Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-07

away from them or that they have somehow
got away from the times.
In the tall grass country, even IN New
York, where Tummany parades used to be
things to marvel at. and in Ohto, where
there were bosses who could even show
thing or two TO the Murphys and the
Crokrrs the boys who labor in the VINE
yard are less disposed than they used to be
to spend lot of money on ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
clothes and go forth ITO impress and bedazzle
the multitudcs on days of party festivals and
trumphs There has been n feeling that
somehow such demonstrations we're not init.
matcy enough related to modern political
thought
with that point Of view Mr.. McCaughn
and his friends did not agree. They held
stubbOrnly and devotcdly to an old tradition.
Others might follow after strange gods and
get tangled up in new PHILOSOPHERS. but in
the Twenty fourth ward there were patrl-
otic mon who knew how to stand out to the
last for the protection of sacred American
institutions.
And so the MCCaughn Club spent great
deal Of money for exQuisitciy tailored clothes
of the tender shade OF gray known to the
intelligcntsia as elephant breath. They
spent Il great deal Of money on large por
trait Of Senator Penrose. which was carried
aoft against the blue of the sky by n device
Of iron pipes fabricated by versatile
plumber. And they went to Washington for
the Inauguration.
Now, when Blakcly McCaughn and his
club marched in Philadelphia and especially
when they passed in proud review under the
adorinS eyes Of their own ward. they were
wildly upplaudcd. Many people felt assured
that after eight years Of anxiety the country
was safe again. Here was tho stuff Of in
spiraton for the national spirit, the distilled
essence Of 100 per cent Amcrcanism bril-
liantly manifest. Under the portrait of Mr..
pCnrOsP. which was one of the most beau q
tiful ever done by sign painter. ran tn"
legend that told of the faith Of the mOrchCrs.
their vision. their high devotion Our
senator, Washington needed high c1-
ample. II had been running TO seed. II
was to have been brought back 20 q sens"
Of living political realities by BIakCly ID.
Mctaughn, of the Twenty fourth ward. End
the nation was TO have new start upon
th" way Of progress and true patriotism.
To Washington went the marching club.
MS marching clubs used TO go in vast mum o
bers in the past And there II vanished.
Il was swallowed up. 1t was not heard
from until its members returned to their
native ward The police it seems. world
not let them march down Pennsylvania ave
nue. The avenue was reserved for the
motorcars of the President and the Prcsi
dent elect and those who attended them.
Nor could Biakciy u. McCaughn march up
Pennsylvania avenue. The police would not
70, them do that. either. Old days, old
deals were forgotten in the surge of lev
things The leader of the club took oil his
elephants breath hat and scratched his head
and lifted up his voice and spoke again 70
the chief Of the Washington police. Il II
tell YOU what we'll do. said h" I've
have n picture here of our senator. We
will carry it out into this little park where
the senator's hotel is and there We will have
our demonstration in front Of the main en-
trance whore the senator can see and bt
glad 90 Spoke then the chief of police anc
said You will not. You will behave JUS
! like any other people in Washington. Ther'
will b. no marches OF any kind
! Certainly government il in a bad way il
! the United States. Is there no more pntri
otism no more high thinking in America
How fcarfuy and ineXplirably the time
hive changed The Blakcly y. Mct tauehr
Marrhing Cluh came home. The last of tn
poitiral hikrrs surrendered to the nevita
/ BE- Marching clubs will be no more.