Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-06-14
COLUMBUS STATUE WAS
UNVEILED SATURDAY
President Taft Makes Address and
Reviews Parade, While Secretary
Knox Presided at Exercises

dent Tart smiled his meTrlest smile
and a crowd of spectators which tax
ed the acreage OF tho Union Station
plaza, loudly applauded, the Columbus
memorial procession Of nearly 100000
men filed past the 100000 monument
/ to the discoverer OF he Western
world this afternoon
he procession which formed one
Of he most impressive pageants ever
held in Washington, was made up Of
$4,000 soldiers, sailors and marines
and from 10000 to $4,000 citizens,
/ Knights of Columbus anG members of
other patriotic and relleious organic.
! ations
/ Ipterspersed with the marching men
were huge floats drawn by four. eight
and ten horse teams. They symbolic
! ID the advancing steps Of civilization.
, \ half dozen bands blaroG Iorth gatri.
otto airs and the entire parade made
an impression, half solemn, half fes-
/ tive as it proceeded along the line of
march froIc he White House to Stan
I ten Square
I The procession. az | m fact the el-
/ tire celebration and urveiling of the
Columbus memorial was held under
4 the auspices of the Knights of Col
umbus. That organization was instru-
mental in gaining the appropriation
for the erection of the monument
which stands on the broad plaza of
/ the new Union Station at Washing
( ton.
Brig, Gen. X. X Evans, T. S. A..
acted as Grand Marshal of the day
and rode at the head of the parade.
/ The exercises began at the memorial
at 2.30 o'clock. Secretary of State
/ Philander Chase Knox held the CAV
ell a THE speakers stand and after
Mgr. Thomas j. Shanan. rector of the
Catholic University of America had
delivered the Invocation. introduced
Justice Victor ]. Dowlips of the Su-
preme Court of New York
The Marquis Cusani Confalonieri,
| Italian ambassador 10 the United
States. then pulled the strings which
/ released the huge American flags drap
ed over the memorial and as the Ma
! rine Band struck up the national an
/ them, the colors floated down reveal
ing the heroic statue Of The great nayi-
gator. When the first folds of the
flags began to fall battery of artil-
'ery commenced the thunder of sa-
/ lutte of twenty-one guns
| When the noise from the cannon
had sGbsided. Secretary Knox intro
/ duced President Taft Who addressed
/ the a3somlidge at considerable length
| The President reviewed the progress
Of civilization and described the i'm
portant part Christopher Columbus
had played in Fastening It,
/ Tonight there will be mammoth
banquet at the New Willard Hotel
which will be attended by several
thousand persons.
Judge Dowling's Speech
In his speech at the unwilling of the
monument, the Hon. Victor J. Bowling
Justice of the Supreme Court, appel
ate division. State of New York paid
warm tribute to the Life and deeds
of the great navigator, reviewing at
| length the impediments which he met
! and overcame. Judge Bowling then
drew a striking parallel between the
! greatness of the explorers achieve
ment and the paucity of its latter rec
ignition He said in part.
at is fitting that after centuries rec
,.lr
tardy. of his great services to humani-
ty, and given the more cheerfully, be
cause he was in every way worthy of
the portion Of undying fame which is
his. 1t is the appreciation of his nobil-
( ity of character which Is leading TO
/ the spreading movement to make
/ Columbus Day a holiday in which
twenty-three states have now joined
and to whose ranks it is to be hoped.
| the nation itself will soon be added.
| Here in the capital Of the greatest
republic in history, this beautiful mem
orial of the greatest achievement in
human affairs. due to the initiative de
termination and genius of a single in
dividual, may we'll serve as an inspir-
alton to effort upon the part of the cit.
liens Of America to do as he did-to
set their ideals high, never to lower or
abuse them, and to persevere to the
end in their advocacy.
while civilization endures emblaz
oned upon the first page of its records
/ shall be preserved the undying fame
the original coat of arms claimed by
/ Christopher Columbus, with its bars
Of red and blue upon a field OF gold
+ in memory of the greatest benefaction
which the spirit of exploration. of dis
covery and Of enterprise has given to
the world May there forever be found
upon the same page the banner Of red
and white and blue of our own beloved
country, in memory of the greatest
blessing which the spirit of true free
dom has yet conferred upon mankind
Excursion to Washington