New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-24
Thousands Join
Tribute Before
Franklin Statue
Army, Navy and Diplomatic
Leaders Pay Homage to
Poor Richard as Bronze
Form Goes Through N. Y.
Ceremony at City Hall
Military Leads Procession
From Battery and Crowd
of Spectators Defy Rain

Picturesque tribute was paid to the
memory Of Benjamin Franklin by New
York yesterday, when bronze statue
of the famous patriot and statesman
passed through the city on its way
from Baltimore to Waterbury, Conn.
where it will stand in the public
square.
Banked about with floral wreaths
presented by various MUNICIPALITIES
through which the figure had passed
on its journey, the statue was driven
on truck to City Hall from the Bat
terry, where it had been received By
the Sons and Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution, Boy Scouts and var-
Gus military and naval organizations
The ceremony at City Hall was held
within sight of the Franklin statue
which stands in Printing House Square
The 22d Infantry band rom Gov
crnor's Island led the procession up
Broadway to C..ty Hall. In the escort
from the Brooklyn navy yard, mem
bcrs Of the American Legion and vet
Grams of foreign wars.
"A color guard of the Veteran Corps
of Artillery marched directly in from,
OF the motor truck on which the statue
stood. and, with their scarlet-lned
coats thrown back over their shout
ders, gave the affair brilliant touch
Thousands Defy Rain
Despite the fact that during the
march up Broadway and during the
early part of the ceremony the rain
fell in steady drizzle. thousands OF
people lined the curbs and dotted their
hats as the figure passed. The plaza
in front of City Hall was also thronged
and it was necessary for the police tc
establish lines i'll order to hold the
crowd back.
A stand had been erected in front of
City Hall, and it had been planned tc
hold the ceremonies there, but due tc
the weather it was decided to use the
Aldermanic chamber
The bronze statue is q seated figure
of Franklin, the work of Paul w. Bart.
lett. 1t was cast in Baltimore and in
its journey to Waterbury it will re.
trace the steps of "Popr Richard" or
his memorable trip from Boston tc
Philadelphia.
In front of City Hall the militar,
truck, and later marched to the alder
manic chamber, where an invocation
was said by the Rev. Dr.. Joseph F
Newton, chaplain of the Empire Society
of the Sons of the American Revolu
ton. A boys choir sang the natona
anthem, accompanied by the Cover
nors Island band.
Colonel Henry w. Sackett, chairman
OF the committee on arrangements, ir
introducing the presiding officer, Brig
adler General Oliver B. Bridgman, de
scribed the trip of the statue from
Baltimore to this point General Bridg
man made a short address and intro
duced Mayor Hylan.
The Mayor said, in part:
1T is almost impossible to do Justice
to the remarkable versatility of the
genius Of Benjamin Franklin. The vic
tories which he achieved as states
man and diplomat in England, France
and America were hardly less impor
tant than the military victories Of
Washington on the battlefields of the
Revolution. AS philosopher, scientist
and inventor he ranked among the
greatest of his contemporaries.
City Knew Him as Printer
"New Workers in this part of the cit,
love to think of him as Benjamin
Franklin, the printer, the description
which found most favor with himself
Yonder, in plain view of this building
stands an harmonious statue depicting