New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-01

Will Respond to Orders Despite
unnecessary Hardship"
JEROME ADDS TO PROTEST
Fourth of July Committee Needs
5000 More to Make the
Celebration a Success.

The protests of influential and public
spirited citizens against the ordering out
OF the national guard to parade on July
as a part of the Independence Day cele-
bratlon grow stronger and more numerous
as the time draws nearer for the exercises
planned for the day by the municipal COM
nlittee.
Many of the guardsmen had planned pre-
vious TO the issuing of the marching or
ders, to spend the three-day holiday out OF
the city with their families, it was said yes
terday. and most of them were still reluc-
tant to change their plans with the hope
that the strong sentiment which has de-
veloped in opposition to the parade would
result in resembling Of the order.
Former District Attorney Jerome added
his disapprovaI of the project yesterday
to the long list OF men who have already
spoken against IL
II am very much against the proposed
parade of the national guard on the Fourth
for several reasons" said Mr.. Jerome. In
the first place it needlessly deprives the
men of holiday and know Of no body OF
citizens in the community who are more
deserving of a holiday than the national
guard because of the exacting work they
do for the greater part of the year. And
further. 1t is peculiarly hardship this
year to impose upon the guardsmen the
sacrifice of three days rest instead of the
one day they would usually get.
"PureIy for Show Purposes"
Few persons realize the amount of time
and hard work the members Of this or
ganizatiOn put in with a fine spirit. There
is BODY of citizens who make more
sacrifices with less appreciation than they
do. The national guard is now dig
nifed and exceptionally serviceable BODY
of men, an integral part OF the body poll
tic, and 1t should not be amenable, purely
for show purposes, to the whim OF the
local authorities.
1T is not to be compared with the mill
ti5men OF the old days who came together
on the Fourth for a iolificatton. spread
or a clambake. and a general good time,
and. incidentally, to march. The present
day organization has reached point of de-
velopment until 1t is second only to the
regulars In efficiency in time of need and
is a most competent reserve force to the
United States army.
There should be a strong public SEN
timent against calling upon these men to
march at the Independence Day celebra-
ton and I for one hope they won't have
to parade"
An active member of the national guard
said yesterday that some of the officers
were fearful that a parade on the Fourth
would make it extremely difficult to re-
cruit members for the organization in the
future.
Every one Knows who has had anything
to do with the national guard, that the
present requirements for discipline and
drill are arduous In themselves" he said,
and it means lots of sacrifices and good
hard work on the part of the citizens who
belong 1t does not justify the curtailment
of holidays, which are few enough as 1t is.
But there is no question about the splendid
spirit of duty among the men, and they
will respond to orders with the alacrtty of
regulars. however unnecessary the orders
may seem to be at this time