Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-25
TUE RoryE OF THE PARADE.

The route Of march for the procession
of volunteers and veterans on July "a
leaves Main street out entirely. OF this
ARRANGEMENT the Main-street business
men complain. and with more right, since
they are the largest contributors to the
entertainment fund. and have spent more
money than any other class in decorating
their houses.
Their dissatisfaction has eliminated in
the signing of a call asking the Chamber
of Commerce to intercede for them with
those having the parade in charge. They
ask that the route be extended from the
intersection Of Broad and Eleventh
streets down Governor to Main, UP Main
to Seventh. or Sixth etc, etc, and thence
onward TO Monroe Park. exactly as now
arranged. At Monroe Park the corner
stone of the jefferson Davis monument
Is TO be laid by the Virginia Grand Lodge,
ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
The laying out Of the route was done
By Major Norman V. Randolph, chief OF
STAFF Of Chief Marshal John b. Gordon,
subject to the latter's approval. The
work could not have been i'm better
hands. Major Randolph is by far the
best-equipped man in Richmond for du-
ties such as those which he has accepted
tnhch against his own inclination for
this occasion. And his purpose in con-
filming the route TO the level ground OF
Shockoe Hill was TO make the march
easier for the old and feeble veterans,
and so induce many to fall into line who
~
His motive was excellent. We cannot
but applaud It: yet we are also bound to
recognize the fact that there IS very
general and urgent demand now that
the procession should come down on Main
street, where the men in line will see the
houses richly decorated, and where they
will be on ground which was very familiar
10 them during the war.
1t IS not asked that the route be eX-
tended from the City Hall down TO Nine
teenth street. as is sometimes done, but
that II be extended only to Governor or
Thirteenth streets. and thence to Main.
This would give the marchers but half
the hill to climb and would be adding
only n few squares TO the routes length.
And IL. in the opinion Of the authorities,
there should be any veterans who ought
not TO be required TO march the whole
length of this route, we submit that these
might be allowed TO join their comrades
and take their place I'm line at the top
of the hill.
Thousands OF persons, who have been
in the habit Of viewing professions from
the doors and windows of Main-street
houses will join with the businessmen
of that locality in appealing through the
Chamber of Commerce TO Major Ran
dolph and General Gordon to make the
desired change in the route.
1t viii doubtless be argued that July
% may be a very warm day, and that
every inch of march that can be saved
should be saved. We shall not deny this
prouositIon, but we would say. in the
FIRST place, that the route as now fixed
does not allow the procession to display
itself before the public TO the best ad-
vantage; and, secondly. that IT is not the
marching so much as the waiting that
taxes the strength and tries the temper
of the men. The men in the procession
want TO see and be seen, both; and. under
the lead OF Norman Randolph, we know
there will be no waiting-but that the
procession will move at the appointed
hour-and hence the line OF march may
be safely extended for the very few
squares suggested by the petitioners in
this case.