The National tribune., 1909-10-21
THE ST. LOUIS CENTENNIAL.
A Grand Patriotic Parade on Veterans
Day

Day.
Editor National Tribune: Our CEN
tennial came and all Is over. The mos,
interesting part of each days display
for the comrades of st. Louis and the
visitors was on Friday. Oct. 8, 1909.
Many prominent ones were here from
all over the States Of the Mississippi
Valley, Past Commander-in-Ch Chief VIM.
Warner, our efficient United States SEN
ator with Past Department Command
ers and noted comrades from Illinois,
Iowa, Michigan and Kansas. All of our
Grand Army city Posts We're invited to
be present as representing the Order.
Never in the history of any Nation was
a finer representation made historically
than when Blair. Lyon. Hassendeubel
Harding. Neuman and Shaw Posts, In
open carriages. came along In uniforms.
each with their National and Post col
ors. Col. Shaw Post is colored. AS the
white driver. a handsome young man,
drove up. he inquired of the writer
whether Shaw Post comrades were col
ored. He was told that it was negro
organization. His face wrinkled he
cracked his whip and off he drove. Then
the ever-obliging Commander of Ran
som had q colored driver brought up
with a spanking team and open car
riage So colorcd Shaw Post, of st.
Louis, rode in the procession behind the
Confederate Camp and their Sons OF
Veterans as they came along passing the
mass of spectators We who rode "a few
carriages in the front heard enthusiastic
cheers upon cheers. AS they passed by
down Lawton avenue from Cardinal to
18th, which is occupied by the aristo-
cratic colored families, the cheers were
for Shaw's comrades; as they came
along in the sclect parts Of the city of
the Southern sympathizers, when they
saw the Confcderatcs in gray with the
stars and bars, the cheers were loud
and continuous, yet the colored com
rades enjoyed the cheers.
We had prominent display of Confed-
crate fathers and sons riding in car
riages in gray uniforms with the bonnie
blue flag of the Lost Cause. There
seemed to prevail secret influence in
the Committee on Military, whose duty
it was to extend invitations for our Sons
of Veterans Camps. They did not re-
ceive invitation to participate in the
parade. Strange how the Southern in
fiuence dominates in many of our city's
affairs to its detriment. Patriotism and
loyalty to our Republic seems to be with
many of the old native Americans a
terrible struggle to inculcate in their
public and social life. How strange
that wherever slavery existed the, minds
of so many otherwise good people
should control their action in such un-
generous disposition
ST. Louis entertained the half a mill
lion of people who We're with us with
ease; the hotel accommodations were
at their usual rates; no grumbling of
overcharges.
The last day, Saturday, at the Fair
Ground, Benton Barracks dedication,
we had typical patriotic Grand Army,
sons OF Veterans, Ladies' of the Eliza
beth Noble Circle day. Harry b. Hard
ing, Gen. Lyon Posts and representative
comrades from Ransom and Blair par
t'cipated with Fremont and Gen. Noble
Camp. Sons of Veterans
Comrade John w. Noble, former Sec
retary of the Interior, made an eloquent
address. Then Mrs. Henry Fairback,
Department President of the Ladies of
the G. A. r., presented a fine large BAN
ner for. the parks use, In which the
National Patriotic Instructor of the La
dies of the G. \. r., Mary Wanless. and
Sister Christian Albitz, Department Sec
retary, assisted.--Corporal, ST. Louis
Mo