Evening star., 1935-09-24
LEGION TROOPERS
THRILL ST. LOUIS
Marchers Stage Parade
While Leaders Jockey
for Political Edge.
BY the Associated Press.


ST. LOUIS, September 24.-Some
thirty thousand American Legion
naires busted of their uniforms and
polished up tin hats today for six
hours of music and spectacle through
the streets Of st. Louis.
Regular convention business was
waived for the day in favor Of the
parade, the outstanding public dem
onStration of the seventeenth annual
convention here.
Small groups knotted in committee
rooms, however, plotted the order Of
business for tomorrow, the day that
will see the Legion's ambitious 1886
36 program, geared around demand
for cash payment of the bonus, set
in motion.
But to the thousands Of delegates.
alternates and visitors 1t was a day
for marching. At least 125 musical
organizations, including 100 drum and
bugle corps, will participate, many OF
them already champions in their own
right.
Arizona Post Leads.
To Arizona went the signal honor
No in the order Of march. The
order is based on increases in State
membership during the year. Nevada
Is second. The two States ranked
in that order last year. Missouri con-
sented to march at the end Of the
parade, a usual courtesy of the host
State.
Business in st. Louis was at .
standstill
Legion officials estimated nearly
100000 spectators jammed into the
st. Louis Memorial Plaza to watch
the parading veterans. Seats in an
impromptu grandstand were packed
hours In advance.
First In the line Of march was Ed
ward c. Hayes of Illinois. past ma
tional commander. He was followed
by Army troops from the Jefferson
Barracks. then came the Legionnaires,
marching by State departments, IN
the order of the record Of member
ship increases during the year.
Overhead roared two huge Army
hlimps and squadron of 60 Army
cruising planes from the Sd Attack
Corps at Barksdale Field, Shreye-
port, La.
Belgrano in Stands.
National Comdr. Frank N Bel
grano headed delegation of 81 digni-
taries in the reviewing stand. With
him was Mrs. A. C. Carlson, national
president Of the Legion's Auxiliary.
Commanding officers of the Army
units were in charge Of the reviewing
stand until the Legion host arrived.
Then, with a flag ceremony, the re-
viewing post was turned over to Bel
grano.
The Cleveland delegation, hustling
candidates for next years annual
convention, carried their campaign
on above the parade. A large silver
blimp circled over the heads Of the
nnarchers, trailing a banner with the
legend, Come to Cleveland in 1886"
Weather conditions were ideal for
the spectators but Legion officials
said the off-season heat probably re-
duced the number of prospective
marchers by about 10000. At one
time estimates were that 100000 vet
erans would be in the line Of march.
Outside Groups In Line.
Representatives of foreign nations
and the Legion's outside departments
followed the national commander in
the line Of march. They were, in
order:
Philippine Islands, Italy, Guam,
Hawaii, Panama, Alaska, France,
Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada.
Back of the parade ran the steady
undercurrent Of convention politics,
as cities and delegates jockeyed for
position in the business sessions Of
Wednesday and Thursday. The race
for successor to Frank N. Belgrano.
IT., the national commander, appeared
wide open, with nine announced can
didates in the field, and four cities
ballyhooed their bids for the 1896
meeting.
Cleveland took to the air in its
campaign. Sky-writing airplanes wrote
cleveland" in smoke, and a huge
blimp circled overhead, trailing the
Ohio city's slogan, Cleveland for q
perfect 80" Music, speeches and re-
freshments went with the conven-
tions offers of Denver, Atlantic City
and Los Angeles.
Future Sessions Requested.
Chicago, meanwhile, slipped in an
Invitation for 1888. Oklahoma City
and Minneapolis asked for 1889 and
Kansas City for 1941. Montreal, Can
ada, and New York City are seeking
the 1887 convention.
Next years convention became a
matter for the entire convention when
the Committee on Time and Place,
unable to reach decision, voted to
toss the problem back to the delegates
tomorrow.
. In the report Of its Legislation Com
nnittee, also tomorrow, the Legion was
certain to renew its perennial demand
for full payment of the bonus. Seven
hundred departmental resolutions were
In the convention hopper and As of
them urged unqualified payment of
the adjusted compensation certificates.
Comdr. Belgrano sounded the OPEN
ing note in the bonus anthem at yes
terdays session. Considered on its
own merits, he said, the bonus has "a
fair chance Of passage" Saddled with
an imitation clause, "a subject more
controversial than the bonus itself, it
is doomed from the very beginning"
The statement hinted that the in
fation-bonus bill of Representative
Wright Patman of Texas, would be
denied Legion support again this year.
Rankin Applauded.
The convention shouted its approval
during the introduction of distin-
guished guests when Representative
John w. Rankin Of Mississippi, chair