Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-06-01
Many Thousands OF knights
Will March in Monster
Parade.
Ceremony to Take Place on the
Afternoon of Saturday
July \.
RESULT OF YEARS OF WORK

The Knights of Columbus
throughout the United States, Can
ada, Mexico and the distant posses
sions of this country are now prac-
tically ready for participation in the
| Columbus memorial unveiling. to
take place in Washington Saturday,
June 8. Enthusiasm is everywhere
manifest, and there is every assur-
I ance that there VIII be It least
100000 visitors in the national cap
tal the day of the unveiling. Work
on the statue, the site of which is
directly in front of the Union Sta
tion, has progressed to the point of
completion. The heroic figure Of
Columbus, covered with a mantle of
cloth, is in position, and it is a mat
ter of hours when the great cap
stone or globe will be put in place.
The entertainment that has bed -
planned by the Citizens Committee
consists in part Of big reception at
the Pan-American Republics build
ing, in which President Taft will
probably participate. There will be
public concerts, an auto and floral
parade. fireworks display on the
monument lot, fetes in the amuse-
ment parks, together with many pri-
vate dinners and entertainments.
The parade that will precede the
unveiling on June 8 will be reviewed
by President Taft and notable men
In official life. There will be a big
display by the naval and military
forces of the Government. Following
the army and navy contingents in
the parade will come the Knights of
Columbus division, which will be
headed by Supreme Knight James A.
Flaherty. of Philadelphia, as Grand
Marshal. 1t is stated at the office
of the knights of Columbus head
quarters that there will be more than
SO, 900 men in line. Floats depicting
various events in the life of Column
bus will be in this division. The
Knights of Columbus of Washington
have contracted for a float showing
the landing of Columbus, the cost of
which will be $1,000. other jurisdic-
tions of the Knights of Columbus
also will have floats in the parade.
The fourth degree branch of the
Knights will have the right of line
in the Knights division, and they
will wear their regulation dress for
parade, consisting of the conven-
tional frock coat, dark gray trousers,
silk hats, gray ties, gray gloves and
black shoes. Baldrics will be worn
and swords will be carried in the
parade. The representation from
each State in the Union will carry
the American flag and their State
flag. Three trainloads of marchers
are coming from Chicago alone.
From the city of Boston and Massa-
chusetts generally will come at least
$4,000 men. Pennsylvania will send
a vast concourse of marchers. Mary
land will have 5000 men in line. A
special train will come from Califor-
mia with at least 1 900 marchers in
the party. From New Jersey, Della
ware, the New England States, the
Middle West, and even from the Far
West will come great numbers of
paraders and unveiling reviewers.
New York State will contribute a
throng. Kentucky and the Southern
States will be particularly we'll rep
resented. Cuba will have big con-
tingent in the parade. From the
Dominion of Canada delegations OF
large proportions have planned to
come TO Washington for the unevil-
ing. II is estimated that at least
z, 900 persons will journey to Wash
lngton from the provinces OF the
Dominion. The procession will
terminate after the paraders have
passed the statue, being reviewed by
the President and others in the Of
ficial stand.
The sentiment that the memory
of Columbus should be fittingly
honored has been growing for long
time. It found its fruition when the
National Government, by an act OF
Congress, passed March 4, 1907, APP
propriated 100000 to set up a fit
ting memorial in the nations capital
20 the memory Of Columbus, and
ever since then much zeal has been
shown by the public at large to in
sure a fitting ceremonial on the oc-
casion of its unveiling. The Knights
OF Columbus took a leading part in
the announcement Of the national
legislation, and since its passage
have planned and looked forward
with great interest TO the day when
the statue would be unveiled. The
site in Washington is regarded as the
best possible. II Is right at the door
way OF the handsome. Union Station,
one OF the largest in the world, and
win face the United States Capitol,
only three blocks away. The passage
of the bill, making the Columbus
memorial possible. was especially
gratifying 10 the Knights OF Colum-
bus. TO whom the memory OF the
lllustrious patron Of the order is
particularly dear. The knights have
been faithful champions OF his cause
and labored for years TO secure ma
tional recognition Of his achieve
ment. They have been particularly
active In the advocacy Of Columbus