Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-04-24
Wildly Enthusiastic Mass Of Humanity Shouts
Its Loyalty at the Opera House and at
County Square After the Parade

Old Glory! Never in the history of
Wausau has there been such dis
play of the stars and stripes as dur
ing the past few weeks. 1t all cul-
minated in a wave of patriotism last
Thursday afternoon, which submerged
not only our city, but the surround
ing country, and all reveled in this
sea of patriotic inspiration the entire
afternoon and each individual We'd
with the other in making it an oc-
casion glorious beyond description
They succeeded so well that even the
most trenchant pen cannot possibly
do more than to touch upon the outer
edges in describing this great out
burst of patriotic enthusiasm.
1t was a message to the president
of these United States that could not
be mistaken-that our people were
with him to a man in the course adopt
ed in the present emergency. 1t was
expressed in the great parade, in the
outbursts of oratory and in song.
The patriotic parade was participat-
ed in bg dearly 7069 people; and as
many more lined the streets and oc-
place of vantage along the line of
march. 1t was by far, the largest as
|semblage of people ever seen together
in Wausau on any occasion, and they
cheered and applauded with great Wig
or every display or utterance of pa
triotism, every song and every strain
of national music.
1t was a truly cosmopolitan gather
ing; the old veterans of other wars,
the business man and the farmer, the
workingman and the college student,
bankers and professional men; women
and children; all representing nearly
every nation on earth, rubbed elbows
and shouted in unison.
From the moment that diplomatic
relations were broken off with Ger
many, there has been a growing feel
ing that it meant war. 1t finally came,
and Wausau, with the rest of the ma
ton, felt the need of an occasion to
give vent to itS~feelings of patriotism.
Mayor Marquardt set a day, the first
part of April, for a public demonstra-
| ton, but as business called him out
of the city, and arrangements had not
been perfected, the date was postponed
until Thursday, April 10Th. A COM
mittee, of which Mayor Marquardt was
chairman, arranged program and
lcarried out the details, the salient
points of which were that there would
/ be parade; that all employers of la
| Dor in our city grant their employees
a half holiday, on full pay, for the
purpose of taking part in the patriotic
observance and that some one of the
force of each institution take command
of its men in the parade. Further, it
was planned for music and speakers
following the parade. All was carried
out to the letter without a hitch, and
it is only stating it mildly to say that
it was the greatest patriotic demon
stration ever held in our city and
there have been several in the life
time of the writer
The weather report said rain and
colder" and as Wednesday afternoon
was cloudy and wet, and also the even
ing, there was some cause to believe
that the weather man knew what he
was talking about.
Thursday morning dawned upon the
city of Wausau engulfed in a dense
fog. The knowing ones said, 'it is an
indication of fine weather." while 9TH
ers were positive that a southeast
wind, which prevailed throughout the
morning, meant rain. The fog men
ltriumphed over the pessimists, and at
moon Wausau people never beheld a
Imore beautiful spring day. Gentle
Izephyrs from the south kept in mo-
tion veritable sea OF stars and stripes
land cnoled the brows of marching pa
ltricts.
At one o'clock the employees of the
various institutions, stores, societies,
school children and others gathered
lon the side streets north of the court
house. Major H. J. Abraham was in
Icharge of the parade and his lieuten-
ants were Fred X. Becker, V. G. Splain,
John Kiefer. Emil Braatz and Olaf
Biller, all of whom were Spanish
American war veterans, and so well
were details worked out that each ag-
gregation found its place in the par
ade without the least. bit of friction
1t was after two o'clock when the last
fell into line. At the head Of each in
stitution or society, a banner was
carried. bearing its name, besides a
large flag was carried and each indi-
vidual carried flag. Looking up and
down Third street, from an elevated
position, it seemed as if the whole
street was one mass of red, white and
: blue.
The parade differed from any other
such demonstration ever made in the
lcity. There was not a suggestion OF
commercialism from one end to the
other of the long line of marehers
! 1t was rhythmic poem of patriotism
All along the line were members of the
National Guard. and there was perfect
order throughout the march. 1t re-
quired an hour 10 pass given point