Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-01
Nation Lacks
Real Display !,
Of Pa+rio+ism'
Bands Should Blare fc
Boys Going Away
BY GEO. ROCKWELL BROWN

Special 10 THE DETROIT TIMES :
DRESIDENT ROOSE W Ell T..
was entirely correct when
he said. in his message to CONF
gress this week. that America
was much better prepared fox;
W.T. when it came this time
than II was when our country
entered the first World Waf,
III loii. 10
But there has been one thingc
lacking in this war, an outward
display of patriotic fervor. n
Even in the first World War,
there were no such stirring;
demonstrations as those of us
who are old enough to do so, can
so wildly recall from the days
of our short but spectacular war
with Spain. =.
In 1898 we sent our soldiers
TO the front with flags flying.
bands playing and crowds cheer
ing. 81
Mr.. Roosevelt referred TO this
some days ago when he said /.
there ought to be more flagt
flying and more bands playing
now. That is absolutely true. ).
In 1893 we had not perfected.
the technique Of keeping our
plans and military movements
from the knowledge OF the
enemy. Today we keep them
even from our own people.
NOBODY will argue that w
IN ought 10 publicize the de-
parture of troop ships and the
movement of naval vessels
today. These are military secrets
and properly SO.
But we can have more display
of troops. more parades and
bands. here at home. And we
ought to have them for their eff
feet on the morale Of the people.
Two resolutions are pending
in Congress which would offer a !,
splendid opportunity for just the .
sort of thing the President re-.
Gently had in mind.
Senator LaFollette Of Wis:
consin has introduced in the
Senate. and Representative
Keefe, also of Wisconsin. in the.
House, somewhat similar reso-,
lutions to do honor to the hero
of Bataan and the supreme com.
mander in the Southwest Pas
cific. by setting aside a certain
date in June to be known as
Douglas Macarthur Day" ;.
Congress by all means should
adopt such a resolution, and
should do it as quickly as pos
sible, in order that ample time
may be had for formulating
plans for a nationwide celebra- :
ton as a tribute to this great
soiuiei' -;
THE most appropriate date
Il would be June Is. on which.
date, in 1899, Douglas Mac
Arthur entered the military
academy at West Point as a
cadet. He was appointed from
the State Of Wisconsin, which.
naturally enough has a feeling.
of special pride in him. -
But General Macarthur be-
longs to the whole nation. and
not to any one state, not even.
Arkansas. where he was born. .,
New York already has adopted:
through its Legislature. a rese-
luton declaring June IL asl
Douglas Macarthur Day"
Senator La Toilette felt that.
June IL would be a more appro-,
pirate date. that being the an
niversary of the commissioning
OF Douglas Macarthur as a licu-
tenant in the army, which oc-
CURED on June IL, 1903, upon
his graduation from West Point.
at the head of his class. u;
In view of the action already
taken by New York, and in view
of the fact that Flag Day, June
Ia, this year falls on a Sunday
il would seem that the date
selected by New York would be
a more appropriate one. ="
Douglas Mac Arthur Day"
should be made national in
scope. This means that 1t
should be sponsored by Congress
and proclaimed by the President.
Let us make il a day long TO
be remembered. a day that will
deeply touch and stir the soul
of America.
Let us bring those flags out
and start some Of those bands
playing.