The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-09-15


 18th annual convention, openir bring a quarter of a million this city of a million populatiC
 Many in the huge overflo' be billeted in cities 35 miles fl
 With four times more advance reservations filed this year than for any other session, Legion officials believe they see a note of economic recovery written in what each year is the nations biggest assemblage.
 s. R. O." signs for the conven- ton period were hung on hotels months ago. To accommodate the overflow, arrangements have been made with the nearby cities of Ak ron, Lorain, and Gainesville.
 Like most Legion jamborees, the convention will be staged with the fanfare and chatter of 8 carefree get-together.
 Musicians in Marathon
 In one event alone - musical marathon" - more than 1000 ingbandsmen will participate for 70 hours straight in concert welcom- ing incoming Legionnaires and to let Clevelanders know they are here.
 The marathon will be staged on a specially-erected platform in the center of the public square and will start the day before the convention opens, Sessions will continue through September 25.
 This years parade will require 10 hours, At least 100000 are expected In the line of march down Cleve- lands historic Euclid avenue. Par aders will start passing the review ing stand at 10 a. m. and continue until 8 p. m.
 Robert A. Good, chairman of the hotels and housing committee, said he attributed the 400 per cent gain in reservations to the distri- button of bonus money, general improvement and increased Legion membership.
 Besides the Legion its Auxiliary the Forty and Eight and Eight and Forty organizations will meet at the same time.
 Several thousand convention visi- tors will make boats and railroad cars their homes during the extra. vaCnnza.
 Eight Ships To Be Hotels
 Eight lake steamers will serve as floating hotels for groups from New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois anh Massachusetts. These will be docked on the lake front.
 Five hundred Pullman cars will be parked on railroad sidings to serve as homes for hundreds of other delegation groups.
 That company streets of pup tents might be pitched in auto parks and on other vacant prop erty to bivouac delegates has been thought probable.
 The Legion has c total member ship of slightly less than one lnil- lion, with one-third of its members living In Ohio and its bordering states. The Auxiliary has more than 100000 members.
 Tn the musical marathon, two band units an hour will play until 140 units have participated. Then, according to Glenn Campbell, en- tertainment chairman, if the bandsmen have any notes left, or wind in their lungs, they may re- surne playing.
 Outlay to Be Vast
 Legion officials expect more than $i,0o,0o0 will be represented in the equipment of attending drum and bugle corps.
 The colorfpl appearance of more than 100 such units will climax months of preparation in faraway places. The drum and bugle corps competition will be held in the mammoth lakefront stadium, which seats almost e5,00o.
 Several thousand dollars for handmade Indian costumes have ben spent by Q drum corps from Manakato, Minn., alone.
 Ofticial badges for this years convention pay tribute to two Clevelanders who gave distin- guished service to the organiza- ton.
 AE1Dute tO McVulkB
 For the Legion and Auxiliary the medallion bears Q likeness of Birgadier General John R. Me- Cuigg, one-time national comman- der. That to be worn by members of the Forty and Eight and Eight and Forty societies Inemorializes John A. Eden, late commander of the Ohio department. Elden an at- torney, was killed in an automobile accident two years ago.
 The Legion met last in Cleve- land in 1920, two years after the close of the war.
 This years session will be the fifth large convention of Q busy summer season here. Previous ones, ail political, have included those of the Socialist party, the Repub- iican national convention, the Townsend and Coughlin gatherings. -