New-York tribune., 1919-04-10
Committees Go Ahead With
Plans Despite Discourage
ing Reports ON Review Re-
ceived From Washington
Draft Board Men Meet
Pass Resolution Saying 1t
Will Aid Americanization
To Have Division March

Resolutions calling for a parade of
the 77th Division as unit were
adopted last night at a meeting of
more than 100 chairmen of local draft
boards held in the chambers of the
Bar Association of New York. Judge
Charles E. Hughes was chairman of
the meeting. The resolutions will be
forwarded to-day to Secretary Baker
and to the Chief of Staff of the Ameri-
can army.
Plans were going ahead, however,
in anticipation of a complete review
of the 77th. Earlier in the day the
Mayors Committee of Welcome an
nounced May as the tentative date for
the parade. 1t will be within a couple
days after the divisions arrival at
Haboken, it was said.
The same activity was apparent at
the headquarters Of the 77th advance
party in the Hotel Biltmore.
Last nights meeting was addressed
by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Camp
bell, Of the advance party, and an ad-
dress was made by DR.. William T. Man
ming, chairman of the Home Auxiliary
Association, of the 77th Division. The
resolutions were adopted when it had
become evident that plans for the ar
rival and parade of the 77th Division
as single unit were still disregarded
by the War Department.
The resolutions represented the
opinion of the combined district and
local boards, government appeal
agents. legal advisory boards and local
law boards and members of the medi-
cal boards of New York City, repre-
senting a registration of about 1,5O0,-
600 men: The resolution pointed out
sion and said in part:
eve believe that no distinction
should be made between the welcome
to be accorded the 77th Division and
that accorded to any other division.
Resentment Will BE Great
owe believe, on the other hand. that
if matters of more routine expedience
IN the War Department are allowed to
lnterfert with this parade, the disap-
polntment and resentment of the peo-
pie of this city will be very great We
further believe the review will have
stimulating effect on the Victory
Loan drive in this city,
The resolutions further stipulated
that the Selective Service personnel
have some active part in the celegra-
tion to the soldiers and that they also
particinate in securing employment for
the discharged men of the division
The measure proposed that q COM
mittee of thirty be selected for this
work.
Martin Conbay, director of the draft
during the war, addressed the meeting
and read telegram from the office of
the Chief of Staff which declared that
units may parade as they arrived, but
told of the War Departments refusal
to promise a sailing of the whole divi-
sion.
Ihe War Department must put the
difficulties out of hte way in the good,
old-fashioned American fashion and
give us the parade" said DR.. Manning.
There could be no better Americana
zatlon of our citizens than this parade.
There is feeling that if they are not
allowed to parade it will represent an
expression of discrimination against
the drafted men,"
Lamentable, Says Hughes
Judge Hughes said it was lamentab-
draft boards for help in getting Jobs.
and he said to the chairmen, after
the tumult and shouting dies get the
men jobs"
Senator William NJ. Calder was a
speaker. ~ am anxious to see that
the nth Division has it's day in the
Senate" he said. "You can count on
me TOR anything possible within my
power" Senator Calder recently ca
bled President Wilson and sent mes
sages urging the divisional parade to
Secretary Baker and Major General
Peyton c. March.
The selection Of a committee of 30
which will consider plans for mass
meeting to be held at Carnegie Hall
will take place today. Judge Hughes
will confer with Mr.. Conboy and James
Brooklyn, and the selection will be
bemade.
"The 77th Division will parade in
close formation and will pass the re-
viewing stand within one hour, if the
people will stand back off the streets
and let the men march," Lieutenant
Colonel Douglas Campbell, in charge
Of the divisions advance party, said
yesterday at headquarters in the Hotel
Biltmore.
Further hope for a review of the en-
tire division was contained in an an
nouncement that Major Lewis Sanders,
of the 304th Field Artillery, who sailed
from France on April s on the Platts-
burg, had orders to report to Colonel
Campbell and take up his duties with
the advance party. Major Sanders takes
the place of Major James A. Roosevelt,
who died while returning on the Levia-
than.
Plans for Old 69th
Colonel John J. Phelan, commanding
officer at the 69th Regiment armory,
twenty sixth Street and Lexington
Avenue, said yesterday that the Goth
n. Y. G., the 69th Regiment Veteran
Corps and the Womans Auxiliary Of
the 165th Infantry, are combining for
a generous reception for the old 69th
From unofficial dispatches they are
expected to arrive home about April 25
Ohio and Pennsylvania men who
formed the 332d Infantry, which rep
resented. the American army on the
Italian front, will be accorded a spe-
cial welcome, according to announce
ment made last night, following a con-
ference among representatives Of the
committee Of welcome, officials of the
War Department and Italian diplomatic
representatives.
W. ~