Evening star., 1935-08-09
LEGION INFLUENCE
HAILED BY RANKIN
Mississippi Representative
Declares Veterans Pre-
vented Revolution in U. S.

Washingtonians were treated last
night to the biggest parade since the
Shriners' Convention. Ten thousand
looked on as nearly 5000 paraders
marched from John Marshall place
to the Mayfiower Hotel, where the
District department, American Legion,
opened its annual convention.
After stepping a couple of miles
to the music of 90 bands, Legion
members were urged at the Mayflower
to step some more.
"Step on the faces of politicians in
and out Of the Legion who would
make the Legion political tool" the
convention was exhorted by James
A. Drain, past national commander
of the Legion and present national
treasurer and judge advocate.
Drain praised District Legion posts
for securing the largest membership
gains during the past year.
Rankin Praises Legion.
Representative Rankin of Missis-
sippi, chairman of the House World
War Veterans Legislation Committee,
characterized the Legion as the
greatest stabilizing force in America"
and told the convention the United
States would have been plunged into
a "vicarious revolution if it had not
been for the influence of the World
War veterans" Rankin was cheered
for his plea for more liberal veterans
benefits.
In an address of welcome, Commits
sioner Melvin c. Hazen complimented
the Legion for its stand against "isms."
James O'Connor Roberts, depart
ment commander, told Commissioner
Hazen the Legion would work with
him to secure more playground facil-
tiles, larger police force and a Ma
tional Guard armory for the District.
j. Ernest sherwood, Pennsylvania
Legion department commander made
a brief address on behalf of the five
visiting department commanders from
Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Del
aware and New Jersey.
Col. Joyce Receives Cup.
A large silver cup was presented to
Col Kenyon A. Joyce, commander of
the Sd United States Cavalry, for the
assistance given by himself and his
command at Fort Myer on occasions
of Legion celebrations. Col. Joyce was
grand marshal of last nights parade,
riding on horseback Immediately be-
hind Police Supt. Maj Ernest w.
Brown who rode in a car at the head
OF the procession.
The parade began shortly after z
o'clock and followed an unusual route,
turning off Pennsylvania avenue at
Thirteenth street, moving north to
K street, west to Connecticut avenue
and north before the reviewing stand
in the 1000 block of Connecticut, to
the Mayf1ower. where it disbanded
Assistant Secretary of War Woodring
witnessed the parade from the re-
viewing stand.
81 Cars In Parade.
There were ST automobiles in the
parade and seven floats. World War
mothers and small number of Civil
War veterans rode in cars. The float
displays ranged from advertising
stunts with pretty girls to tableau
of the Battle of Fort Stevens, with |
Lincoln standing at the ramparts. |
The awarding of prizes for bands had |
to be deferred because the judges be-
leved all about equal.
Among the nine divisions of the !
parade were group of italian war |
veterans who gave the Fascist salute
when passing the reviewing stand.
Also there was float from the Tank
Corps Post, No. 10, from which sky
rockets and firecrackers flashed.
The department tonight will nomi- |
nate its officers for the coming year
and consider resolutions which in
clude demands for immediate cash |
payment of the bonus, increased |
hoSpitaliation facilities for District |
veterans, a more detailed veterans
preference law and increased rank
for naval warrant officers. /
Awards Announced.
Maj Paul j. McGahan, chairman
of the conventions Trophies and |
Awards Committee, announced an
nual awards of prizes for Legion dis |
tinction as follows:
The Watson B. Miller Trophy for
"unselfish service" to Comdr John H
O'Connell of the Vincent B. Costello |
Post, the Spafford Trophy to the
permanent possession of the Sergt.
Jasper Post. which won it thrice; the
Mrs. Kate K. Briggs Trophy for COM
munity service, the j. Miller Ken
yon Trophy for athletics to Fort Ste
vens Post, the Frank L. Peckham
Trophy to the Sergt. Jasper Post, the
Paul j. McGahan Trophy for the
post showing the largest percentage
membership increase this year, as
against its four-year average men,
bership, to the Kenneth H Nash
Post with 249 per cent; the Dorothy
Harper Senior Trophy to the Jane
A. Delano Post and the Dorothy
Harper Junior Trophy to the Stephen
r. McGroarty Post Auxiliary, the
Julius I. Peyser Trophy to the Bel
leau Wood Post, the Delaware Trophy
to the Government Printing Office
Post, the Quinton Roosevelt Trophy
to the Nash Post and the Junior
Roosevelt Trophy to the James E.
Walker Post.