The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-20
Thousands Crowd Capitol Park in the Greatest Pa
 triOtic Rally Ever
 Held Here ALL NATIONALITIE IN MONSTER PARADE Spirit of 1776" Exemplified in Great Outburst of Patriotic Fervor. Thousands Cheer Sentiments
 Expressed by Speakers

pressed by the great outpour-
 ing of citizens at the Liberty
 Day parade last night, by the immense crowd that assembled
 at Capitol park and by the fer vid and patriotic utterances of
 the several speakers.
 It was estimated that there were over 15,000 marchers in the parade, all on foot except the marshall, Governor Hen derson and prominent officials
 and speakers, and thousands lined the streets as the proces- sion passed along.
 There were seven bands in the line
 of parade, which included practically every organized body in the city, in cluding many of the societies of for eign born citizens. Among these many banners were borne bearing such in scriptions as, We never bite the hand that feeds us, and Like the Arab, our
 gratitude never dies" Practically every marcher carried an American flag and the national colors were
 prominent everywhere. A noticeable feature was the cheers that greeted the foreign born citizens and their patriotic inscriptions.
 MCROSSIN GRAND MARSHAL The parade was led by Grand Marshal E. J. McCrossin, and it moved on time There was not a single delay or hitch and at the appointed time it moved to- ward Capitol park, while thousands lined the streets along the route of the parade Following the grand marshal was the first car containing Gov. Charles Hender- son, Joseph Loveman and Frank Willis Barnett. Second car, Senator J. H. Bankhead, Senator Frank S. White, Her bert J. Baum and R, T. Brown, commit teemen. Third car, Governor and Mrs Trough of Arkansas, D. w. C. Yar- borough, Judge W. w. Brandon, Dr. H. A. Elkourie and Wallace Johns. Fourth
 car, Col. Allen Crenshaw and stafr Following were detachment of school boys, Boys Industrial school band and the school cadet corps, the German Americans, Italian societies and other | similar organizations, the Knights of Columbus, Creek Americans, Boy Scouts and drum corps, military companies brass bands and body of the leading negroes of the city and district.
 Among the many features of the parade
 was the corps of nurses from St. Vim cents hospital who were in uniform and
 made a great showing, the remarkable 1 number of Greeks in line, and the number of bands in the parade.
 It was a wonderful demonstration and l showed that all classes nationalities and creeds were united in the matter of up- holding the honor and dignity of the American nation
 CROWD WAS UNANIMOUS But great as was the parade it was probably more forcibly sent home when Chairman Barnett offered set of reso- lutions to the effect that the people of Birmingham and the district were with President Wilson in his policy to raise and equip an army to fight the central powers All in favor of the resoiution say aye" said MT. Barnett, and a mighty shout went up from the assembled crowd 1 All opposed to he resolution, speak now or else forever after hold your peace"
 The silence was that of the grave, not a single protest was made, and the reso- lutions were declared adopted.
 While all the speakers were given
 rousing reception, possibly that given Senator Underwood was the most pro- longed He spoke briefly, but his every word was given the closest attention, and
 his patriotic utterances as he declared he would stand by the President in the
 matter of conscripton, and he believed the majority of the electorate Of Ala bama were with him on this question, were most enthusiastically received. Seated on the bandstand were many of the leading men of the city, and the
 speaking was interspersed by the singing of patriotic airs, led by Robert Lawrence. l The ceremonies opened at Cap 1 tol park by the raising of the Amer l ican flag al the band played the Star Spangled Banner" The flag was raised l by Miss Susie Hoskins. who was dressed in the American flag. Mrs 1 John w. Cannon. dressed to represent I Liberty stood by with lighted torch 1 in her hand and as the flag ascended l into the air the crowd cheered contin- l uously. Following this. Bishop Mccoy | led in prayer. Mrs. McGlawn presented | the city of Birmingham with an Amer 1 ican flag in behalf of the Grand Army ! of the Republic
 READY TO DEFEND FLAG l Much of the success of the celebra- l ton last night was due to the efforts | of Chairman Joe Loveman. who made a brief but enthusiastic talk to the
 crowd. MT. Loveman stated that he l was proud that he was born under 1 the American flag and that he hoped l Old Glory would give as much free | dom to the world as it had for him l He said it was the duty of the people | to stand behind the President in tho 1 present crisis. He stated that every 1 defend his rights and that the United GOVERNOR HENDERSON
 Governor Henderson was the first 1 speaker and was given an ovation ! when he was introduced by Chairman i Barnett He declared that the spirit | of today is the spirit of 1776 and that | the gathering to celebrate the one hundred and forty second anniversary | of Americas freedom was also to start l the movement to give freedom to civ i ilization.
 1 He said that America was the melt l ing pot of the world and that the same | spirit prevails today that existed whan | our forefathers fought for our free 1 dom When America entered the worli war. he said that the German line be-