New-York tribune., 1916-05-15
Permanent Organiza.
tion Sought by
Leaders of March
BRYAN'S DICTUM
CALLED "BOSH"
Sheriff. Says Million Men
Will Not Spring to
Arms at Once.

Many men had many minds yester-
day as to just what the Citizens Pre-
psredness Parade of Saturday meant
but on one thing the chiefs Of it were
comfort in IL for William Jennings
Bryan's famous dictum about a million
men springing to arms for the defence
of the country between sundown and
sun-up.
The parade, by the very labor it took,
proved such talk to be mere political
bosh, said Charles II. Sheriff., its mas
ter organizer. Roger w. Allen, exeeu-
tive secretary, voiced a similar view,
saying it proved it would take months
to train men in military sense.
At the same time, the first concrete
move to give permanency to the forces
organized to handle the march so that
they should be available for national
defence WAS announced by George r.
Wilson. second vice e-president OF the
Equitable Life Insurance Company. He
said his division had formed an in
sursnce preparedness club, of which he
had been chosen chairman. A COM
mittee Of five has been appointed TO
perfect plans for the organization with
in two weeks.
Urges Larger Organization.
Chandler r. Clifford, chairman Of the
reception committee Of the demonstra-
ton, went even further, advocating the
formation of the whole executive or
ganization of the parade. representing
all trades, businesses and professions,
on a permanent basis. He pointed out
the tremendous power in the hands OF
such n body through the mass of in
formation it gathered indicating the
loyalty or disloyslty of New York "iti-
zens.
zone hundred and seventy men got
together the parade" he said. "lts
mechanical preparation necessitated the
thorough canvass of the seventy-three
trades, industries and professions rep
resented. In doing so we not only dis
covered those who were enthusiastic
and loyal, but those who were not. We
know whether firms are pro-Allv, pro-
German or just pure American.
ain the first place, the concerns were
asked for lists of names of their en-
ployes. A letter was written them, and
when there was no response, they were
visited. Word was brought back to the
organizer that such man was no good,
that such another had no use for 1t, or
that snothe~ was an enthusiast.
when you saw the parade you saw
only the tangible evidence of six weeks
work of these men, but the most val
liable service they have given this city
is the organization of a force of men
who can, if called upon, tsbulate the
sentiment of almost every mal in svery
trade.
There are European governments
who would recognize such al organiza-
tion as of A value beyond calculation.
The canvass was thorough and the data,
statistics and detailed information OBJ
tanned are o fthe utmost value TO New
York, because what We did discover
was where the unquestionsble loyalty
is and where the enthusiasts are.
Pity to Waste Power.
at would be a pity to allow this val
liable power and mass of information
in the hands of these men TO be lost.
A movement has already been started
for a dinner. 1t occurs 10 me, and pos
sible to others, that that should be
made the occasion for forming perma-
nent organization to preserve and make
available the information We have for
the city"
He added that the organizers had a
hard time Keeping politics out of the
march. and that there were 80 many
efforts made by some interests to make
partisan use of it that they became
afraid to 60 to lunch or be seen walk
ing on the street with politician who
happened to be a friend. Another diff
fcuity they had to fight was the sus-
picion of many that Wall Street or
some hidden subtle motive not in
view" was behind the movement. Not
more than $40, he said, was allowed to
come from any one source.
In a statement last night giving his
of the demonstration, Colo