Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-31
LARGE CROWDS ATTEND
SESSIONS AT ARMORY
AND GAYETY
TWO UNITE FORCES
DAYTON IMPROVEMENT ASSN.
AND Y. m. c. a. SECTION CON.
SOLlDATE AND HOLD GATHER
ING AT CONGREGATIONAL
CHuRCH--STIRRiNG ADDRESS
ARE HEARD.

ARE HEARD.
Jupiter Pluvius, the worlds well
known vender of damp in its liquid
or aqua form, possessed alone the
power of placing barrier in the path
OF Ottawa's Memorial Day celebration
and do Il so effectively that no less
than $4,000 red blooded Americans
could be deprived of giving vent to
their patriotic fervor in unstinled
quantities. And he made good.
Starting during the wee sma' hours
of Wednesday morning a sprinkling
rain began to fall and those who hap
pened to be about at that time fore
casted the ruination of the big pat
ri0tic demonstration. BY daylight the
sprinkly developed into a typical So
easter that foreboded even more evil.
Turnout the entire day the skies were
overcast and mingled with a consist
ant, as well as unwelcomed downpour
made II impossible for the celebrators
to take part in the street parade.
With the exception of Heinrich s
which played during the afternoon and
evening, cancellations Of bands were
made early and other provisions for
the street demonstration were oblit-
Grated after q hurried meeting OF the
Patriotic Day executive committee.
but. not to be outline by anything like
rain, the prime movers in the celebra
ticn idea decided to take another
flyer" ut the parade with the re-
suit the demonstration was postpon-
ed until June Registration Day
Because OF the effect the rain had
upon farmers. who could not leave
their homes, the Dayton Improvement
Associations meeting and the civic
session, which were slated to be held
separately. one at the high school and
the other at the armory were consol-
dated and held jointly at the latter
place
The Y. M. c. A. meeting was held
at the Congregational church and the
labor organizations held their assem-
blage at the Gayety theatre; good siz-
ed crowds being present at both gath
erings. At the armory the principal
speaker CT the afternoon was Hon. p.
]. Lucey, ex-Attorney General Of Hi
nois. who delivered one of the finest
patriotic addresses ever rendered
from an Ottawa platform, Mr. Lucey
exhorted his audience to remain stead
fast behind the nation in its present
crisis. while admonishing them to be
never failing in their loyalty to the
boys In blue who fought thru the wal
Of the rebellion He said the land
faced a period requiring unity or pur
pose and unity of thought without
which the present war could not be
successfully prosecuted to a favorable
ending He said:
"Oncc again, my friends Of Ottawa
has Memorial Day returned, and once
again In keeping with the custom
long since established, we have me
to do honor to those who in the tim'
Of the Nations peril offered them
selves as Il sacrifice for the perpet
uation OF our government and con
tinuation of our liberties. Decoration
Day was designed in spirit Of low
TO perpetuate the memory and decor
ate the graves OF those, who had die
In the great Civil War; but it ha
become more, if more Is possible tina
Its founders hoped for when 1t wa
originated. As was said by Lincoln 1
his declaratory speech at Gettysburg
those who died there consecrate
that ground, more than could thos
who were living. They who died o
fered their lives that this countr
might survive and thereby consecra
cd their memory and their graves b
the greatest sacrifice which man ca
give for the perpetuation of an idea
namely his life. We cannot add
their glory, we can honor those WI
remain OF that grand army whic
marked behind Grant to victory. th'
thin wavering line of blue each yea
growing less and less In number b,
strong IN spirit, whose patriotism III
net disminished by the passing year
who bring to this recurring Decor
ton Day spirit Of reunion and revt
\ ence In commemoration Of the COZ
rades who were with them in Iii
who were their companions in the GO
ilict. who shared their hardships al
some OF whom remained after the W