Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-17
ENTHUSIASM
Shown Throughout Vermont
in Preparing For the
Dewey Reception.
COL. HOOKER FOR MARSHAL
Chosen at Meeting of the State Commit
tee Recently Appointed by Gov. Smith
Only vermontsrs to Take Partin
the ade-Organizstion of
tho Committee.

Montpelier Aug. 14.-Twelve of the four
teen members of the State Dewey recep-
ton committee met Gov. Smith at the
Pavilion Hotel parlors in this City this at
ternoon to formulate plans for the coming
celebration In Montpelier Hon o, Nj.
Barber of Bennington County and F. II.
Button of Addison County were unavod-
ably absent. Gov. Smith expressed his
gratificat ton at the manner in which the
people of the State at large evidently pro-
pose to take hold of this affair and back
up the efforts of the chief executiv ami
his committee. From the Canada lime to
the most southern point of the State, as
suranCes have come to the governor that
Vermont wants to welcome Admiral Dew
ey In way never before attempted and
the belief that were the Legislature now in
session they would vote to appropriate
any sum proposed to make the affair the
biggest kind of success. Gov. Smith called
the meeting to order and suggested the
name OF Col. G. w. Hooker of Brattleboro
as chairman of the committee and he was
unanimously elected. Gov. Smith stated
that he had been subjected to criticism be-
cause he had appointed no democrats as
members OF the committee but that the
appointments were made largely upon the
suggestions of prominent men from the
various counties and that there had been
no intention of sighting any one. Col. c.
s. Forbes of St. Adams was elected sec
rotary for the committee and DIN Merrill
OF Enosburg Falls, treasurer.
The governor announced to the commit
tee that the date of the arrival OF Adj
miral Dewey in Montpelier had not as yet
been fixed but that every indication points
to the largest crowd being present at the
celebration ever seen in this city. He said
he had called on Mayor Senter this morn
ing and had been assured of the hearty
cooperation of the city of Montpelier in
| st1.,.
Cross assured the committee that the EN-
change hotel was offered free of expense
to the committee as headquarters COL
Hooker suggested the cadets of Norwich
University as a guard of honor; the First
Vermont regiment as escort and one car
riage in the parade in which should ride
Admiral Dewey and Gov. Smith; that the
various organizations in the State be in
Vited to participate in the parade at their
own expense. He also suggested that the
expenses of all the bands in attendance
be paid from the public fund that a re-
viewing stand be erected on the State
House grounds, whore, after the parade,
| everyone will have an opportunity to meet
the admiral face to face.
1t was the unanimous opinion of the
committee that the celebration should he
confined to one day. and that an illumina-
ton and fireworks in the evening close tho
celebration. 1t unanimously voted
monters and that no outside organZa-
tons 5e invited although it was suggest
ed that President Mckinley and cabinet
be invited to attend. Col. Hooker was the
unanimous choice of the committee for
marshal of the parade, although he had
suggested the name of Gen. r. s. Peck for
that position. Col Hooker accepted the
| position and was given full authority in
the appointment of his staff.
The secretary was instructed to invite,
through their chief officers, every organi-
zation in the State to attend the ceebra-
ton on or about October 18th.
Gov. Smith, L. Bart Cross and Fletcher
ID. Proctor were appointed a committee to
confer with the committee to be appointed
by Mayor Senter in the matter of the Sc
lection of n reception committee which is
to comprise at least 20 members
GOV. Smith, w. b. Wall and l.. Bart
Cross were appointed committee on
| transportation and Gov. Smith and DIN
Merrill as committee on finance.
An adjourned meeting of the State COM
mittee will be held in this city next Tues
/ day, when definite action will be taken
on the various suggestions made this af-
| ternoon.