Evening star., 1940-09-24
Legion Sets Aside
Convention Business
For Monster Parade
More Than 1900, 900 Line
Boston Streets to See
10000 Veterans March
9y the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press.
BOSTON, Sept 24.-The American
Legion, with bands blaring and BAN
ners waving, paraded today before
several million spectators lining a
route blazed by landmarks of the
Nations history.
Legion officials, surveying the tre-
mendous crowds along the route,
estimated the spectators numbered
100000 and constituted the great
est gathering ever to watch the or
ganization's annual parade. Police
earlier had estimated that the swell
ing throngs had exceeded the two
million mark. Mounted police rode
herd on the tightly-packed throng
to prevent them from encroaching
on the marching space.
Booming salvos from an artillery
battery over Boston Common set the
marchers off on a pa mile trek.
National preparedness problems and
a prospective slam-bang fight for the
choice of a national commander
were laid aside for the day as
Legionnaires from all parts of the
Nation tramped through Boston
streets.
A cool breeze swept the city. max
ing ideal weather for the marchers.
The spectators came early and well
prepared. Everything from peach
baskets to comfortable, soft
cushioned chairs were pressed into
use. Throngs leaned out the win
dows of Office buildings and homes
along the line of march.
Saltonstall Reviews Parade.
Led by escorts of police and picked
details from the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps, the parade passed in
review before Leverett Saltonstau,
Massachusetts Legionnaire Cover
nor, uniformed and standing at at
tention beneath the century-old
gold dome of the State capitol,
Gov. Saltonstall took his place in
the parade as the 1st Division, con-
sisting of Regular Army troops and
motorized equipment, passed the
statehouse.
In a silence strange for parade
crowd of this size. the thousands
watched quietly while the long line
of motorized units rolled past, eX-
hibiting some of the Nations newest
fighting tools-anti-air guns
and huge SpotlightS for detecting
aircraft. truck-mounted coastal de-
fense guns and speedy troop trucks
and staff cars.
Behing the Nations fighting men
of today moved the still-jaunty
fighting men of 1917, in an hours
long procession. Before the last OF
the estimated 10000 passed along
the narrow streets, it was expected
that evening shadows would have
fallen.
Absent from the ranks of the
Akron, Ohio, post was Legionnalre
Wendell Willkie, Republican nom
inee for President, who sent his
outfit telegram of regret that he
would be unable to march. MIR.
Willkie voiced confidence that the
national convention would chart a
course" to build new faith in
America and American institutions"
An estimate of Police Supt. Ed
ward j. Fallon placed the horde OF
spectators at above the two million
mark reached during last nights
Forty and Eight procession.
Riding in one of the first OF the
Army cars was Maj. Gen. James
Woodruff, 1st Corps Area COM
mander and chief marshal of the
parade.
Washington Leaders Present.
In National Comdr. Kellys re-
viewing stand were Gov. BarroWs OF
Maine, Stephen Chadwick of WASH
ington and John Emery of Michigan,
both past commanders; Gen. Frank
Hines. veterans administrator OF
Washington; Mrs William H. Cor
with. National Auxiliary president;
Frank Samuels of Kansas, national
adiutant: James Fitzgerald, vice
commander, and Thomas Owen, Jr..
of Washington, Legion historian.
Leading the Maryland delegation
was the States Gov. O'Conor, a
Legionnaire.
Baltimore trooped past the re-
viewing stand to the strains OF
Maryland, My Maryland"
The four-day conventions opening
session yesterday was high lighted by
an address by William Knudsen,
chairman of the National Defense
Advisory Commission, and the read
ing of messages from President
Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie.
Edward N. Scheiberling OF Albany,
N. Y. one of the 10 announced cam
didates for national commander, let
1t be known that he would demand
a Showdown" ballot fight on the
convention floor.