Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-15
Review by President.

tAHd Tic IutGlluEs dQJOuEneu.
Review by President.
When the meeting began James +.
oyster stated that he and Chairman
Robert y. Harper were given to un-
derstand at the White House today
that the President would review a
parade ON almost any day decided on
by the committee.
Commissioner Louis Brownlow said
he came to the meeting to listen
rather than to express an opinion.
but that he thought if there is to
be parde it should be with the
whoie-hearted corporation of all the
civic caniZationS.
NJ A Lecse president of the Mer-
Giants and manufacturers ASsocla-
ton, said that the business men of the
city are opposed to a parade at tins
time on the ground that conditions in
Germany make il inopPortune to cele-
brate victory until peace is declared.
Two Factions a. Meeting.
tions present, one firmly convinced
that the people of Washington want
to take part in a victory parade now
while the victory is fresh in their
minds, the other group equally conf
dent that the present would be an In
ODpDFtune time LOT q pubic uctIOu-
Stration.
In discussing the question before
the meeting, William T. Galliher.
president of the Board Of Trade, said:
Il do not believe there should be a
parade now. for the reason that the
people of Washington already have
staged two demonstrations of their
joy over the victory. But a more i'm
portant reason is the fact that the
city is in the midst of a drive to raise
$500, 600 for the united war work drive
and the response is slow.
If the business men of the city are
solicited now for funds to hold u pa
radc, We cannot say how much it
would take from the war work cam
paign, but it would be distraoting, at
least. When peace is finally declared.
of course Washington will have a
peace demonstration
Thanksgiving Day Favored Date.
Mr. Gallher expressed his opinion
of the proposal to hold q parade at a
meeting last night of the chairmen of
subcommittee appointed to arrange
details. AT this meeting there was
no direct vote in favor of parade,
but it was expressed as the sense of
the meeting that if there is q parade
it shall be on Thanksgiving day.
The merchants of the city urged the
committee to select Thanksgiving day
if there is to be a parade at all, be-
cause any other day would interfere
with the business of the city at a
time when the public has much shop
ping to do. Mr.. Galliher pointed out
in this connection that at the COM
misioners' request the stores are not
opening until 10 o'clock in the morn
ig. that they are responding to all
appeals for war funds, and that it
would be unfair to have another holi-
day for a parade within a week or
ten days of Thanksgiving day.
Robert N. Harper's Views.
Robert n. Harper. chairman Of the
committee on arrangements, said before
the meeting began today that he be-
leves the people of Washington will
be glad to take part in a parade to
show their gratitude to the President
and the soldiers in France for carry
ing the country through the war to a
victorious conclusion.
He said he was now satisfied that
Thanksgiving day would be the most
appropriate and convenient for the DEM
onstration, and that il it is decided at
the meeting this afternoon to go through
ample time to make the event the sue
cess it ought to be in the National
Capital.
Mr.. Harper said he received word
from Secretary of Interior Lane this
morning that the chief clerk of that
department has been designated to
cooperate in organizing the parade if
one is held.
In a letter to Chairman Harper. Sec
rotary of War Baker expressed the belief
that it might be better to hold the parade
at some later date. In telephone con-
versation. with Mr.. Harper after send
ing the letter. however. he said that if
it should be decided to hold the parade
at the present the War Department
would cooperate.