Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-28
PUBLIC Dinner
WILL FEATURE
ARMISTICE DAY
Big Get-together Will
Take Place Of
Parade

DOyS dt DdRiluCe- VOuIu
Promote Better Understand
ing Between Business Men
and Legionaires
An original method of observing
Armistice Day has been worked out
by the James Fitzgerald Post, AM
erican Legion, and the Augusta
Chamber of Commerce. In place Of
the usual parade. which is oftentimes
very unsatisfactory due to the late
ness Of the season and other factors,
it has been suggested that big get
together of citizens and Legion men,
bers be arranged. The primary OBJ
ject, of course, is to observe the day
in a fitting manner with patriotic
speeches, stirring band music, and
the focusing of public attention on
the success Of American arms in the
World War. A secondary object Of
such a meeting is to promote better
understanding between the Ameri-
can Legion and the business and pro-
fessional men of our city.
1t has been the feeling among both
Legion men and business men for
some time that neither understood
fully the attitudes and ideas and
plans of the other. 1t is believed
that by rubbing elbows in a genuine
get-together the Legion men will re-
aliZe the extent to which the bust
ness men of Augusta are interested
in them and their organization and
how they have always supported
their enterprises whether minstrel
shows, parades, public obscrvances
or what not. On the other hand the
business men will recognize the gen
uine value of an organization which
seeks to keep alive tho spirit of 1917
and to instill genuine pride in our
country in the hearts of our citizens,
young and old, and to teach through
public obscrvances the value of gen.
uine Americanism as an aid to good
government.
John S. Everett, representing the
Legion, appeared before committee
of business men at the Chamber OF
Commerce rooms Friday morning
and said, I'VE do not ask the mer-
chants Of Augusta to close for the
day. We realize that Saturday is
the big shopping day and that many
houscholders would be inconvenience
ed by a general closing of the stores,
especially in the matter of arrang-
ing for the purchase of their sup
plies for Sunday. We ask only for
some sort of observance of the day
which will demonstrate its purposes
and show that Augusta does not wish
the day to pass without some dis
tinct tribute to those who paid the
supreme sacrifice in the Great War"
This committee of Chamber of
Commerce men. who were called to-
gether by Secretary Clarke, voted I'M
animously to observe the day by
closing their stores from 11.30 to
100 on Armistice Day and also gave
their entire sanction to plans for a
big public dinner to be given under
the auspices of the Augusta Cham
Der of Commerce with the members
of the Legion as guests of the bust
ness and professional .lcn of the
city. Under the plans as outlined,
which were later unanimously APP
proved by the Board Of Directors OF
the Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
each business or professional man is
to take one American Legion boy TO
dimes as his guest. and the import
ant point is that the business man
must promise to attend in person,
and not by proxy. Funds will be pro-
yided for a band and other FILINGS,
two good speakers who can show the
value of the Legion to the community
and the obligations of the community
to the Legion, will be included in the
program. The dinner will be held
at City hall and the gallery will be
thrown omen to the general public.