Evening star., 1948-10-18
Big Ovation Is Given
President on Arrival
Atlegion Convention
BY the Associated Press

HiLVSiVu NVuvCuIlUlI
BY the Associated Press
MIAMI, Fla, Oct. 18.-The Ameri.
can Legion's national convention
began its colorful sessions today
with President Truman here to de.
liver the principal address.
James F. O'Neil of New Hamp-
shire, the national commander
called the convention to order al
1881 pm. Two big wartime Navy
hangers converted into a mammoth
convention hall were filled with
delegates, banners and music from
the championship band of Harwood
Post, No. S, Joliet, I'll.
Mr.. Truman, an artillery captain
IN World War /, was here as chair
man OF the Missouri delegation and
as commander-in-chief.
President Saluted.
The President arrived at $50 a m
aboard his plane, the independence
Squadrons of jet fighters and B-29s
roared overhead, a 21-gun salute
rang out, and the formalities OF
greetings included a review of troops
He rode slowly along a 20-mile
route from the airport, through
downtown Miami and Miami Beach
to an ocean front hotel. Huge
throngs lined the route and gave him
an ovation. The Navy's precision
f1iers, the Blue Angels, performed
snap rolls in unison over Biscayne
Bay and a big, six-engined B-36
bomber shook windows as it lum-
bered just above rooftop level.
Mr.. Truman and the long process
sion with him stopped briefly in
front Of the home of Howard Ham
nton, disabled veteran, while the
Chief Executive bought a Commu-
nifty Chest red feather from Mr..
Hamilton's daughter, Linda 4.
Constant Parades Held.
There was a constant procession
Of parades, military and Legion
naire, in downtown sections during
the morning, but the scene shifted
then to the waterfront convention
site.
Warren Due Tomorrow.
Gov. Earl Warren of California,
Republican vice presidential candi-
date, is due tomorrow and will ad-
dress the convention Wednesday.
Harold E. Stassen, former Governor
Of Minnesota and a Republican
spokesman, also arrives tomorrow
and Legion officials said he prob
ably would be a speaker.
Navy Secretary John L. Sullivan
arrived yesterday and will make a
major address late today. Other
cabinet members also are on the
program.
Legionnaires and their families
have been pouring into the city for
more than a week. They came in
SO special trains, two steamships,
scores of planes and thousands of
automobiles.
Legionnaires Snarl Traffic.
The crowd packed Miami and
spilled over into other communities
in the Greater Miami area. Le-
gionnaires thronged downtown
streets, staging harmless pranks,
snarling trafflc and creating con-
fusion in general.
The 40 and 8 society, fun-making
body Of the Legion, opened its
parallel convention at Miami Beach
with a gigantic parade last night.
Meanwhile, six candidates to sue
ceed Mr. O'Neil as National COM
nlander opened political headquar-
ters and began mastering their
strength for Thursdays election.
Perry Brown of Beaumont, Tex,
has been prominently mentioned as
next commander. but coalition of
four other candidates was working
to elect Ben Hilliard of Denver,
James Green of Omaha, Robert
Colfesh Of Des Moines or James
Daniel, jr, of Greenville, S. C..
George Craig of Brazil, Ind, Is the
sixth candidate.
Even before the convention off,
cially opened Legionnaires Won
dered where they would meet next
year.
I'VE have no place to go in 1s49
or 1885," Vincent A. Carroll, conven-
ton commission chairman. told the
Executive Committee.
William Stern, committeeman Of
Fargo, N. OAK, called the situation
serious. For the first time in the
history Of the American Legion we
have had no bid from any city," he
said.
Mr.. ONeil blamed the situation
on adverse publicity following other
conventions, and said a report of
100000 damage at the 1947 con-
vention in New York was entirely
without foundation"