Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-14
WILSON LEADS BIG
PREPAREDNESS PARADE
LContinued From First Pare1


as he marched along between two dis
tfict citizens. escorted by Secretary
Tumulty, the White House employees
and White House newspaper corre-
spcndents.
Ideal weather favored the demon
stration. There was hardly a cloud in
tho sky and 1t was as cool as late
Spring. Enthusiastic crowds thronged
alcng the avenue from Peace Monu-
ment to the White House.
In front of the White House the
President left the line of march and
took his place in a stand to review the
parade. He was joined there by Mrs.
Wilson and all the members of the
cabinet now in the city.
Brilliant Decorations
Washington Vas brilliantly decor
ated for the occasion. 1t was a holi-
day, for under an executive order is
sued by the President all government
employees were excused from work
and many stores were closed The
celebration was planned in part as
response to proclamation issued by
the President calling upon the people
OF the nation to celebrate flag day this
year with special ceremonies.
The parade was planned as a strict
~ nonpartisan affair and was sug-
gested by a Republican newspaper of
Washington. Volunteering to partici-
pate in 1t were employees of many
stores and shops. members of patri-
otic, philanthropic, religious and So
clal organizations, many of the citys
leading businessmen, cabinet officers,
judges, school children and members
of the Senate and House. There we're
many floats emphasizing prepared
ness.
Wilson Marches on Foot
President Wilson decided to set
precedent by walking on foot during
the entire length of the parade.
Former Presidents Taft and Roosevelt
also had been invited but found it i'm
possible TO participate.
Beginning at the Peace Monument,
near the Capitol building the line of
march passes the post office and treas
ury department buildings and then
reaches the White House, where a re-
viewing stand, draped with American
iags, has been erected. There the
program provided that the President
should leave the head of the parade
and enter the stand with the members
of the executive committee. Arrange
Wilson and members of the cabinet
join him to watch the remainder of
the line pass by.
Soldiers Aid Police
To control the crowds, including
visitors from Philadelphia. Baltimore,
Richmond and other nearby cities, the
Washington police force had called
for aid from soldiers from Fort Myer,
Va, and marines and sailors from the
Navy Yard here. Street car service
along Pennsylvania avenue was sus-
pended during the parade.
No regular military organizations
were permitted to march because Sec
retaries Baker and Daniels thought it
would be improper for professional
soldiers or sailors to participate The
National Guard of the District of Col
umbia, the Washington high school
cadets and several other military bod
les were assigned to prominent places.
Officers in Civilian Clothes
Secretaries Baker and Daniels were
out of the city attending the national
convention at st. Louis, but other
members of the cabinet marched at
the head of employees from their de-
partments. While no government en-
ployes were ordered to turn out
large proportion of the army and navy
officers stationed here quietly arrang-
ed to parade in civilian clothes with
the war and navy department divi-
sions
Senator Chamberlain. chairman of
the Senate Military Committee, was
given place in the first division led
by the Presidents secretary, Joseph
Tumulty, at the head of White House
employees. Justice Pitney, of the
United States Supreme Court, march
ed with a local club. American flags
were distributed to every marcher just
before the parade started.
Eleven Divisions
Nearly every band in Washington
and Baltimore had been pressed into
service and it was necessary to have
some of them march by the reviewing
stand several times in order to lead
different organizations. The United
States Marine band was placed just
ahead of the President.
The parade was under the direction
of Lieutenant-Ge S. B. NJ. Young,
honorary grand marshal, and NJ. C.
Hazen, grand marshal. 1t was divid-
ed into eleven divisions. one of which
was designated for negro citizens and
organizations.
Wilson Speaks Late
BY permission of the Navy Depart
ment, the navy wireless station at Ar
lington, Va, had been used to invite
all radio operators in Washington and
vicinity to participate in the celebra-
ton and the responses resulted in a
special section being set aside for
them.
With most of the marchers parad-
ing sixteen abreast, the committee in
charge of the arrangem estimated
that the last contingents would pass
the reviewing stand late in the after
noon.
After marching in review the par
aders were directed to proceed to the
open space back of the White House
where a temporary stand was erected
for the Flag Day exercises under the
auspices of the committee represent
ing the various government depart
ments President Wilson planned to
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