Evening star., 1934-10-22
BONUS DEMAND
DELAY |SURGED
Senator SteiWer Tells le-
gion Stand Would In.
crease Prestige.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
MIAMI, Fla, October 22.-Pleas for
early, but not immediate payment of
the soldier bonus and for strong ma
tional defense were heard at the open
ing session here today of the American
Legion'S sixteenth national conven-
ton.
The meeting was called to order by
National Commander Edward A. Hayes
in a large amphitheater in Bayfront
Park.
Thrusting the controversial bonus
question into the opening session,
United States Senator Frederick Stei-
wer (Republican) Of oregon urged
that action on payment of the ADJUST
ed compensation certificates be de-
ferred for the present.
The Senator proposed that the Le-
gion consider the adyisability of
standing for early payment and ask
ing only that our Government meet
this obligation at time when it will
result in the minimum burden to the
people of the country"
Would Increase Prestige.
"A position of this kind" he said,
would increase the prestige of the
Legion. There is much reason to be-
lieve that a demand for immediate
payment would intensity animosities
and arouse an organized opposition
which will make favorable action
more difficult"
Speaking for strong national de-
tense. Thomas H. Healy, assistant
dean of Georgetown University s
School for Foreign Service. told the
Legion a "disarmed United States
would be menace to the peace OF
the world"
1T is q combination of murder and
suicide" he said, ito send hastily Or
ganized troops against well-trained
and well-equipped soldiers"
After calling the convention TO
order Commander Hayes Introduced
Gov. Dave SholtZ, who extended
Florida's welcome
Addresses of welcome also were
given by Mayor E. G. Sewell. DR.. w. E.
Whitlock. com !. 1der Of the Florida
Department of t Legion, and Leonard
K. Thompson, 1sident of the Ameri-
can Legion 1884 Convention Corp,
which were followed by a brief talk
by Louis Johnson, who retired as ma
tional commander at the Legions con-
vention in Chicago a year ago.
Memorial services were conducted
by Rev. Robert J. White, national
chaplain.
Withdraws as Candidate.
Withdrawal of Ray Murphy of Ida
Grove, Iowa, as a candidate for ma
tional commander was last-minute
development before the initial ses-
sion today.
Murphy announced that he would
support Frank Belgrano, jr., of San
Francisco, the man well-informed
circles say is the most likely to Sue
ceed Hayes.
With some 10000 visitors already
in the city and more arriving hourly,
the convention loomed as one of the
best attended in the history of the
organization. The Credentials Com
mittee certified 1,189 official dele
gates.
Two Convention Deaths.
Two convention deaths have oc-
Cured, one an automobile fatality and
the other a Legionnaire who sue
cumbed to a heart attack. John T
Busselle, Miami newspaper circulation
worker. was killed when struck by a
car, and Robert F. Strong, 47-year-old
veteran from Boston, died of a heart
attack. Thomas indie and Claude
Bailey, delegates from Greenville,
S. c., were seriously injured in the
accident in which Busselle was killed.
Senator Steiwer told the Legion its
reputation for "disinterested and pa
triotic service presents a question