The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-11-12
PARADE Opens
CELEBRATION
IN CITY TODAY
Whitmire Tells Audience
First Lesson Of War
Not Yet Learned
FOOTBALL, BOXING
FEATURE OBSERVANCE

Leu NY Cnle1 OF Pollce Otis V.
Powers, as grand marshal, the
American Legion this morning Of
ficially opened the celebration of
Armist.ice Day with a parade.
The parade started from the
county court house, proceeded up
Main street to Eighth Avenue
and on Eighth avenue to the high
schnl auditorium where a patrio-
tic service was held at II o'clock.
Chief Powers led the parade
followed by L. B. Prince and
Wiltshire Griffith as marshals.
The Erskine band, 80 strong, from
EI:skine College at Due West, was
next in the line of march.
Headed by the colors, the Le-
,gionnaires and ex-service men
were next in line of march. The
Boy Scouts followed, led by their
own colors and standards, and
delegations from Blue Ridge
School and the high school were
next in line of march.
Members of the Legion Auxili-
airy and the Gold Star Mothers
followed in automobiles.
In spite of threatening skies
the city this morning took on
holiday attire as Main street was
decorated for the occasion. The
observance will continue through
the afternoon and evening with a
football game this afternoon be-
twetn Blue Ridge and the Erskine
freshmen, a boxing carnival to-
night at the high school gymna-
SUM, and a dance at the Legion
club house.
At the service this morning at
the auditorium R. L. Whitmire
was the principal speaker. Intro.
duction by Frank L. Fitzsimmons.
Mr.. Whtimire reviewed brief
ly the events leading up to the
World War and to our own par
ticipation in the great struggle,
and delivered a stirring plea to
his hearers for an adequate pre-
paration for war in this country.
How we created an army Of
nearly five million men in the
time required was a miracle, ne
said, and how the allies were able
to hold the enemy until we arriv-
ed in force is another miracle.
He spoke in part as follows:
"But the one lesson we should
have learned from this war which
we obviously did not is that we
should be well prepared. Today
we are not as well prepared as
we were in 1917 Eight months af-
ter our entry we had only one
hundred thousand troops in
France. At the close of the war
we did not have enough guns of
our own make to equip one divi-
sion. We were using English rifles
and French artillery. If we should
be invaded we will not have the
British and French armies to hold
the enemy until we can oct ready.
Certainly now that the rest Of
the world is EARNED to the teeth"
we should Immediately proceed to
build up our army and navy and
air forces to give us sufficient
strength to properly defend our
selves in case of invasion. Then,
too, strong defense is the best
insurance against war.
"The American Legion not only
advocates strong army and navy
as one means of preventing war,
but it, also, advocates what is
known as the universal draft. II
is a sad fact to relate, but there
is ample evidence of the fact, that
those who are to gain in finan-
cial way are sometimes RESPONSE
BILE for bringing on war. There
fore, we must take the profit out
of war. If war should come again
we must not only draft the nan
power of the nation, but we must
draft the wealth as we'll. A mans
life is his greatest possession. If
we cause him to give up his life
in defense of his country, there
is every reason to cause his more
fortunate brother to surrender
his wealth for the same purpose.
If the universal draft becomes the
settled policy of the nation then
one very material cause of war
has been eliminated. The Ameri-
can Legion is definitely commit
ted to this policy.
"There are persons and organi-
cations in this country today who
take the position that we ought
not to take up arms even in de-
tense of our own country and they
are even attempting to pledge
young boys to this position. There
is no place on American soil for
such people and there is. no room
for the teachings of such doc
trines. This is nothing short of
treason and ought to be dealt
with accordingly. 1t is not only
un-American and unpatriotic, but
it is breaking faith with thousands
upon thousands Of rugged, patSi-
otto Americans who sacrificed
their lives and fortunes that we
might have this great country for
a home. Furthermore, if war
Continued on page four)