Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-06-22
CONCERNING MEMORIAL DAY.
[Contributod.1

published an official letter against the
"Gcrmanla" in the papers of Sunday
and Monday because we were dlssat-
isfcd with their humdrum way OF cci-
cbrating Memorial day during the past
two years, and because we advocate
Il commemoration such as Akron hat
under the auspices of the Grand Army
and under the management OF Mr.. l..
Il. Werner. This same Veteran Asso-
citation at that time presented Mr..
Werner with a resolution, beautifully
engrosscd and signed by many promi-
nent members of the Grand Army, lit
which thanks and recognition arc
given for the excellent management
on his part of the Memorial celebra
tion mt that time. Surely the gentle
men of the Grand Army must have all
voted yes" AT that time or else this
unusual honor could not have been
conferred. And now has this organiza
tion suddenly changed its mind? This
is at least strange. If not nearly all
the veterans were pensioners one
might surmise that new influences had
brought about this metamorphosls.
We do not care to investigate this mat
ter at tlis time any further but sim,
ply wish TO bring before the public
the following facts:
The Grand Army people for n num-
Der of years past continually COM
planned because the participation or
the public in the Memorial day ser
vices grew smaller and smaller from
year TO year, because great many
people left the city, arranged plcnics,
fishing and hunting excursions or play
ed base ball. etc. When II rev years ago
Memorial committee of Buckley Post,
Mr.. u. II. Werner decided TO take
charge OF the commemorative festiv-
tiles and make them interesting
enough so that the public would be in
duced to participate, then the Grand
Army Post were indeed very glad to
have found a Messiah, and as above
referred to, honored him in an extra
ordinary manner in recognition of the
success with which his efforts were
crowned. Was 1t because the public
assembled In great masses on the
streets and in the park on the days or
these commemorative festivities which
were managed by Mr.. Werner, or be-
cause the people did not appear with
long drawn faces, or because they
tulked too loud, or because the bands
of music did not continually play
funeral dirges, or because the decoru'
tions were too splendid and the fire
works too brilliant, or was 1t because
the people made too much noise on
general principles, or because Il Few
We're afraid that the dead might rise,
or what was the reason that few
old fossils who are not i'll touch with
the present times nor the public pulse,
were able to influence II portion of the
members of the Grand Army and have
them come to the conclusion that after
all this kind of Il celebration and com
memolation was not correct and prop
er? For the past two years the old
fashioned celebrations were repro
duced The results were celebrations
without public, parade without
people. miserable affairs in which the
people at large did not take any part
and for which they had no sympathy.
The Grand Army people are therefore
placed before the alternative, that
they either keep the Memorial day
services for themselves ana by them
selves, after their own taste and stop
complaining regarding the non-parlic-
ipation of tile public at large, or they
will have 10 make up their minds to
adopt more modern methods, TO ar
range for an interesting manner of
commcmomtion IN which the public
al large can be interested and will
| take part. The people will have no
difficulty In recognizing the right way
All this was demonstrated In the years
'95, '06 '0T and '9S. They will quickly
Ircject anything which VIII not cores
pond aud coincide with the good sense
of the American public. Why don't
the Grand Army people themselves
make an effort once to do something
which will enlist the participation Of
the masses if they do not wish to en-
trust the citizens with the charge or
the commemorative festivities ON that
day? We are sure no one VIII make
any great efforts for the honor and
work connected with successful
management of affairs of that kind,
and which usually means in addition
to the ability to successfully plan ana
carry out, n large expenditure of time
ana money on the part of those who
undertake It.