The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
DRAFT BOARDS HERE
CALL FOR PARADE


tors, Representatives and other WASH
ington officials who hail from this neck
in the woods TO let Mr.. Baker know how
seriously New York feels about the pa
rade Of the Seventy seventh Division.
One of the resolutions received by Mr..
BAKER was from the selective Services
Personnel of New York city, signed by
Martin Conboy and David Asch, which
declared:
ct Ia the sense of the committee that
Il In a matter of public Importance that
this community be given the opportunity
10 nav due tribute to the gallant men Of
the Seventy seventh Division, and that
such tribute can only be adequately
paid II such division parade as divi-
sion in the city before disqualification
and discharge"
N,' .ycnboy is optimistic. Next to the
fam -, of the boys of the Seventy
seventh he more than any one else lie
keesnly interested in them, for he was
chairman Of the board that snatched
them from all walks OF life and swiftly
lifted them into the smashing. fighting
machine which finally spelled victory in
France. Said Mr.. Conboy yesterday:
Ever since the return home Of the
seyenty seventh Division became immi-
nent I have received constant requests
from the members of the Selective Ser
vice Personnel in New York city to see
that proper steps we're taken TO enable
the draft officials to participate In pay
ing honor to this particular part of the
army with tho organization OF which
they had so much to do. therefore
called a meeting C. representative mem
bers Of the districts to-day and of the
Government appeal agents to consider
what action should be taken by the
selective Service Personnel in partici
patinR in the welcome to the Seventy
seventh Division.
Tho meeting was not one OF protest
but because of articles appearing In tn'
public press intimating that the military
authorities might not permit the pro
posed parade to take place this pos
sipility was naturally the subject O.
greatest interest at the meeting, and
vigorous and unanimous opinion wal
there expressed that 1t was not only
proper and fitting but even imperative
that our returning drafted troops should
parade as n division before demobiliza
ton and discharge.
"I trust the military authorities vii
be able to permit the review of these
homecoming troops. There will be {
general meeting OF the selective service
personnel at the Bar Association mex
Wednesday evening TO consider how we
can best pay honor to these men whom
we indicted into the army and of whose
career we are so proud. We have no
lost sight of the fact that we must ale
these men in procuring positions, ant
this matter will also be given seriou.
consideration"
DR.. Manning Sees Hope.
Said the Rev. DR.. William T. Man
ming:
There are Indications that Washing
ton is reconsidering its position In re
gard to a parade for the Seventy seventh
Division. No assurance. however. hal
yet been given that the parade win b
permitted. The families and friends o
our soldiers and the people Of New Yorl
must continue their efforts until deflnit
assurance Is given that the parade will
be held. held. , ,.., ,,,so ~.
| II the War Department does not arrang
| for II an informal parade can be he'll
| after the men are demobilized. Thi
would be wholly unsatisfactory. I
would have no official character and tn
men would not even have their riflei
| The very point of a parade is that tn
division should be ordered to march b
the War Department
"a voluntary parade could not hay
at all the same Significance. II is doub
full II tho men could be held together Il
1t. Many of them would not wish
take part in it The Seventy-sevent
must have an official military paraC
such as was given the Twenty-seventh
w. Bourke Cochran vigorously a
sailed tho Government officials WI
would deny the Seventy-seventh a pi
rade. He said:
ut would be the most ridiculous e,
ercise OF arbitrary power I've ever hear
of. I cannot believe that the Cover
ment will persist in that stand. 1t wou
be a denial to the city OF New York
its one chance 10 evidence its tustifiab
pride in Its brave sons.
we couldn't all be with the Sevent,
seventh in France. but with them
spirit we surely were, and now It Is pr
posed TO deprive us OF our only oppo
tunity, long awaited, for expressing
these heroes our appreciation of the
achievements.
Mustn't smuggIe Them In.
New York Is truly the melting D.
city. In It are found all the contrib,
tons of the civilized world. When Il