The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-28
MONSTER
Banquet and
Parade.
W0RCESTER'S BOYS
To Be Royalty Honored by
Local Citizens.

]
Board of Trade rooms on Foster street
last evening and started the ball to
rolling merrily for monster testimo-
NAL to the Worcester volunteer SOL
diers which viii be given Monday
| In the morning there will be a short
street parade by the four Worcester
companies of volunteers. All U. S. SOL
diers and sailors who may be in Wor-
cester are invited to join in the festiv-
tiles.
Monday evening a banquet will be
given at Mechanics hail. and many men
of note will make addresses The gall
lery will be reserved for citizens, and
the tickets are limited in their num-
Der. The. price of tickets has been
placed at So. This price will prevail
for all tickets of admission sold.
The executive committee decided to
not invite the mothers, wives or sweet
hearts of the Cuban heroes to parti-
cipate at the banquet Consequently
those present viii be only soldiers,
sailors and invited guests of note.
The subcommittee were appointed
last evening, and the tickets for the
banquet will be placed on sale today.
The four Worcester companies will
\ be officially informed Of the committees
action, and they will probably make
their announcement of their arrange
ments SAT- day morning, after roll call
at the armory.
1 The banquet details will be arranged
as soon as possible. Every effort will
1 be made to make the occasion one
! W q Ia,
and an occasion that will convince the
4 boys that Worcester people appreciate
and are proud of their record on the
/ fields Of battle.
/ The finance committee win today be-
| gin their laborS and call upon citizens
who are known to be able and willing
/ to contribute their share to make the
affair a, decided success.
| 1t was suggested by many of the pro-
/ motors of the affair that the working
classes, who are all friends of the SOL
diers be asked to contribute their mite
/ dime will be just as acceptable as
4 the rich mans dollars, and contribu-
tions may be left with Halleck Bartlett
or any member Of the finance commit
teee.
Governor Wolcott will probably be
/ invited to attend the banquet and with
his staff review the parade in the after
1 noon, and make an address in the even
ing, Prominent men from all parts of
eastern Massachusetts will also be in
4 vited
i The committee are not as yet able to
determine how many will sit down to
the tables at Mechanics hall, but it is
thought that 81 oyers will be laid
Worcester cit IS win undoubtedly
assist the committees to the best of
their ability, and the soldiers will be
| treated in right royal manner.
oil nas-
but it was nearer $50 before those who
had been invited to attend made their
appearance in sufficient numbers to
warrant the promoters to call the gath
ering to order.
! Capt. p. L. Rider took the floor, and
in few well-closen remarks explained
| the reasons for issuing the call. Capt.
Rider said in part
Last May we watched the Worces-
ter companies march away to war and
| we cheered them to the echo. They
were at that time escorted by bands,
and the cheers of the populace gave the
heroes heart to leave their loved ones
and their happy homes.
"In three months the heroes returned
to Worcester haggard and worn; sick
in both mind and body, and we did not
give them any formal recognition.
Their homecoming was very different
| from their going away, and we have
assembled here tonight to formulate
some plan to give them hearty, spon-
taneous testimonial of our appreciation
of their valor and the good work they
did for their country"
The captain explained the doings of
himself and his fellow eo-operators,
and then requested that some one make
suggestions for proper organization
Col. w. S. B. Hopkins was chosen
chairman, and he thanked the gentle
men present for the confidence they had
placed in him, although, he said, that
he did not think that his position. would
be much of a burden. He expressed
himself as being heartily in favor of
| the proposed movement, and requested
that suggestions be offered Immediate
] ~.
Charles F. Bigelow was chosen as
secretary. The gentlemen present were
1 10th to be the first to break the 81
lence, and at an opportune time Lieut..
Hathaway called for Hon. Theodore c.
Bates. Mr.. Bates made a short ad-
dress which brought several men to
their feet at it's close. Mr.. Bates said,
among other things:
Il should prefer that some other
gentleman express his views first L
have never doubted but what Worces-
ter citizens would, before the soldiers
were mustered out, show their appre-
citation of the valor of the I'd Massa
chusetts men. Last week I attended
the peace jubilee at Chicago. All the
great men of the country were present,
including President Mckinley, a por-
ton of his cabinet, Major General
Miles, Capt. SigSbee, who gained noto
riety as captain of the Maine, and
many others.
1T was my privilege to be present
at the banquet in the evening. There
We're more people in Chicago that day
than ] ever saw gathered together be-
fore in that city. The parade was the
finest ever saw. / do not believe that
any more patriotism was shown even
in revolutionary times. think the
! people of Worcester are waiting to
show their appreciation, and will dis
play more patriotism than they dis
played after the other wars of our
country. The same feeling that was
displayed in revolutionary days should
set the pace. am ready to do my
share" (Applause.)
Mayor Rufus p Dodge was called
upon and responded in a manner that
awoke every ones patriotic feeling. He,
said:
Whatever is done should be done
with the characteristic promptness that
has been displayed at all times in Wor-
cester. The time is short, but if the
right spirit exists-and we believe it
does exist--the volunteers can be given
such testimonial as they deserve" Gap
| plause.)
Captain p. l.. Rider and Halleck
Bartlett were asked if they had fornu-
lated any plans. But they replied that
they had called the meeting for that
purpr
Dodge suggested that a COM.
three be appointed to select
\ committee of 10 gentlemen
pg to their own judgment.
Wellington spoke brief