Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-24
PREPAREDNESS PARADE
MOVEMENT LAUNCHED
Committees Named mt Meeting OF
Prominent Citizens to Act
on Matter.
ADOPT RESOLUTION IN FAVOR
Object Is to Show Nation That Rich
mond Favors Adequate Defense.
Conference May Be Held To-Day
With Mayor Ainslie.

Noicing strong sentiments favoring
adequate commercial. industrial and
military preparedness for the United
states, temporary organization was
formed last night at a meeting In tho
Richmond Hotel Of about fifty leading
business men of Richmond. and conf
mittees were appointed to consider the
advisahility of holding a preparedness
parade. The organization formed last
night Will cooperate with Mayor Aims
lie. who has addressed letters to lead
Ing citizens asking for their views on Il
preparedness demonstration.
The meeting was called 10 order just
after the annual dinner OF the Rich
mond Rotary Club. and many Rotarians
were in attendance. as were members
OF Post A. Travellers Protective Associ-
alton Introductory addresses were
made by Postmaster Hay 7. Thornton.
j. 7. Palmatary. Horace +. Smith. Alvin
NJ. Smith. Hunsdon Cary. James T.. Ry-
land, William Todd. II. II. Randolph and
others.
on motion of James r Ryland the
following resolution was unanimously
adopted:
Whereas. preparedness being the en-
crossing thought OF the people OF tho
whole country AT this critical stage of
tho world war:
Resolved That the people of this
the capital city OF the Commonwealth
Of Virginia. in order TO express their
i""e o! country and to aid in strength
cn!ng the hearts and minds OF our adj
mlnistration at Washington, do hereby
determine 10 hold a preparedness pa
rade al some time in the near future,
as may be determined upon b. the com
mittee named for that purpose
mat every citizen who loves his
country be invited TO participate in the
parade, and that the Stars aud stripes
be displayed on the route OF the pa
rade. on the private residences In c,.her
portions Of the city. or worn on the
person. as may suit each Individual L."
George Rogers was named temporary
chairman. and appointed the following
committee on permanent "rsanzation;
lanes +. Ryland. ~ W LLOYD. VII
liam Todd and Or. II. T.: McIlwaine
y committee composed OF Granville
O. Valentine. Horace T.. Smith. Walker
{. Cottrcll and Alvin ". Smith was ap-
pointed TO confer with Mayor Ainsl!e
ana 10 Cooperate with him in any nos
hib!e way toward promoting tho pa
rade. Tho Mayor mas sen, out nearly
100 letters to prominent business men
asking for their views on tho advisa.
h'!ity Of holding such demonstration,
and while as We, all REPLIES have M,
been received. there is "a universal sem
unent favoring preparedness demon
stration in Richmond
Al the outset Mr.. cot,rclI wanted
, 20 kno" what was meant by "prc-
Eparedness. and acknowledging that
ms was rather a large question said
.hat he merely asked the question
mat the BODY might arrive al some
CONCLUSION and get down to business
There was also brought up the uues-
tion OF whether or not those attend
ing the meeting favored nationwide
preparedness and when Chairman
Rogers placed the question on a rjs.
lnR vote. every one present Immediate
~ rose to his feet
am in favor Of a preparedness
parade said Mr.. Cot,rcll. but think
,hat ~ should be real preparedness
demonstration. not following so much
ire lead set by several Northern cities
in military display. but :, parade OF
children. hitting them for afterlife: and
preparedness Tor our Industries. tina,
they may compete with foreign irdus
tI'es' MT. Cary replied that he
thought military demonstration was
appropriate iha. every one Nigh,
know that Richmond favored national
preparedness.
b H. Randolph, saving that any
citizen of Richmond knew what was
meant when preparedness parade was
spoken Of was heartily applauded
me object Of this parade" Mr.. Cary
then replied. is 10 bring pressure to
bear on the powers In Washington -
snow them that the people Q: this
city favor adequate preparedness"
Chairman Rogers suggested thar
members OF the two committees get
actively at work at once. and II Is
probable that n conference Will! be held
With Mayor A!nslie to-day
among those attending the meeting
inst night were George w. Rogers. Al,
vim VI. Smith. James r. Ryland. Huns
don Gary, NJ. w. Lloyd. William Todd.
DIR. II. r. McIlwaine. Granville G; Val
ent!ne. Horace +. Smith, Walker C.
Cottrell, Hay T. Thornton. c. b. Cooke.
y. H Randolph. JHmos c. Harwood'
j. T. Palmatary and r W. Lutz e.
=. sewers acted as secretary of the
meeting.