New Britain herald., 1917-04-21
Tom Topics

4 OwH IOp1cs Even the oldest inhabitant'' can- not remember a parade which in either size or spirit can approach New Britain's demonstration of Thursday. 1t was by far the biggest parade this city ever had and will long live in the annals of local history. The turn out of the citizens, both as spectators and as participants, was truly wonderful. refecting the motto: For God and Country" so opportunely. displayed in front of St. Mary's church. It was truly day of democracy. None sought favors. City officials and street laborers. rich and poor alike marched shoulder to shoulder through the dus-' ty streets and even the clergymen. rev. erencA for whom would have justi fled their having carriages declined with thanks and insisted on taking their place in line. Only the old sol- diors, the heroes of the Civil war, rode in all that long. procession, and the old men were entitled to it. They had done their bit and any comforts or honors that may be in store for them before they answer the Last Muster is theirs for the asking. It was inter- esting. touching and pathetic to watch those old soldiers as they viewed the parade during the countermarch. Many too feeble to stand upright in their carriages, others with eyes to dim to see clearly, all continually saluted the old flag for which they en- dured so much, and many was the moist tear that was wiped from gr1z- zled cheek by these old men as they watched the youth of the city troop past. This was particularly so when they encountered the many enlisted men who thronged the streets on this day. Thursday was a day ever to be remembered. New Britain should be, and is, proud of her citizens for their showing, for it surpassed in many ways that other famous celebration of a few years ago-the Burritt Centen- nial Peace celebration.
 
 During the parade gang of cow ardly hoodlums, although several were in the twenties, gathered on top of a Main street building and, as the uni- formed men marched by, the City Guard, the P. O. s. e the Polish Falcon Alliance of Arpfrica, the o. U. A. M. and others, shouted remarks re- fecting on the courage and, patriotism of the marchers, insinuating that they were afraid to enlist in the regular army. These actions were too un- couth, lawless and cowardly to com ment upon. Suffice it to say that. in these times, men who will make such statements, when they themselves have not sufficient interest in patriot ism to even participate in a parade or join any organization are among the most cortemptable. This statement will hit several who are more or less well known. Let those whom the shoe fits wear it.
 The flag raising on the Green on Thursday calls to mind'a similar event which occurred a half century ago in this same city and which, ultimately almost caused a / riot. It happened during the presidential campaign in the fall of 1868. New Britain's dem ocratic leader then was Film Slater. an old fashioned Jacksonian demo- crat, and it was decided to have flag raising as a part of the campaign. Two hickory trees were cut and spliced together, making pole sev- enty-two feet long, with the bark still
 
 fourteen yoke of oxen were used to drag the flag pole around Central park, then "the Green, and up North Main street to the junction of Beaver street where 8 hole was dug In ex- cavating for the flag pole the diggers struck and burst six inch water main and it was two days before the break was repaired, there having en- sued a lengthy argument as to who was responsible. In the meantime the water flowed down Main street, into East Main and even into Center street. Ultimately another hole was dug and the pole was hoasted into place, when 1t was discovered that those in charge had neglected to put either pulleys or ropes on it. Several offered to climb the pole and make the necessary additions but on reaching the first section decided not to tempt the fates any more. Finally we'll known painter and former sailor named James) Young climbed up the pole and adjusted the ropes and pull leys and Old Glory was unfurled amid great enthusiasm. That night, a dyed in-the-wool republican. who permitted his partisanship to run away with his patriotism, cut the halyards and de- stroyed the flag. Following an indig- nation meeting which was attended by both parties, a mass Of citizens stormed his house on Beaver street and on finding him away, bombarded the place with stones, breaking every window in the building.
 This city must have had "pull' with the weather men for better day than Thursday could not have been wished.
 Never before have So many Ameri- can flags been displayed in New Brit