Evening star., 1954-08-22
Legion Chiefs
Due This Week
For rConcIave
Commander ConneII
To Head Vanguard;
Porude PIuns Set
By John v. Horner

AOS4Oh AAkotCo A1VO WdO11A1lStU tU1I
this week to prepare for the seth
annual convention-and possibly
the biggest in history-of the
veterans organization.
National Commander Arthur
J. Connell. once an apprentice
seaman and now q Connecticut
clothier, will arrive Thursday.
But hundreds Of other important
Legion officials will precede him
to help arrange details for the
four-day conclave beginning
August 80.
A majority Of the delegates,
many Of them accompanied by
wives and children, will reach
the Capital next week end.
National headquarters of the
Legion will be transferred from
Indianapolis to Washington to-
day.
Permanent staff Due Today.
Thirty-one members Of the
permanent staf arrive by train
early this morning and will set
up shop in the Legion's branch
headquarters at 1908 K street
NV.
Heading this contingent win
be National Adjutant Henry II.
Dudley and his assistant. Emil
A. Blackmore. Also in the group
will be Mrs. Jane Rishworth,
national secretary Of the Ameri-
can Legion Auxiliary.
Charles w. Ardery Of Indian
apolis, correspondent national
of the Forty and Eight the
Legion's fun organization-will
arrive here by air Wednesday.
This years head Of that unit,
known as the chef de chemin de
fer, AL B. Clarke of Chattanooga,
is expected Friday.
The Indianapolis stan is
coming to town aboard q special
railroad car and will bring q
baggage car Of Office records and
files with them.
A second STAFF contingent,
numbering 2S, will come from
Indianapolis Thursday.
10000 Legionnaires Expected.
Officials said yesterday that
advance registration indicate
this convention will be larger
than the one held last year In
st. Louis and as large as or
larger than the record-breaker
in New York two years ago.
Their figures gave rise to esti-
mates of 10000 Legionnaires in
Washington at some time during
the four-day meeting. Not all
will be here at once.
Many will attend a single
business session, such as the
opening meeting, when Presi-
dent Eisenhower, Cardinal Spell
man and Admiral Arthur w.
Radford are billed as speakers.
Other thousands will be in the
big throng expected Tuesday,
August 81, for the Legion parade.
Still others probably will be in
town Thursday, September 2, at
the final session, when new Off
GERS are elected.
Although some have estimated
that 100000 persons will march
in the parade. Metropolitan
police are figuring on a total of
from $4,000 to 100000. This is
based upon presumption of
favorable weather-not too hot
and not too wet.
Biggest Parade in ID. c. History.
In any event, the parade could
be the biggest thing Of the sort
ever seen in Washington, in
cluding inaugurals. It will be a
spectacle featuring scores Of
bands, drum and bugle corps.
marching units and fancy floats.
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
said yesterday he will take a
flight over the downtown area
during the parade in order. to
direct traffic operations of his
department. After riding over
the line of march at the head
of the procession, the chief will
use a cruising radio car for
ground observation. Then he
plans to board a helicopter for
a birds eye-view" of the situa-
tion.
Chief Murray will maintain
radio contact from the aircraft
with headquarters, where one of
his deputies will execute COM
mandS.
Convention Opens August 30.
While the parade will be q
highlight for the public. many
events this week and next will
be of special interest to mem
bers of the Legion.
Commander Connell will
attend numerous ceremonies be-
fore he calls the convention to
order on the morning of August
30. Among the important pre-
liminarieS will be committee
meetings this week, musical con-
tests and a memorial service at
Arlington Cemetery next Sunday
The Auxiliary also has sched-
uled a number of pre-convention
activities, including committee
meetings next week end. The
Eight and Forty. which is the
women's fun organization, holds
its annual dinner Saturday eve
ming at the Mayflower Hotel
headquarters for the women's di-
vision.
The American Legion Press
Association will conduct busi-
ness meeting and hold its ban
quet Sunday at the National
Press Club. The World War
nurses reception will be held the
same evening at Walter Reed
Hospital.
Legion officials said Washing
ton has provided ample housing
accommodations for delegates
and visitors expected during
the convention They nroiSed