The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-09
PRESS, PULPIT AND
PLATFORM USED TO
URGE WAR CAUSES

The decision of our government on
| April 6. 1917 to enter the World war
on the side Of the Allies was received
with quiet and determined approba
ton by the citizens of Wayne county.
They had been prepared for that
eventuality and were not deceived in
to believing that victory would be won
by bombast or that the conflict would
/ be picnic.
Quite the opposite held true, and
| from the very beginning they went
about the work Of winning the war;
| with a resolute and grim doggedness
! of purpose that did not disappear until
Germany signed the armistice in 1918.
Wayne county had been prepared
for the inevitable sacrifices of blood
and treasure by the Richmond news
| papers. Commenting on the action of
| April s. the newspapers editorially
! pointed out that ronscripti ION of the
. man power Of the nation, conservation
! OF food and resources, and the utiliza-
! ton Of our whole industrial system
would be necessary to force the issue
: to successful conclusion.
! Community Ready,
! The people were asked TO help con-
vert the whole nation from Il peace to
a war basis as quickly as possible. 1t
! was fOregOne conclusion in this COM
munity for many weeks that war with
! Germany was sure to come. The neCeS
| sity for decisive action to prepare us
| for actual participation in the strife
was regarded by the newspapers as
i the paramount problem of the day.
On April 1G 1917, the first public
meeting was held in the Coliseum in
! this city. More than 5000 persons
marched in a parade preceding the
.
monted on the sober, reflective and de-
! termined appearance of the march
| ers Persons that watched the parade
| INDUCED in little shouting and APP
! plause.
Seemingly the Importance Of the
! step thai had been taken by congress
! was not underestimated here, and
citizens preferred TO show by action
/ rather than by noise their loyalty and
devotion to the country.
Adopt Resolution.
! Arch NJ. Hall Of indianapolis and
! Henry L. Johnson. attorney. delivered
addresses. A resolution, introduced at
| the mass meeting by William Dudley
Foulke, endorsing the action of our
government and pledging support, as
! well as approving of the conscription
! of soldiers. was passed.
The churches, fraternal OrganiZa-
| tiOns, wOmen's societies and clubs
| evidenced their loyalty by adopting
resolutions that pledged their support
! to the government and. its president,
! and promised their cooperation in cv
cry movement int ended to further the
cause of patriotism. The government
! called upon these organizations to
bring to the attention of their men,
bers special notices and regulations.
Marshal Joffre Here.
Marshal Joseph JOffre. Vice Premier
Viviani. Marquis de 'Chambrum. Col.
Jean Chabry and other illustrious
M:enchmen passed through Richmond
; on the Pennsylvania railroad on May
B.! y, 1917. Thousands of persons as
! sembled at the North Tenth street
! crossing, where the train was halted.
10 greet the distinguished guests OF
the nation William Dudley FOulke
delivered an address, pledSine the sup
port of our country in behalf OF the
cause for which France had fought
valiantly and with heavy sacrifices.
On June IS, Il public parade was
held to arouse enthusiasm for cam
paign 10 raise $4,000, the county's al
lotment in a national Red Cross drive.
An address on Aug. "a by Sergeant
Guy Empcv attracted many residents
grounds in Glen Miller park. His adj
dress helped soIdify the aggressive
patriotism of the community.
A public demonstration and parade
in honor Of the men chosen Tor mill
tary duty under the selective service
law was held on Sept 3, 1917. Many
of the social and fraternal orSaniZa-
tons OF the city were represented in
the parade. Many business houses
and industrial plants had floats, sym
bolical OF war 1ctivltleS.
BeIgians Speak.
Gen. Matthew LeClercq and his aide
Major Leon Oesterreich representa-
tives of the Belgian government, spoke
[ briefly. Other. addresses were made
! by Frank Alb,& secretary Of the Com
mercial club, Charles Jordon, William
Dudley Foulke and Henry U. Johnson.
! Patriotic women presented comfort
kits to the service men who filed by
them in front of the postoffice.
! The departure of the "1O1," the first
large contingent of service men on
Sept. 81, was the occasion OF another
parade Members of Sol Meredith
Post G. A. r. led the procession. Pu-
! pills of the high school marched at
! the side of the departing recruits. On
! Oct < when the second contingent de-
! pdlleu, llle| dlSO "tle tSSol tou liolh
! the courthouse to the Pennsylvania
| station by a parade Of citizens. On
! Oct. IS. Private Peat delivered his lee
ture 1.-TWO Years in He'll and Back
! With a Smile" before a large audience
in the Coliseum. Lieut.. Paul Perigord.
| a French veteran of Verdun, spoke in
i this city on Jan. 20.
War Conference.
The first war rally was held on Feb
| 4, 1918, for the purpose of instructing
! l,o FlIllx, tn tho a Inn