The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-01
DEDICATION PROGRAMME.
suggestions Looking to a Change in
Some of It's Features.
INDIANAPOLIS Journal.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
In to-day's Journal appears the pro-
gramme for the dedicatory services of the
soldiers monument May 10, and 1 desire to
say if the programme is followed it will
require about three hours TO carry it
through, as follows: Invocation. five min
utes; General Wallace's address, twenty
five minutes; music, ten minutes; Major
Menzies's presentation, fifteen minutes; ac-
ceptance by the Governor, fifteen minutes:
G. A r. services. twenty minutes; music,
ten minutes; Grafton by General Foster,
forty minutes; music, ten minutes; poem,
ten minutes; all told, 16O minutes. To this
add the call TO order, the benediction and
the usual delays in beginning and between
acts, and three hours have been used up,
making it l p. m. before the services are
closed. This allows but thirty minutes un-
til the formation of the afternoon parade,
and but one hour if the parade should move
at sharp 2 p. m. Where will the crowds
who will be in the city on May 10 get their
meals within the time specified?
The parade should form at 2 p. m, move
at 80 and the g.. A. r. services should fol-
low the parade and review. and that be
followed by the vesper service and return
of the battle flags to the Capitol building.
In the order for the battle flag battalion
at 8 a. m. IT is stated the color bearers
will leave the procession as each organiza-
ton passes the north side of Monument
place, deposit the colors in the racks, where
they are TO remain in charge of a detail Of
the National Guard until the vesper serv-
ices are concluded" Why are the colors
TO be placed in charge of the National
Guard? Are not the men who carried and
marched with these flags on so many bat
tlefields. 1861 to 1865, worthy of the honor of
guarding them on May 10? The battle-fiag
parade is set for such an early hour that
thousands of people will not get a chance
TO see the colors except on the platforms, If
then. because the morning trains will not
arrive before the parade moves. What
becomes of the organizations after the
flags are deposited in the racks? Are they
TO march out of the Circle to make room
for others? Are the crippled survivors of
the Indiana regiments TO be given seats on
the platform. or are the seats to be re-
served only for invited guests and those
who subscribe toward the expenses of the
dedication? Why should not the battle
flags, with the regimental organizations, be
given a designated place in the afternoon
parade? Surely it would not detract from
men who did not serve in Indiana regi-
ments. nor from the Spanish-American
war veterans TO allow these organizations
with their old tattered and battle-scarred
flags. to appear in the afternoon parade.
Change your programme, gentlemen, to
accord with the above suggestions, and you
will receive the heartfelt thanks of the ex-
Indiana soldiers as we'll as Of the thousands
of onlookers Of the afternoon parade, many
of whom never saw a battle flag.
w. y. WILLIAMS, VI. D.,
Sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
Indianapolis, April 80.