The Washington herald., 1917-03-22
CITIZENS HONOR GUARD
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
While happiness prevailed over the home
| coming of the guards, the probability
that they may soon be called upon to
again serve their country cast solemn
| pail over all assembled.
The guardsmen paraded from Second
| street and Pennsylvania avenue along the
avenue to Thirteenth street, thence to the
armory by way of Thirteenth and K
streets northwest. 1t was a triumphal
march through thousands of cheering cit
| izens who thronged the line of parade.
Scores Of automobiles, carrying citizens,
acted as an escort. The machines kept
up continuous footing of their horns
Boy Scouts carried hundreds of flaming
and Vari-colored Roman candles.
Many Turned Away.
The militiamen marched into the ar
mory and filled the vast floor space
which had been held in reserve for
them. During the program all stood
at attention. On either side relatives
and friends were on hand to greet the
boys. Immense as the armory is,
thousands of citizens eager to gain
admission, were turned away because
there was not room for them
The hall was profusely decorated
with American flags.
Richard d. Simms presided at the
exercises. He thanked the Guardsmen
for their splendid record and declared
that they were held in high esteem
and regard by every citizen of the
District. He said that their training
has made them good soldiers and good
citizens and has prepared them for
further and better service
Gen. w. A. Mann. in charge of the
Militia Bureau of the War Depart
ment, declared that If the call comes
. iva TO- h.
men they would be just as ready to
respond as they were last June He
said that the mere presence or their
number on the border saved the
day"
Secretary of War Baker said that he
had just returned from trip
through the South and East where he
found whole cities emptied out to
welcome back the men who had an
swered the Presidents call"
Face Serious Crisis.
Il have no desire to enter into a dis
cussion Of any contraverted question"
Senator Baker said, but We all know
that the United States is today facing
serious crisis.
There can be but one heart and
thought in this crisis, and that is that
every man and woman will do their
part for common liberty
You stand here tonight under the
glorious colors of this country which
need but be unfurled as a warning to
all the world that Americans from every
corner will rally to its defense
Il welcome you from the bottom of
my heart"
He declared that the moving of 5000
soldiers to the border the maintaining
of an adequate supply system over
front OF l,SO0 miles, and other handling
of the troops was without a parallel
in American history.
Senator Chamberlain declared that
while the sacrifices OF the Guardsmen
were not accompanied by any blood
shed or loss of life they will be as long
remembered as the sacrifices made by
the men OF the civil war
He said in part. And to think of II
that slackers remained behind to take
over your jobs. There is no reason
why they should have stayed at home
The only way to correct this intolerable
system is through universal military ser
vice. Such service is democratic, and
1t is the only system which can be safe
ly enforced in this country. I have alb
solutely no use for the Stacker"
District stood First.
Mr.. Brandenburg lauded the men.
and declared that in spite OF the fact
that the District is without suffrage
It contributed larger quote Of
Guardsmen in proportion to its popu-
lation than any State in the union.
He pointed out that the District had
an unselfish and patriotic record dat
ing back to Revolutionary days.
Odell s. Smith patriotically greeted
the boys.
Felicitations were read from Gen
George H. Harries. from Omaha, Neb..
who had been appointed a member of
the reception committee. He expressed
his regret over not being able to at
tend the welcome because of business.
Gen. Harries was in command of the
local militiamen for seventeen years
Gen. William E. Harvey was given
a round of cheers by his men.
Dancing followed the program of
speech making
Mr. Brandenburg was chairman of
the reception committee. Henry Lans-
burgh was in charge of the finance
committee and Capt. Lucius c. Wilson
headed the committee on decorations.