Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-04-11
Illuminated by Electric Light, "Old Glory" Floats
 Over Proud Citizenship.
sPEAKERS TELL OF
 CITIZENS DUTIES
Praising Peoples Government Which Allows Individual Liberty, Orators Impress Obligation of Citizen on Vast ThrOng.

iWth the strains of martial music and the enthusiastic cheers of 2 patriotic populace reverbrating on the air, with voices hoarse from the fervid singing of the national anthem. a great crowd of men, women and children Tuesday night attended and participated in Pine Bluffs demon stration of her fealty to the union, and assisted by their presence and their display of unshaken loyalty, in the formal ceremonies incident to hoisting "Old Glory" over the Jeffer- son county courthouse.
 It was the most spontaneous cele- bration of the kind witnessed in Pine Bluff in the memory of several generations of men and @ women. There were gifted speakers to ad- dress the patriots, there was the music of tinkling cymbal and sounding brass, to stir the blood to the fever heat, and above it all there was the bright moonlight and brilliant stars of glorious promise, just as the warming, cheering rays of love had shone throughout the day.
 County and city officials arranged the details of the program for the demonstration-but the patriotic ferver of loyal community gave to the affair it's soul and spirit. There were spirited addresses by men who know what patriotism means and what is signifies-but their words were onl ythe echo of the thoughts and the ambitions of every man and woman and child in the vast audience that heard them. There was the play ing of patriotic music-but it was only the augmented Hitting of the song that was in every heart, a song cf hope, Of love for country, of triumph, with the one refrain, "This is my own, my native land," and My Country, 'Tis of Thee"
 In the days of '61, there marched forth to battle for a principle the sturdy men of Pine Bluff and effer- son county. Only tho old men and the immature were left behind. At the meeting last night, it was demon strated again that in 1917. there has been no loss, no dimirution of that same spirit of country love, "The Spirit of '76,' and that Americans still will fight for a principle.
 Crowd Gathers Early.
 The crowd gathered early. The program called for the demon- stration to begin at o'clock, but long before that there was a mass of people gathered around the court house. The absence of vehicles of whatever kind from Barraque and Main streets, near the courthouse, gave every one fair and safe oppor- tunlty to be, at east. From all direc- tlons they came, afoot, in private ve- nlcles and in street cars, each of the conveyances bringing its full quota ana apparently going after more.
 On the roof of the courthouse the towering metal flagstaff had been erected, with is necessary guy wires and the cords from which the flag itself was to fly. Adjacent had been placed floodlight lamp, so focused mat It's rays would shine upon the beautiful folds of "Old Glory" Every tnlng was prepared, all was in readi- ness. Then the band appeared. from the Campbell shows, rendered for the occasion by the show management, and with the leadr's sheaf filled with the songs and airs that always bring the thrill to the American heart.
 Williams Opens Meeting.
 Sheriff R. H. Williams acted as tenn porary chairman, opening the meet ing with a very few words, and in- troductng State Senator Greed Cald- well as the chairman. Then followed tne several short but most inspiring addresses.
 Judge B. J. Kerwin was the first speaker, and so promptly did the dem onstration begin that Judge Kerwin nad just started. when the bells of tne courthouse clock struck the hour or 8. At his very first period, Judge herwin was given burst of tumul- tuous applause. his openings tate ment being that the United States s not at war with the German people, put has it's, war against the imperial herman government. He declared mat 1t is the consensus y of civilized opinion everywhere, that President wilson's message to the special ses- slon of congress was one of the greatest state papers ever written by any man. He stressed the point that .nere Is no faltering in the United states. that this is not the time for oltierences of opinion, that there IS