The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-04

President Mckinley. Maryland's rep
resentation included the historic Fifth
Regiment of Baltimore. and Virginia
had in line the Richmond Blues, a
light infantry organization that rem
dered conspicuous service on many oc-
casions. During the Civil War it rem
dered service to Lee and Stonewa1l
jackson for the Confederacy. 1t was
mustered in for the Spanish War, but
did not get to the front
Among other noted military organi-
cations in the parade were the Rich
mond Hussars, a cavalry command of
Augusta, Ga, and the cadet regim ment
from the Virginia Military Institute,
popularity known as 1.-THE West Point
of the Souths'' which supplied many
of the high commissioned officers for
the Conferedate army in the Civil
War.
Civic Organizations.
Following the military divisions,
marched the civic organizations, with
the American Club of Pittsburg-a
uniformed club noted in a score of
campaignS-aS the special escort OF
Major Thomas P. Morgan, marshal of
pageant was heralded as the Prosper
ity Brigade" and in cluded in it were
many organizations which for years
have been regular attendants upon ma
tional conventions and inaugural cere-
monies. Some organizations were in
line, however. that never before had
visited Washington, and their clever
marching and attractive uniforms
caught and held the fancy of the
throngs. Among these were the
''Pickaninny Band" composed of col
ored orphan boys of South Carolina,
the Sherman Scouts" of Utica, n. Y,
carrying at the head of their line
huge oil painting of their neighbor,
Vice. President Sherman, and leading
at the rear a gaily caparisoned BILLY
Goat" an alligator Band from
louisiana; a "Possum Club" from
Georgia and a Taft Club, five hundred
strong, from the same state; the New
York Republican County Committee,
1000 strong; the Columbus (Ohio)
Glee Club, 100 men, probably the best
political musical organization in the
country; an 'UncIe Sam Club" of Buff
falo. each of its 1O6 members attired
in the conventional Uncle Sam cos
tune; the Bug House Hose Company,
of Long Island; President Roosevelts
neighbors and many others.
The Minneapolis Flambeau CLUB
one of the most spectacular organi-
zation of the country, also appeared in
this division of the parade; and not
the least important feature of the civic
division were the representatives or
several camps of Confederate Vetere
ans, now grim and gray, some or
whom wore their old-time uniforms
and carried their shot-riddled flags.
No Rough Riders.
Four years ago, conspicuous fea-
ture of the inaugural parade was
made UP of Rough Riders. Today
their place was taken in the pageant
by a contingent of gentlemen riders
from the fox-hunting districts OF
MARYLAND and Virginia, all clad in reg
ulation pink coats and black caps.
They were mounted on the fines
horses that were shown in the parade,
all thoroughbreds, satin-coated and
handsome.
president Taft had as his
personal escort and guard OF
honor, the Troop A. the black horse
troop, of Cleveland, but as special es-
cort of honor he had the veteran SOL
diers and sailors of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, the men who fought the
nations battles when to do so tried
mems souls. Accompanying them was
that contingent of younger soldiers
the Spanish War Veterans. In the dl-
vision, too, were the organizations or
the army and navy union.
It was q tumultuouS recept1on
which the throngs gave the incoming
and outgoing presidents, and it was
cordial and heartfelt greeting which
they reverently accorded to that too
RAPIDLY diminishing band of men who
in time of war were willing to lay
DOWN their lives for the nation and in
time of peace join with the country
in honoring the nations president.