New-York tribune., 1910-06-28
NONE SPEAKS FOR PARADE
Opinions of GuardSmen All
Opposed to Show.
NEEDLESS CLARKS0N SAYS
General Outspoken in Criticism
of Order-Soldiers Hesitate
to Speak Openly.

| Public sentiment against the proposed pa
rade Of the National Guard and the NaVai
| Militia on July as a part or the moiici-
| pal committees plans for sane ceieora-
| tior Of independence Day was augmented
Yesterday by the many protests received a'
The Tribune office. Citizens VINO cohsloei
| Il would be imposing q needless task upon
| the soldiers sent in letters Of protest ana
| there were many adverse expressions Oh
| opinion from prominent men in the com
| murity.
| Some citizens whose opinions on the SUD-
| ject were sought yesterday declined 10 eA-
press them on the ground that they dld
not intend to be in the city on that Gay
and could not expect to show the proper
patriotic approval of military demonstra-
tioli, should 1t be held They appeared 10
believe that the soldiers should have the
same privilege to seek a cooler place 1or
the extended holiday with their families
and not be compelled to march unless c1u-
Zens were likewise compelled to stay at
home and support and applaud their e1orI
The guardsmen themselves, despite the
Mayors belief that most Of them are ready
and willing to parade with commendaoie
spirit Of patriotism, are in large majority
adverse to the proposition, and express
their minds freely on the subject, although
they hesitate to speak openly as a matter
of discipline. They ready to obey or
derc in the true spirit OF soldterly duty
and to march if they have to, but 1t is not
difficult to learn that the present order 8
distasteful to them and an unnecessary ana
misguided obligation thrust upon them or
this particular Fourth of July, in their
opinion.
| Needless Duty, Says General Clarkson
General James S. CIarkson, former Sur
| yeyor. Of the Port, was among those wht
we're strong in their opinion OF disapprova
of calling out the troops on the Fourth.
az can't see the necessity of it at all.
said General Clarkson yesterday. Il thini
II would be imposing needless duty ant
discomfort upon the soldiers Many o
! then, are men of families and 1 shoule
think would want to spend the holiday
with their people That would be sane1
vav for them to spend the Fourth, In my
| on,n,on I do not believe that a military
parade will be worth while as an lnclden
| 70 sane celebration of independence
| Day"
| Cow. If the ministers who are in the
citv thought that the parade might act a!
. na,riotic incentive to the children wh'
cow II hut they were more hopeful tina
many of the children would get out or th'
citv for the holiday, and fearful that tn'
little ones might suffer from the neat
thew had to stand on the street curolns
for any length Of tmie
Civic Celebration Better.
The Rev. George Clarke Peck, pastor o.
ST. Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church
| which has a large congregation on tht
| rnner West Side said yesterday that M
| annroved of the parade If it would appea
70 the children as a substitute for nre
crackers and toy cannons, and in that way
supplement and aid in the general plans
for a sane independence Day celebration.
''Rut | am not sure that 1t would nave
this effect" he said 'and 1t might be bet
ter to make it entirely civic celebratlof
instead of the military, and conf1ne th'
childrell's participation in 1t to the exer'
cises in the schools L suppose the soidlers
| would like the holiday, too, and 1t Wouio
be useless to make them march unless Il
would accomplish some definite good be
vond the mere spectacle of the troops II
line
Other ministers thought that the troops
| would respond to the order to march WITT
the proper sense of duty and patriotism
as they understood that spirit to prevail II
the national guard, but they deplored the
necessity of calling out the soldiers this
year when q holiday of practically three
days was afforded TO the men on account
Of the Fourth falling on Monday.