The Washington herald., 1917-08-06
HONOR PLANNED
FOR WAR QUOTA
Officials Discuss Parade and
Celebration for Drafted
Men of District.

A patriotic parade and celebration
IN honor Of the 1,022 members of the
District quota in the national army
will be held on the day the drafted
men are called to the colors to leave
for the concentration cantonments,
present plans indicate. The War
Department, Commissioners Louis
Brownlow and Brig. Gen. ]. G. d.
knight. A. l. Sinclair, president OF
the Chamber of Commerce. and repre-
sentative citizens Of the city will back
the movement
To make tentative plans for the
demonstration, Commissioner Brown
low will today talk informally to the
other Commissioners and to officials
Of the District 1t Is expected that
by nightfan definite ideas for the pro-
motion OF the affair will be evolved.
VIII Go rs Unit.
Fears that the District men would
not leave on the same day or that
they might be ordered to leave the
city secretly were almost totally dis
PEELED late yesterday when a high Of
hcisl of the War Department said
that he department Is striving to
keep ne District men together as a
unit IL was said that everything
possible that is in line with military
policies will be done to please the
people Of the city and to afford them
chance to pay homage to the men
who are leaving their homes to do the
Districts share in the defense of the
country.
This is taken to mean that the de-
parture of the District quota will be
open and aboveboard and will be car
I'D -rrf k4y,,a
to permit the organizing of a popular
demonstration will be given.
1t IS probable that the celebration
will take the form OF a parade along
Pennsylvania avenue. with the draft
ed men holding the place of honor,
and every social. fraternal and mill
tsry order of the city In line. leading
to the National Sylvan Theater, at
the foot of the Washington Monu-
nent. where an open-air meeting will
be held. Speakers OF nationwide
prominence. with President Wilson as
a probable principal orator. will be on
the program.
A War Department official said that
in his opinion THE city of Washing
ton cannot do too much in the line of
honoring the members of the draft
army. The War Department always
has and always will do all in Its pow
er to help along a patriotic demon
strstion arranged to do homage to
members of the fighting forces of the
country.
We will do all we can." he con-
tinued- ito please the people of the
District in regard to the departure of
the troops. as far as military exigen-
cies permit. Although We cannot
d1HnftA1sr 81 nj
striving with all our power TO keep
TIRE men Of the District together as
unit. As to probable time of depart
UTc, TINT We cannot say. II possible.
r1D'e tin>c Will be gwen to permit
81 the organization of a patriotic
tribute to the r1en."
BrewIow Approves.
4 am heartily in favor of any move
nlent such as that Of a patriotic pa
rade in honor Of the naSlon's drafted
z1,diers." said Commissioner Brown
low. Il will be glad to do anything
in my power to further such a move
rlcnt. Tomorrow 1 will talk infor-
nlnTy with the other Commissioners
about il and get their ideas on the
subject"
Not only is such a demonstration
Of the city's finest young men, but it
is altogether fitting and proper that
the citizens of Washington should do
honor to a group OF men who are to
form a branch Of the defenders OF
the country. Personally I am greatly
n favor Of the idea" said Commits
sioner knight.
The idea is excellent. 1t Is nothing
but the plain duty of the city to tell
the departing men in some way that
Washington appreciates what they are
about to do for her and the United
States. Although the Chamber of
Commerce has no more meetings
scheduled until October. l will make
il my personal duty to see members
Of the board OF directors Of the cham
ber and get their. approval OF a con-
certed action of the body on the mat
ter" \. l. Sinclair. president Of the
Washington Chamber Of Commerce,
said yesterday afternoon