the coun.
try.
In preparation for the visit of the
thousands of former service men, the
convention committee has prepared
an elaborate program of entertain.
ment Convention sessions will be
held only in the mornings, enabling
delegates and visitors to participate
in the festiyitiea for the remainder of
the day.
The hrst American Legion nation
al Olympic meet will be held at the
convention. Legion athletes from
every section will compete for ma
tional championships in track and
field events. aquatic sports, anna.
teur boxing and wrestling, golf and
tennis. There also win be "A nation.
al craftsmanship contest and a
tournament Of professional boxers. A
decision bout between Bob Martin
and Captain Roper will be one Of the
leading features of the boxing card.
The legion bantamweight champion.
ship will be settled when Johnny
Bnff and Pal Moore meet in the con
vention ring
Ranking with the athletic meet will
be naval show in the port Of New
Orleans and on Lake Ponchartrain.
Dreadnaughts, cruisers, submarines
and subchasers from all the great ma.
val powers are to be on exhibition
Legion national officers are now max,
ina arrangements for ships to come
from England, France, Italy and
number of South American countries
In addition there will be 4 hotilla Of
yachts and small pleasure craft on
Lake Ponchartrain.
The United States navy will send
a number of seapanes from pensa.
cola, Fla. On one of the convention
nights These planes viii fly over the
business district dropping flares and