New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-27
THIN Blue LINE WILL
HAVE NO SCHOOLBOYS
Veterans Plea That High School
Students Parade Turned Down
After, Much Delay.
Rnys NOT ASKED. THEY SAY
Request UponW Which Old Soldiers
Had Set Their Hearts Evi-
dentiy Refused by Teach
ers and Principals.

Ezh school boys would make a fine
Ssolay IN the Memorial Day parade.
.hourht the veterans OF the Grand Army
# the Republic the other DAY, and so
,ss matter was taken I'D with the chair
-,sn OF the high school committee OF the
Bosrd OF Education The invitation has
been respectfully declined
No students from the public schools OF
.. .sis city VII take part In the parade.
vs.erans are considerably hurt and also
e-s surprised. They DO not see the
sense n withholding from the survivors
~ the civil War the granting Of q mod
sst. natural little request like that
they 90 not find faul: with the boys
n the high schools The Grand Army
If the Republic veterans feel confident
-hs. several Thousand sturdy young fell
RVS. II they had been asked. would have
.unped at the chance TO march behind
h-ass bands for purely patriotic reasons
-hs boys were not consulted e Is as
se-e6-
Colonel George E Dewey. grand mar
shzl- said yesterday that he had fixed
his mind On having e fine guard Of high
school boys TO act es escort to the vet
s-ars. Re did not dreams he said. that
+hs fs1ntest opposing whisper would be
heard He set about the project In e
hsupz frame Of mind. therefore. and cid
not hurry
In due time Colonel Edward :. Atkn-
son. secretary Of the memorial commit
tee addressed to Cornelius ]. Sullivan.
chairman Of the committee on high
schools e digutded bit wRrm Invitation
asking the high school boys to act as
marching escort 20 the veterans on their
rsv TO Grants tomb
When three weeks went by without
suy acknowledgment Colonel Atkinson
asked Commissioner Sullivan about the
stration- 1Tr. Sullivan said Il YVES the
h-st he had heard OF the matter. A
duplicats Invitation WIS dispatched by
messenger, and then. after another lapse
Of tine, Colonel Atkinson received q
rots. signed by the assistant secretary
Of the Board OF Education. saying Il had
been decided that the high school boys
would not be able to do as suggested
Colonel Atkinson said yesterday that
the Grand Army Of the Republic vet
Grams felt their mission IN life consisted
chiefly n fostering. especially IN the
minds Of fae youth Of the country. q
proper spirit Of patriotism, and believed
the participation Of the high school boys
q the Memorial Day parade could not
fail TO have & good influence. not only
over the boys who marched but upon
others who saw that they were ready TO
to-ego baseball and competitive parades
fer the opportunity 70 show respect to
the old soldiers Boys belonging 20 the
Hebrew American Battalion VIII be IN
the seventh division, said tbs colonel
Also boys from the public schools stu
stsd in The Bronx would march In the
Broux Grand Army Of the Republic pa
rade IN the afternoon
We understand that our invitation
vas rendered by Mr.. Sullivan 20 the
principals and teachers Of the high
schools" continued Colonel Atkinson.
= and that. with only one exception, OBJ
sections ID its acceptance were prompt
tnd decisive.
+. IN six or seven years from now there
'rannot be any parade by the veterans.
The nature Of the case VIII be against
Il Wouldn't It seem 70 be q graceful
thing for the city's schooTbovs TO sttnen
the 1sverlng liner