The Yale expositor., 1921-04-14
SOlOns Shatter Lees Dream of
A Perfect Memorial Day


sentative w. o. Lee, of Port HUI
ron, Civil war veteran, met the
sorrow of his life Thursday, but
he met it like the soldier of the
republic and came fighting back
just as he did at Gettysburg when
the tide of war was turned in fav-
or of an united America.
Early in the session Mr.. Lee in
troduced bill providing against
the desecration of Memorial day
and the tendency toward making it
a day of amusement while his de-
parted comrades lay forgotten in
the cemeteries of the land. The
bill was referred to the committee
of state affairs and there it has
slumbered for three long months.
Time after time Mr.. Lee, with all
the fire of a Union soldier, urged
the committee report out his bill,
which means so much to him and
the G. A. R., and as he believes,
to the veterans of the Spanish and
World wars. The committee has
consistently refused.
Makes Plea For Bill
Thursday Representative Lee
took the course which has always
met with failure and which has
likewise always resulted in the
legislative death of the man with
the temerity to try it. He moved
that the committee be discharged
from the consideration of the bill
and that the bill be placed upon
the general order.
In his argument in favor of his
motion he declared he realized he
was melting the wrath of the
house and that he had been warn
ed that such move would not
only fail, but would finish his USE
fulness there. But the Union
cause was won by the stubborn
ness of northern soldiers, and Rep
resentative Lee was one of these
He declared he didn't care what
was the effect upon his own polit-
ical fortunes, but that he did
think the state of Michigan
might cease its play one day out
of 365 to do honor to the men who
had given their lives in defense of
their country in three great wars.
Defeat for his motion WAS a fore
gone conclusion. There was nc
argument against it, but Lee de-
manded a roll call. At first the
necessary ten hands failed to show
up to support his demand, but
Representative Ramsey said, "Pll
support the demand for a roll
CALL" and that was enough.
Gets In Final Word
The clerk started to call the roll
Representative Lee sat with folded
hands and with his chin upon his
breast. Perhaps before his minds
eye there passed a vision of some
brave friend who had fallen at his
side and for whom Memorial day
is a tribute of affection and honor
Name after name was called ano
the mays" came in rapid success.
ion. The name of a world war vet
eran was called and he responded
mo" Mr.. Lee showed that he
felt the rebuff. But as Franklin
Moore loudly shouted "yes." the
veteran sat up and smiledsa little
sadly. The roll call showed but II
members standing with Mr.. Lee
for sacred Memorial day and So
in opposition to him, but in sup
port of the traditions of the
house.
With the old fighting bloot
again surging through his veins
Mr.. Lee rose and faced the house
Fire was in his eyes once more.
81 want to thank the members
of the house for at last gettini
upon record. Year after year thi:
bill has been introduced and yea
after year it has been smotheret
in the committee. This time yol
have smothered it in the hous,
and your names stand on the rec
ord"
That was all. He had gained a
least a partial victory and he ha
not quit fighting yet.