Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-04-21
N. w. T. CELEBRATION HERE
WAS OUTSTANDING OCCASION

The largest crowd ever to assem-
BILE in the Twin Cities was that G
Wednesday Of last week for tn
Northwest Territory celebration
The weather was ideal, and every
thing worked together so nicel
yond what had even been hope
for. Early In the morning tn
crowd began to arrive, and to in
spect the, windows with their an
at the appointed hour Mr.. Davi,
Lowe, local chairman, Mayor w. 3
Medley, of this place, Mayor W. =
Shafer, and DR.. q. IS. Nickerson, me
State Chairman e. j. Mildren, VIII,
turned the Modern Pioneers" a
the common, over to the local com
mittee.
Promptly. at 2 o'clock the parad'
started down Main street, and i
took half hour for it to pass ;
given point, and the various floats
bands, etc., We're closely assembled
Had it been more strung out, al
most parades are it would have TAX
en- much longer. A general descrip
tion of the parade was broadcast
from coast to coast by Bob French
and with the broadcast, and estimat-
ed 10000 assembled here, we deem
it unnecessary to dwell at any
length on the parade, other than to
state that it was very elaborate and
colorful, and the spirit of the oc-
casion was splendidly exemplified.
While many cities had floats in the
parade and were gorgeous, we feel
that special praise should be given
to home products, especially the
grangers, floats which were built by
the individual members of several
oranges.
Immediately following the parade
the bands assembled on the public
square and in massed formation
played number OF selections.
This was followed by addresses
from the court house steps, by for
mer Governor George White, nation
al chairman of the N. w. T. celebra-
man Robert T. Secrest.. Attorney
McGonagle introduced the speakers.
Each spoke briefly, the three
speeches consuming less than half
hour All spoke along much the
same line, calling attention to the
provisions of the Ordinance of 1778,
and to the pioneers who established
the first permanent settlement in
the Northwest Territory, and then
Attention was directed that it was
the pioneer spirit that was being
celebrated; the spirit of daring
of willingness to risk life for prin-
ciples; willingness to work; self re-
lance, that they wanted to make
their own way and not rely upon
others, in working out their own
the antithesis Of socialism. It was
pointed out the ordinance prohib
ited slavery in the Northwest Ter
ritory. That in so doing they were
carrying out principle, since with
agriculture being practically the
only industry, slavery would have
been very profitable But in that
ordinance were set principles and
cut those principles. It was stated
the Northwest Territory furnished
one-third Of all of the soldiers who
fought in the Civil war; and it was
the Northwest Territory that fur
nished Abraham Lincoln, and Sher
man and Sheridan. and other great
leaders of the Civil war.
At $50 was the reservation din
tarians for the pioneer guests at
the high school auditorium. Gov
ers were laid for approximately 200.
The excellent menu was prepared
under the supervision of Mrs. Clara
Young, and served by young ladies
who wore aprons on which were
painted colored maps Of the present
states of the Northwest Territory.
This feature was highly compli-
mented, and some of the pioneers
requested them as souvenirs. The
dinner being over, Rufus K. Brown.
who in behalf Of the local Rotary |
club, presided. Treasurer Of State !
Clarence Knisely's orchestra furnish
ed music and entertainment. Mr.
Brown introduced Mr.. David Lowe, I
local chairman, and other members
so faithfully to make the occasion /
the success that it was. Chairman |
Brown stated that it was the pio-
neer boys party, and those boys |
were. individually introduced. 9th
ers presented by Mr.. Brown includ-
ed E. J. Mildren, state chairman;
O. K Reams. federal pageant direc- |
Hon. Robert A. Taft; State Treas
urer Knise1y each speaking very
briefly. The principal speaker was
Congressman Robert T. Secrest, |
who proposed the bill in congress |
making the Northwest Territory /
celebration possible. He spoke
along the same line as did the
speakers on the court house steps III |
the afternoon. He said the "pio-
that they represented the funda-
mental principles of Americanism,
and called attention to the fact that |
they were from 81 different col.
leges-a credit he said to our uni
versities. He then paid q splendid
tribute to DR.. James Ball MAYORS
books and their close connection,
west Territory, especially of the
valley. He said that |
Doctor Naylor's books should be re-
published, so as to give them
wider distribution.
Mr.. Secrest said that the prin-
ciples of these pioneers is the need |
of the present time; that. when we /
dviate from them we get into trou-
BILE. Those pioneers sat down to
as radicals but certain definite far
reaching principles to live by, which |
Included freedom of worship, free
dom of speech and of the press. |
Without these things he said de-
mocracy would not last one year.
He called attention to countries rul-
ed by dictators, how the people had |
place, only as the dictators permit
ted, since the press can publish |
only such as is decreed: no one can
make a public speech unless APP
proved by the. dictator, and he de-
crees the religion (if any,. Could |
we imagine such things in free
America, where there is no censor !
on the press, pulpit, or from speak
Immediately following the BAN
uuet was the pageant on the conf
mon, Freedom on the March, In
which history was turned back 150
wears. 1t was witnessed by very |
large crowd. It is stated the cos
tunes worn, We're made by tne