Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-22
Fifteen FLAGS RAISED
OVER MUN|T|ON PLANT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ElIyson Makes
Address. at Locomotive Works
Ceremony.
ALL EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTES
More Than 5000 Shop Men and
1000 Office Men Take Part in
Great Patriotic Demonstration.
Many Committees Arrange Event.

l.ieu,enant-Govcrnor J. Taylor ELY
son sounded the keynote Of :hc pa
Nriotic celebration at the Richmond
Z plant Of the American Locomotive
Company at noon yesterday when he
said: we are doing more to-day than
| merely setting American nuSs TO n.y.
ing over this great munition factory:
w" arc consccrating ourselves to thn
service OF our country In whatever
held We may be needed"
After the addresses had all been
made and while the Alec band played
America. fifteen American flags were
slowly hoisted in the breeze. one over
each shop and department in the en-
t,rc plant. sixteenth flag. bearing
inc rcd cross of mercy. was raised
~ the same time over the hospital.
As soon as the ilags had all reached
tho top of the mast.. the guns Of the
Richmond Iiowitzcrs. planted on hill
overlooking the plant fred twenty
one shots In salute
Each one of the 5000 shop men and
1000 Office men employed ~ the plant
Z contributed. it is said, To the fund
for purchasing the flags. The move
. ment originated among the men and
| hi.' been on foot for several weeks.
BARGE CROWD VIEWS
FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY
The exercises were held in front %
! tho Seventh street entrance TO the
plant from e stand erected especially
for tho occasion 4 large crowd Was
present. composed for the most part Of
employees Of the locomotive company,
but also OF large number of other
citizens OF Richmond. From the hills
| surrounding the plant many other pco-
pie looked down upon the ceremony.
$. l.. Schoonnakcr. Of New York City,
chairman Of the board OF directors OF
t,o Loo me-,
who had come TO Richmond especially
to attend tho patriotic celebration. in
troduccd the speakers. Rev. w Rus
sell Bowie, y. p, rector Of 81. Paufs
! Episcopal Church. offered tn. opening
prayer and pronounced the bencdic-
| ton. In addition 10 Mr.. Ellyson adj
dresses were made by Mayor Ainslic
and Murray NJ. Mcclure. Governor
Stuart had accepted an invitation to
speak but was unable TO attend. The
masters OF ceremonies were H. r.
Chamberlain. George Curry and r. j.
Bascombc.
Referring To Americas entry in the
war i'll thc carly part OF his address,
MIR. Ellyson quoted from President
Wilson'S message 10 Congress urging
the declaration OF war. as follows:
"But the right is more precious than
peace. and We shall figh, for the things
that have always carried nearest
| our hcarts-for democracy. for the
right Of those who submit, 10 authority
TO have a voice III their own govern
\ rcntS. for the rights and liberties Of
small nations. for y universal domin-
ion Of right by such "a concert of free
peoples as shall bring peace and safety
to ali nations and make the world
| itself a, last free"
GREATEST SPEECH or
GREATEST PRESIDENT
The war message" said MIR. ELY
r. ,l,n
o. one az Americas greatest Presidents.
We have been justiticd in comforting
honors upon him. for he has for his
..ari conferred greater honor upon the
nation.
"As youth. accounted II great
Joy Ia night for my country. ] was in
five great engagements before | was
seventeen years old | am ready now
TO serve my country in any way can.
To die for her il necessary. am.
pledge my allegiance to the United
States with All the devotion | ever felt
for the confederacy."
The band, composed entirely Of en-
ployccs Of the plant. played patriotic
musi" during tn" ceremony. The selcc-
tions included The Star-Spa led Ban
nor, America and Dixie. The Polk
Miller quartet sang.
Red. white and blue bunting covered
tho stand from which the addresses
were made. y large picture of Presi-
ncnt w tlSon huns u!fctliN above the
table at which the speakers stood.
From each corner hung an American
flag, and on each side was gold
American eagle. Along the front Of
the platform stood row OF eight
inch ana nine-inch shells, made in the
plant, and on the table four shells
served rs vases to contain America
Beauty roses.
l Because he did not have his office
in a separate building, but in conncc-
II fion with the force of the maintenance
department. L. f. Mulholiand the en-
cineer of tests had no distinctive place
for tho flag Of his department 10 ny.
The men Of his department presented
a flag to him personally. and it will
ny over his residence, :6ll West Grace
Street.
COMMITTEES IN CHARGE
OF FLAG CERENONiES
The committees which had charge of
the celebration were:
Platform committed G Woodccck
| chairman: Claude Lewis. Money Davis John
GRADER Terry o. I3ricn.
- Program committcc-O. Il. Owens. chair
man: r.. &. Woody J. y Cnnnally, e. T..
Neupohr. j. C kinker, u. s. Richa rdson