The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-08
WET MOUNTAINS lAB0RED
RIDICULOUS f|lzlE BORN
Wet Claims on Protest Parade shrink.
Boosted 250,0o0 Dwindlcs to
1900.

Evidently certain New York news
p.-pers sacrificed accuracy to their
strong anti prohibition bent in re-
porting the brewers demonstration
IN Washington, June IA. The pro-
motors of this demonstration had first
announced 100000 would be in line.
but as the day approached they mod
estiy cut it to 100000. The day after
the parade the New York World re-
ported that 100000 had taken part.
the New York Herald said $4,000 and
the New York Times got somewhere
near the truth by declaring 10000.
Many papers throughout the United
States reported 5000 and this was
generally accepted as more nearly
correct; but II now appears that there
were less than 5000 in the demon
stration and less than 1000 in the
parade. The Brooklyn Eagle of sun
day. June Is, newspaper that is by
no means friendly to the prohibition
cause. but evidently devoted to ac-
curacy in recording news events.
states tina. there were only $500 In
the parade, Following are some ex-
cerpts from the Brooklyn Eagles ac-
count OF the fasco:
Washington. d. c.. June 1.-THE
big beer and wine demonstration in
front OF the capitol this afternoon.
advertised in advance as an outpotr-
ing Of a hundred thousand persons.
materialixed, only fifteen hundred of
whom naraded. 1t was Il wet parade
In dry town on hot day.
Several special trains brought dele
cations from as far as Chicago and
Cincinnati There was train carry
ing about 500 persons from the CEN
trail labor unions OF Manhattan and
Brooklyn. A large part of those who
came to town did not parade or go
to the capitol plaza at all. They took
advantage of the excursion to see the
town About fifty women carrying
purple parasols, who represented a
personal liberty league Of Baltimore.
remained faithful to the cause and
carried cheers from the rest of the
crowd.
IT had been announced that sever
al hundred war veterans from the
Argonnc, the Marine and the Mihiel
offensive would march. They were
twelve men wearing the army uni
form in line. Every feature OF the
demonstration had been far over-ad-
~ertised, and as a result the perform
ance suffered when compared with
the promises.
The demonstration took place on
tttc great piazza opposite the east
front of the capitol, where every four
years ar enormous crowd meets to
sec president inaugurated., sy COM
parison with an inaugural crowd to-
days was but a corporafs guard. A
hundred thousand people can easily
be placed along the east front of the
capitol. but they were not there to-
day. The center steps were filled.
There was parade containing about
1.500 persons. There were about $500
more who appeared TO have = part In
the exercises In addition there were
about thousand casuals who came to
see the show.
"One OF the raraders blamed the
poor attendance partially on Balu-
moro. All the special trains came
through Baltimore, which Is only an
hours ride from Washington.I ana
Baltimore Is wet "A lot OF theh got
Off at Raltimosc.' he complained, n
wais hot on the trains and they knew
that Washington was dry. SO they rot
OF where they knew they could get a
drink and stayed there.'s
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