New Britain herald., 1919-09-03
DRIVE FOR $l5,OOO
 IS OPENED TODAY Money Will Be Used for Welcome
 Home Celebration SITUATION CLEARING UP

Greatest in History of City-iSt
 of Soldiers Declared to Be Incom-
 plete.
 The drive for 1000 to complete the fund for the Welcome Home eel ebraton to the service men opened this noon at the grill room of New Britain lodge, B. P. o. F., when the captains and members of 26 teams assem bled for luncheon and to re- ceive instructions relative to the man. ner of conducting the week campaign. Mayor George A. Quigley presided at the meeting. Following a bountiful repast, short talks -ere given by Mayor Quigley, E. w. Pelton and George II. Dyson.
 Predicts Big Affair.
 Mayor Quigley outlined the plan for the celebration, and called atten- ton to the fact that the discontent that has been in the atm mosphere is clearing up and that the event will be one of the greatest affairs ever held in this city. He spoke of the orig inal plans that were later modified on account of the effect it would pro- duce on the local industrial life. He told of the contribution promised by the manufa cturers and also that the city may appropriate S10,OO0 toward the celebration. He next introduced E. w. Pelton, president of the New Britain chamber of commerce. MT. Pelton said that he had been out of the city for several days and was sur prised to learn of much of the events that transpired during the past few weeks. He was, however, pleased that conditions have shaped themselves as they have, and he urged that ;he coming celebration be sent lover the top" as fitting close to the numcr- ous successful war work paigns that have been conducted here.
 Explains Court of Honor
 George H. Dyson, chairman of the committee on decorations, explained very thoroughly the plans of the com- mittee relative to their work, and also the Court of H onor that is to be erect- ed at the entrance to Walnut Hill park. He said that the . flag decorations
 would extend from Park and Elm street to North Main street and out West Main street to Lexington street The estimated cost of this work will be $2,500. The electrical display will extend from, the railroad depot 10 Central Park on both sides and thence through West Main street to the Court of Honor. MT. Dyson said that some unjust criticism has been heard regarding the expenditure of so much money for the decorations He said that all that can be done for the boys should be done as the peo- pie owe it to the boys who have given so much during the past two years MT. Dyson also said that some of the service men have shown some discon- tent, and in most instances they do not know why. He urged the team workers to go about and tell the boys that the coming affair is in their honor, and the Court of Honor is being erected mem orial to their "buddies' that paid the supreme sac rlfice in the conquest of the Hun. Says Data Is Incomplete.
 One of the salient points in MT. Dysons talk was when he called at tention to the list of the deceased soldiers by the local war bureau which he stated was very incomplete He said that there is nothing in the liSI tHttl Noulu IlulC9te what dlV1SI T, com pany or branch of the service the deceased belonged, and when he spoke to Secretary Kisselbrack re- garding this. the latter told him if would be necessary for Mr. Dyson to secure the information from the fam fly of the deceased service man, or else solicit the cooperation of the l local newspapers. In order that the i Court of Honor plan may be carried out according to the plans of the com mittee, MT. Dyson said it would be | necessary to secure the data regard 1 ing whether the soldier died in France, and where, or else in this 1 country or other training camps. Won't Ask Service Men.
 Chairman John c. Loomis of the 1 campaign drive, outlined the plan for l the work. He announced that factory 1 solicitors refrain from securing sub- 1 scriptions during the factory hours, and thus avoid friction. He stated l that monday luncheons will be held l every day with the exception of Sat- 1 IIrdaY and Sunday and on next We'd
 nesday, the closing day, when the 1 luncheon will be held at 6:3O o'clock l in the evening. He urged that team l (Continued on Eleventh PageD