Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-09
The Parade

The Parade
Augusta has had it's Preparedness
parade. This was a Preparedness
for-Peace parade. 1t typif1ed the
seven-fold effort that has been made
for Americas soldiers since the war
started-that will Ibe made for Am
erica s soldiers as long as 4 copror-
ais guard remains on froeign soil.
To begin with it was prompt
parade'and started exactly on time,
as most parades do which have Col.
Blaine Owen as Grand Marshal 1:
formed on State street, marched
down Grove to Water. Coming
down Rines Hill into the glare of
Augustus White Way. it made in
decd Il brave showing-police, band,
Colors. Company F, Bird Maine, sixty
strong, Mothers section GA strong,
Governors Staff, Salvation Army,
representatives of the Jewish Wei
fare Board, Knights of Columbus
delegation. the fifteen teams which
will solicit funds. the Victory Boys
Of ST. Marys. the girls representing
the Y. w. c. A., to Y. M. c. A.
representatives, and lastly four
troops of Boy Scouts
1t wasn't the longest parade Au-
Fusta ever saw nor the most ex.
pensive. Yet few parades have Gre
ated a deeper impression upon the
crowds that lined the streets. 1t was
fine democratic gatherings par.
ade in which people from every sec
! ton of the town and every sect and
every shade of belief and of social
standing met in hearty demonstra-
ton Of their will to serve the boys
who have gone overseas.
Finer weather could not have
been asked for-nor a larger crowd.
The streets were packed Automo-
biles We're banked on tn side streets,
along the curbs, in Market Square,
at both ends Of the bridge.
Sidewalks were damned. At City
hall entrance hundreds of specta-
tors were packed and the paraders
forced their wal through a jam of
humanity into the hall.
Rousins Meeting at City Hall
At o'clock the mass meeting was
opened at City hall. 1t was indeed a
big meeting-not merely big in at
tendance. although the hall was fill
ed to the limit of it's accommoda-
ton and many We're standing at the
rear of the hall and in the balconies,
but big in interest and enthusiasm
for the drive which is to start Mon
day. The speakers of the evening
were Lewis A. Crossett, a man who
has given his entire time to the
campaign for the morale since the
United States went into war, and
Campaign Manager Henry E Dun
mack, who presented the objects of
this great drive and outlined the
manner in which the campaign will
be carried out. Music was furnished
by Dennis orchestra.
One Of the enjoyable features of
the evening was the song program.
Everett Davis, army song leader,
was in charge of the singing and this
man whose speciality is getting
crowds to sing, Immediately became
popular with the audience. He did
not merely lead the singing. but he
inspired the singing and he made
WV s'iS Pioe, Gill SoIl u SOIl-
test to determine which part of the
audience could render the selections
the best. The songs that the soldiers
and sailors sing were distributed m
lcatlet form among the audience. and
among the popular ones that were
sung It's Long Way to Berlin.
but Won Get There" over There
~ Xxx Katy" and We'll Knock
The Heligo. into Heligo. Out Of He'll
coland." Prof. J. F. McNichol presid-
Cd at the piano.
The meeting was opened with
singing by the audience led by Song
Leader Davis, after which prayer was
offered by Rev. FIR. Michigan.
Mayor Swift presided and intro
duced Capt. A. G. Reynolds. U. S.
army, who spoke briefly of the cam
paign which is being made to secure
civilian candidates for commissions
as second lieutenants to attend the
training school at Camp Fremont.
Cal. Capt. Reynolds showed that in
the event of an armistice the men
will still be needed for it will take
months IL not years to clean up the
the situation.
That Augusta has never failed to
answer the call OF the State, Nation
or the call Of humanity is pointed out
by Mayor Swift and he stated tina.
the government was again calling
and the call should be answered. May
or Swift then introduced Lewis A.
Crossett. a man well known to Au-
gusta and who has been at the front
line trenches. 1t was a human-interest
talk from beginning to end and the
rst hand information that he pre-
sentcd was greatly appreciated by
all.