Evening star., 1919-02-20

All government departments IN
Washington may close at noon next
Thursday. the date of the parade OF
welcome to returning District SOL
diers and the President.
Robert n. Harper, chairman of the
parade committee, mailed letters to-
day to the members of the cabinet,
asking them to dismiss the employees
in their respective departments in
time to witness the parade, which
will start from the Peace Monument at
! O'Clock. The parade committee con-
fidentiy expects the Wlsh VIII De
granted.
A committee representing retail IN
terests of the cItX met III The Star
building yesterday afternoon ana de-
f,cided to urge all business houses
down town to close at l2:5u on parade
day, which practically means that the
afternoon OF the parade Will De a hon-
day in the National Capital
Charles J. Columbus, secretary of
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, expressed confidence to-
day that the store proprIetorS VIII
heed the request to smut down while
the parade is in progress.
Organizations Should Register.
Mr. Harper issued reminder to-
day to all organizations desiring to
march to get in touch at once with
Melvin C. Hazen, District building,
giving him fuit particulars OF their
respective units TINS is being done
to insure all organizations a special
place IN line. No organIZd tlonS Will be
permitted to march II they have not
communicated with Mr.. Hazeu before
Monday aiXht
A feature of the demonstrati ton will
be the singing of national airs by
chorus of several hundred voices.
which win take up a position in La
fAyette Park opposite the President S
reviewing stand. Members of the cab
met and nigh government officials VIII
sit with the President III the stand
The President will march at the
head of the parade from Peace Menu-
raent to the White House, where he
will enter the stand and review the
rest of the procession.
Copy for the souvenir booklet con-
tainIng names and addresses of all
contributors to the fund for medals of
honor for District soldiers, sailors
and marines, and for defraying ex-
penses OF the homecoming oemonstra-
ton and parade, Is to go to the
printer Monday. Names Of WASH
Iagton residents whose contributions
do not reacn the finance committee
by noon of that day cannot be in
Guided in the booklet.
People of Washington have not
been as prompt or as liberal In con-
tx3buting to the fund as they have
been In the past in regard to other
funds said Chairman Rudolph of
the finance committee today.
1T is true that the facI that the
parade is not to afford Washingto-
mans opportunity to see the District $
returned service men in full equip
ment has mad a deterrent effect as
regards raising the necessary funds.
The impression was general that the
men would march in full equipment,
at least. and many persons thought
they would appear in complete O.r
seas outfit Ths fact that this is not
possible is not fully understood by
more than few. comparatively speak
Ing: and this has made ii difficult to
rouse enthusiasm about the home
coming.
1T should not be overlooked that
later in the spring a real victory
parade and review of troops is to be
held here. That can only be done,
however. when division-say the
Rainbow Division-or some other
large unit arrives and is held in the
service for the review.