Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-04
AN EXPLANATION
OF Why the Decoration Day Pro
gramme at Grafton Was
a FfxxIe.
Thousands of People Were Sold by
the Failure to Carry Out the Pro-
gramme as Advertised-Who Was
to Blame.
Special to the Register.


GRAFTON, w. Va, June 3.-The
largest gathering ever seen in Grafton
was on Decoration Day this year, and
it is to be regretted that all returned
| to their homes disappointed and dis
| satisfied, none more so than the mem
bers of Reno Post G. A. R. on whom
| unjustly rests the blame for the dismal
| failure.
| The Grand Army men say the fault
was among some of Daytons Office
holding friends, who, by ways that
are dark, and tricks that are vain,' Sc
cured the cooperation OF the secretary
OF the Decoration Day committee of
the G. A. R., who, after advertising
Congressman Dayton as having by
special request, secured Hon. Thomas
H. Mckee as speaker of the day, for
the purpose of fooling soldiers into the
belief that Reno Post considers Dayton
their friend, was in a few days after
thus advertising Dayton, appointed
Census Enumeration for West Grafton
The boys say that while thousands
of people were preparing to come to
Grafton to hear this most eloquent
and polished orator." who was coming
at the special request Of Congressman
Dayton" Ira Robinson, who married
Congressman Daytons wife's sister,
was busy preparing an address which
he was to deliver as the orator of the
day, when the telegram, at the last
moment would announce with regrets
the inability of Mckee to be present.
There was nothing original in this
trick, it had been successfully worked
in Grafton the last two years.
This was to be kept on the dead
quiet but Robinson became so elated
over the prospect of hearing himself,
that he made confidants of his friends
and relatives back of Sandy, and invit-
ed them in to hear it. Soon after their
arrival it leaked out that Ira was to
be the orator of the day and some one
promptly circulated the ridiculous re-
port that Mr.. Mckee could not be pres
ent, because Mckinley refused to allow
Congress to adjourn. The G. A. r.
grasped the situation and quietly with
drew from any participation in the
ceremonies of the day. So completely
did they withdraw that when Mrs.
Leeds appeared on the street with sever
al hundred children it was found to be
very difficult matter to secure ten or
twelve soldiers to accompany them as
body guard. Three of these guards
read the ritualistic services of the G..
A. R., but not until one of the three
had positively refused to read his part
| from the Rostrum while Robinson ac-
cupied it, and he only consented to
read it from the lawn, when assured
that no speaking would be allowed, but
that the decoration of the graves would
| follow the G. A. r. services, which pro-
gramme was carried out notwithstand
ing Robinson's urgent appeals to be
| allowed to speak.
The Grafton Sentinel, edited by Day
tons postmaster, thus explains away
the troubles:
THE Sentinel very much regrets for
the credit and good name of our town
that the programme promised for the
observation of Decoration Day was so
much 0 failure. Of course the fail
ure of the orator of the day to fulfill
his engagement was an unforeseen con-
tingency, and one that would never
have been anticipated. No one would
have dreamed that Congress could pos
sibly have found il necessary under or
binary circumstances to remain in ses-
sion Decoration Day, and thus prevent
the absence for the day of an import
ant official who had been engaged to
deliver the address. The absence OF
music was one of the worst features of
the omissions and was the source of
much regret, and it ought not have
been allowed. However, we hope those
having the arrangements in charge
hereafter will see to it that such fail
ures will not again be allowed"
While we wonder at the Associated
Press dispatch as published in the Reg
! lister, which said that "the House adj
journed for Memorial Day." and in an