Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-28
DROP cHILDREN's RALLY

star Spangled Banner, MY country ! "
Of Thee" and columbia the Gem Of the
| Ocean"
DROP CHILDRENS RALLY
The plan of filling Washington Square
| with school children, that is the little ones
| has been droppei. superintendent CARRIER
| Of the public schools. and Superintendt
| Flood of the Catholic parochial schools,
| decided IL was not safe TO put the young
| sters In such jam. There are more than
| enough high school students to fill the
Square adm only these will be assembled
saturday for the demonstration IN wash
| ington Square. Mrs. J. Willis Martin. a
member of the general committee, expressed
delight that this action was decided on
she was never in sympathy with the idea
of bringing the smaller children to the
meeting.
Broad street from Spring Garden to South
street and Market street from Broad TO
Fifth is to be closed to all vehcular tranic
after noon and will be used by marching
organizations 80 parade permits are
necessary for next Saturday special
stand is to be built for the half hundred
g. A. X. veterans who will attend Some
of the recent group formations that nave
been decided on are Grard College students.
University of Pennsylvania students, ana
the Wansmaker cadets. The high school
students will be under the direction OF their
physical director Prof. William A. Stecher
Opening of the recruiting station in lnde-
pendence Hall today was one of the results
Of the movement for the big mass.meetinG.
The attention of the city and nation is CEN
tered on the historic building
$4,000 AUDIENCE EXPECTED
First speculations were for a crowd Of
80, 900. but the committee recognizes now
that the number of those who will want
to take part will. never stay within this
limit. The chances are that overflow meet
ings will be held at various points all the
way down Chestnut street from lndepend-
ence Square east. This will work itself out
on the day of the meeting.
BY request of Mayor Smith all business
houses and factories are expected to close
at noon sharp. leaving citizens free to de-
vote their afternoon TO the patriotic rally.
Men and women who belong to any organi-
cation are requested to meet with that or
ganizaton and come TO independence
Square i'm a body. The committee says it
cannot possibly get in direct touch with
each organization. and depends on the pub
lie press to get the word to all organiza-
ton heads that they are supposed to march
from their headquarters to Independence
Square. Thus the city will be virtually
parade covered from noon until 2:3o p. m.
when the meeting begins
BIG EXCURSIONS
Railroads are arranging for big excur-
sions from all surrounding points. Tens of
thousands of persons are expected from
New Jersey and Delaware. swelling the
tremendous aggregation that Philadelphia
and surrounding Pennsylvania commune
ties will send to independence Square.
The committee is pcturing the entire
neighborhood OF Independence Square
well as the square itself as being black
with humanity. If necessary. extra meet
ings will spring up at other points than
Chestnut street and the crowd will be called
on to furnish its own speakers.
Flags will be out by the thousands, The
committee has ordered 10000 flags in one
allotment--al it felt it could afford Others
will be brought by patriotic organizations,
and the committee reckons that there is at
least one flag in every home which should
be made to do service Saturday.
AlRPLANES OVER SQUARES
Aviators will be flying above lndepend-
ence Square and Washington Square where
the children will be, and they will bomb"