USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of the activities of the people of Lackawanna County in the world war : under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Council of National Defense and Committee of Public Safety > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
1
1
129
and died January 13, 1920, mourned by the neo lo of beranton as one who had truly given his life to the Cause of his Country,
Speakers' Bureau.
On November 15, 1917, following instructions of Mr. George Wharton Pepper and Senator E. L. Tustin, Director of the Speakers' Bureau of Pennsylvania, the Executive Committee appointed Major ". Frank Penman Director of the Speakers' Bureau and Chair an of the Committee of Allied Bodies. This placed the question of mass meet- ings of the public and meetings of particular organizations allied to the Committee of Public safety in any way, and also the general utilization for particular purposes of the Four Minute Speakers' Bureau, under Major Penman, as an official of the Committee of Pub- lic Safety. Major Penman was well qualified in every way to take charge of this branch of war work; and it so happened that he was not called upon so much to arrange for mass meetings as he was to prepare for mass meetings planned by the Committee or by allied bodies.
Public Meetings.
There were public meetings in Scranton, in Carbondale, in the larger towns, and even in the very small towns , all the time. This statement merely illustrates -- it is not an exaggeration; from April, 1917, to November, 1918, somewhere in Lackawanna County there was a meeting on some phase of war work every night. If
one should try to strike an average, one might say that, including the enormous number of Loan Campaign and War Work Campaign meetings, day and night, throughout the whole County, there were from six to ten meetings for every day of the eighteen months of the war. While
1
130
there was no lack of desire on the part of the citizens to recognize the Speakers' Bureau of the Committee of Public onfety, the Bureau was simply not needed for all these meetings. It mos the easiest thing imaginable for a committee in a country town to arrange for a mass meeting, get its orm speakers, and arouse enthut. siasm for the particuler movement afoot. . If this committee needed Major Penman's help it asked for it and got it; but the initiative displayed in so many other enterprises showed itself in promulgating war work ideas in all bocalities of the County. Patriotism, too. was so trustworthy that no censorship had to be ap lied to these meetings. Colonel Watres and the Executive Committee wanted noth- ing better than such gatherings of the people; and never but in the instance of certain undesirable activities of natives of Hungary, did the Committee have any reason to interfere; Do these local 1 meetings people came in large numbers. The writer addressed a meet- ing in Dalton attended by a greater number of neo le than lived in Dalton, for example; and Congressman John R. Farr and George W. Maxey (now Judge Maxey) addressed ten thousand people at Clark's Summit, while the pop lation of the whole Abington country is less than 9,500. (July 4, 1918) . It was all "organized patriotism", and it all counted.
Declaration of War Meeting
The large mass meetings in Scranton came particularly un- dor the supervision of Major Penman's department. As war was being declared in April, 1917, five or six thousand peo le gathered to hear Senator David I. Walsh and the Honorable A. Mitchell Palmer, The meeting was presided over by Honorary Chairman Henry M. Ed ards
i
131
In
and by acting Chairman Ralph I. Weeks. As at most of these mass meetings, local speakers also addressed the audience. this instance Colonel batres spoke on war organize ion and Mr. Frank Hummler delivered an address from the standpoint of the American citizen who had been born in Germany.
Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day, 1917, an immense concourse, over ten thousand people, gathered in Nay Aug Park for patriotic services
Draft Celebrations
Early in June, 1917, in Scranton and in some of the larg- er boroughs, military registration meetings attended in many places by parades, were held. The one in Jessup, one of the three locali- ties in Lackawanna County most in need of the rocesses of American- ization, deserves mention. It was under the direction of a commit- tee consisting of B. J. McGurl, P. A. Dean, James Sweeney, John Favini, and Joseph Kominski. The Abington Commitsee of Public Safety saw to it that appropriate exercis 's, without the inconven- ience at that time of parades, were held in the Churches and school houses and at the park at Clark's Suumit, in connection with the military registration. Throughout the wor it was the custom for the towns to accompany, en masse, the drafted men to the railway stations.
On the Fourth of July, 1917, on July, 14, 1917, and on several other occasions during the year large noetings were held in many of all parts of the County. On January 11, 1918, Senator Tustin, Congressman Logue, and Lieutenant McQuarrie of the British Army, spoke in Carbondale
1
132
in the afternoon and to a large audience in Scranton in the evening.
Music in Patriotism.
In regard to patriotic impulses derived from music, and under the auspices of the lovers of music of Scranton, who put patriotism into their music and music into their patriotism, Dr. John C, Freund delivered an address in the morning at the Dunmore High School, on invitation of Dr. Charles F. Hoban, and in the evening at Town Hall, Scranton, February 1, 1918.
Food Conservation Meeting.
On March 5, 1918, a large meeting in Scranton was ad- dressed by the renowned Chairman of the Pennsylvania Council of National Defense, Mr. George Wharton Pepper, Mr. Howard Heinz, Food Administrator of the State, Lieutenant Frank A. Sutton of the Bri- tish Army, and Mlle. Susanne Silvercruys, a prominent refugee of Belgium. Major Penman found in this meeting several eloments of management and he conducted the arre gements for it with rare dip- Jomacy, The Women's Committee, Mrs. Dimmick and Mrs. Von Storch, wore dooply interested in the part that the Food Administrator was to take in the program o, and they were, of course, very much at- tached to Mlle. Silvercruys. Mr. Charles A. Belin was instrumen- i
tal in making the meeting a success. Colonel Vatres presided and Judge Edwards made the address of welcome to Mr. Popper and the other visitors.
1
1
1.33
Memorial Day.
Again on Memorial Day, 1918, more there large patriotic meetings all over the County, the largest being at Nay Aug Park in Scranton, with twelve to fifteen thousand people present. Both
the exercises of 1917 and 1918 were arranged with the help of the Committee of Public Safety, by Captain E. K. Roden, Chairman of the Navy League.
Fourth of July.
The Committee of Public Safety itself decided to make the Fourth of July, 1918, an even greater day of patriotic enthusiasm than Northeastern Pennsylvania had ever before experienced. Every one of the two hundred members of the Commited of Public Safety of the County, every one of the members of local sub-committees, every burgess and political official, was communicated with and the ser- vices of each one requisitioned; that patriotic enthusiasm of the highest type might reach right down to every individual living in Lackawanna County. As an example of the care takon by the Commit- see of Public Safety in all matters of ublic moment -- erre that might have been in excess of necessity had we not been in a state of war, the following letter to all these peo le, signed personally by Chairman Watres, is included.
"The President of the United states has asked all citi- zens of American to join in commemorating the Fourth of July as the anniversary not only of National Freedom but of uni- versal freedom.'
"The Committee of Public Safety of Lackawanna County, at the request of the Council of National Defense and the State Committee of Public Safety, earnestly urges each municipality in Lackawanna County to observe the Fourth of July on a plane commensurate with the importance of the occasion and the re- quest of the President.
134
"Your whole community should be brought together, merging into one the celebration of all societies and organizations, It is not necessary to spend any grost amount of money, but the celebration should be National in its character. If a parade is advisable, the carrying of the flags of the Allies will be found effective. A delegation of any foreign born group de- siring to take part sho ld of course be included. In caso & form of celebration other than a parade is decided upon, the onclosed programme of patriotic exercises is suggested, butnot insisted upon. Such a celebration should take place out of doors if possible, but arrangements should be made that all features of the progra me be given indoors in case of rain. It is very essential that the celebration be participated in by all of our people, regardless of nationality.
"Enclosed herewith you will find a list of the members of the Lackawanna County Committee of Public Safety resident in your municipality. Will you please call a meeting of these gentlemen, together with a representative of each foreign born group in your community, in order that plans for a celebration may be formulated?
"I. sincerely trust that you will join the host of patriot- ic citizens in this County who will take advantage of the op- portunity to manifest their loyaly to the United States and the Cause for which it fights. Please let me hear from you. -
Very truly yours,
( Signed) Louis A. Watres,
Chairman.
Almost all these communications vero responded to immedi- ately. To show the spirit of the officials of Lackawanna County and their loyalty to the war organization, and also to illustrate how many of them had made plans of their own of a similar nature, a few of the replies are worthy of this permanent record. It is well known that political partisanship played auboluvely no part in the conduct of war affairs in Lackawanna County. The Executive Commit- tee, the general Committee of Public Safety, and the local sub-commit tees were chosen for what they could do without inquiry as to how they voted. Some of these replies came to Colonel Hatres from men who had always been his political opponents. These few letters are
chosen at random.
155
Mayfield, Pa., June 14, 1918.
Colonel L. A. Watres, Chairman, Council of National Defense, Scranton, Pa.
Dear sir:
Acknowledging your letter of June 12th, with reference to local celebration onJuly 4th, I would advise you that Mayfield Borough has practically completed arrangements for a parado and flag-raising, including the community Service Flag; and have also arranged a progra me in keeping with that shown on your programme .
Yours truly,
( Signed) P. F. Killer, Burgoss.
Burgess Kilker, after having taken pers mel charge of the fight against influenze in his town, which wus very unsanitary and ill-prepared for the epidonic, died in December, 1918, of the disease lamented by the population of his town and by people who knew him throughout one county.
1
Moosic, Pa., June 18, 1918.
Governor Lowis A. Watres, Chairman, Scranton, Fa.
Dear sir;
We are going to have a parade July 4th in accordance with the wish of the President and the Public Safety Committee. Af- ter the parade we have planned to have a flag raising and speeche We Would like to have two speakers and would be leased if your 5, Committee could arrange to have two of the Four Minute Men come and address us.
Yours respectfully, (Signed) Poter Weir, Burgess. Mr. John M. Harris, Director of the Four Hinte Speakers, assigned Reverend E. A. Herman and Mr. Leon Levy to Moosic.
Old Forge, Da., June 19, 1918.
Colonel L. A. Watres, Chairman of the Exquetive Co mittee, Scranton, Pa, L
Dear sir:
I have called a meeting of the members of the Public Safety
1
,
136 Committee resident in our municinalily and together we have decided to hold a parade and to hold a picnic for the benefit of the Red Cross. Ve als have decided to raise a Service Flag in honor of our boys who have joined the Colors. We have invited all societies to participate in the celebration, which they assured us they would. bo together
we are going to celebrate the Fourth of July in commemorating our National Freedom. And let us hope and pray that when another anniversary rolls around we will not only celebrate our National Freedom but will be able to participate in the celebr tion of Universal Freedom.
Yours truly,
(Signed) I. J. farrell, Burgess. Dickson City, Pa., June 27, 1918,
Mr. L. A. Vatres, Chairman, Scranton, Pa.
Dear Sir:
As secretary of the gemeral committee in charge of the Fourth of July celebration in town, I have been requested by our burgess to notify you that preparations are complete for the Fourth.
John F. O'Hara is chairman of the committee, and the other members are V. A. Nachan, secretary, Louis Visnieski, and Dr. H. E. Jones. Where can I get one copy of the President's proclamation
to read that morning? If you have any I would appreciate your sending me one .
Yours very truly, (Signed) W. A. Meehan,
Peckville, Pa., June 27, 1918. .
Mr. L. A. Watros, Chairman of the Lackawanna County Committee of Public Safety, Scranton, Pa.
Dear Sir:
At your request I called a meeting of the citizens, to- gether with the different organizations and societies of our borough; and we have decided to hold a parade, and a lawn social for the benefit of the Red Cross, on July Fourth. We will also raise a service flag in honor of our boys who have gone to join the Colors and to fight for home and liberty.
Yours very respectfully,
(Signed) Robert Burleigh, 3
Burgess of Blakely.
137
And so it was all over Lackawanna County -- meetings, parades, flag raisings, pageants, celebrations. Te have already referred to the glorious celebration at Clark's Summit conducted by the Abington Committee of Public Safety and representative of the fourteen municipalities of that district.
Americanization.
In Seranton, previous to the Fourth of July, Mayor Alexander T. Connell brought together in different groups ropre- sentatives of all fraternal societies and of various elements of the population and of the Churches. The parade in Scranton was simply enormous, participated in by men, women, and children ; and also by bodies of Italians, Magyars, Foles, Greeks, Slovaks, Lithuanians, Russians, Letts, Ruthenians. Some of these were in costumes peculiar to their native countries, and many floats beautified the parade.
Bastille Day.
The great Fourth of July celebration over, Lackawanna Coun- ty's most resounding success of the kind, Mayor Connell was immedi- ately called into action again to conduct a demonstration on Bastille Day, July 14, 1918, in connection with the Allied Tribute to France, of Which Mr. Owen Johnson was national chairman. Mayor Connell con- ferred constantly with Colonel Watres and Major Penman and the Com- mittee of Public Safety joined heartily in support of the Mayor. Judge Edwards was Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions and Col- onel Watres was Chairman of the meeting, which was held in the open air at Nay Ang Park. The masterly speaker of the occasion was Dr. John Grier Hibben, President of Princeton University. A part of
r
n
138
Colonel Watres' letter to Mr. Johnson, dated July 15, 1918, best describes the meeting.
"The day was fine until about half past two, when a very sudden and very hard thunder and lightning storm occurred. This scattered the crowd which haa assembled at Nay Aug Park. The speakers and the reception committee sat in their automo- biles during a very heavy rain. In about half an hour, how- ever, it ceased raining and we organized the meeting. Origi- nally we had planned for three platforms, but we organized in- to two platforms, and had speaking going on from both at the same time. It was a real inspiration to see the manner in which the people faced the rain and stood at both platforms during the hour and a half of speaking. The speeches were forceful and timely, and the effect was splendid. Many who came early were soaked with rain and returned to their homes, but a large crowd remained. But for the storm we would pro- bably have had fifty thousand people present. Resolutions were read from each platform, prepared by Judge Edwards, and of course were unanimously and enthusiastically adopted. I enclose herewith a copy.
;
1
Gerard Meeting.
On August 31, 1918, the Honorable James W. Gerard, late Ambassador to Germany, came to Scranton at the personal request of the writer, and at the Armory addressed the largest indoor audience during the war. Colonel Watres was Chairman of the meeting. Dr. Charles F. Hoban and Mr. Michael J. Costello were the personal es- cort of Ambassador Gerard. The audience was fairly carried off its feet by the speaker. The audience, too, had been keyed up to a high pitch of enthusiasm by an hour's mass singing, led by Mr. John Reynolds, before the speaking began.
Meetings Since the War
There were no other large meetings in Scranton during the war ; but the custom of calling the people together to hear addres- ses by notable speakers was a devolopment of the war spirit -- the war made it easy and natural. For instance, as long after the war
159
as April 14, 1920, the American Legion and the Commission of Puh- lic Welfare introduced Mr. Ole Hanson to a Scranton audience of nine thousand people. At that particular time radical socialism was a common topic and a public worry. Mr. Hansen's two hour expose of socialism, thoroughly reviewed in the newspapers, had a marked effect on allaying unrest. And the Hansen address is illustrative of many that have been arranged since the war. People had become
used to war publicity; and they have taken kindly to publicity on the topics of peace.
The
Armistice.
The signing of the Armistice, coming just as the frightful. epidemic had ceased to be so virulent, brought intense joy to the people of the County. On Thursday, November 7th, just at noon, the gongs, the Church bells, the locomotive whistles, proclaimed "The War is Over". No news ever spread so quickly into every nook and corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The uproar was sponta-
neous . In Scranton and in the towns of the Valley everybody got out on the streets; business ceased; impromptu parades blocked all
traffic on the streets; the children left the school rooms. That the report was not true meant little, inasmuch that all people were certain that it was only premature -- nothing else.
On Monday, November 11th, the demonstration was repeated with less spontaneity and more preparation. Even in the homes of the four hundred and fifty Lackawanna County boys who had given their lives, there was the sad, tempered joy that they had died in a vic- torious Cause; and in that their relatives and friends had not given
them in vain. And for the thousands who sorrowed for loved ones lost in the epidemic, there was some thing left to be thankful for
1
-
140
wm 9, new Thanksgiving to alla/ their grief.
War History Commission.
Before the end of the war, Dr. Albert E. Mckinley, Secze- tary of the War History Commission, had commenced to gather material for the archives of his Commission. Chairman Waros and the Execu- tive Secretary planned to give Dr. Mckinley all the holp they cold. Records of service men began to be gathered; and this work continued
up to August 1, 1919. The details were left entirely in the hands
of Miss Mullen, and the names and addresses of about 8, 500 of the LT 11,000 service mon were gathered and indexed by her and her office assistants up to August. She prepared the complete records of near- ly 2, 500 of them; and only changes in the lans of the Ponns Ivania Commission of Public Welfare prevented the completion of the work. When, in March, 1920, it became possible to proceed with the work, it" was seen that the Adjutant General of the State could supply the Tar History Commission with this material more readily.
Memorial Grove.
But for the furtherance of a great variety of local movo- ments and for many local purposes, these lists and records have been and will continue to be invaluable. Early in 1920, under the chair- manship of Mrs. Charles S. Weston, supported by Mayor Connell and tho Park Commission of Seranton, a movement was begun to provide for an immediate Memorial to those who had made the supreme sacrifice. A grove of ancient oaks in Nay Aug Park was declared to be the Memorial Grove; and a large bronze tallet was purchased with money procured by the Kiwanis Club, largely through the instrumentality of
ยท
141
Mr. Rupert W. Thomas. It was ingeribed as follows:
In Honor of
The Men and Women of the City of Scranton Who Gave Their Lives in the World War For their Country and For All Mankind These Trees are Dedicated as a Living Memorial.
From the records that had been gathered by her, Miss Mullen supplied the names of the two hundred and fifty men and women who had lost their lives in the service; and they were engraved on the tablet. The tablet is imbedded in a large natural boulder in the middle of the Grove.
Floyd Allen, Robert S. Alvord, William Athas, Edward D. Barber, Quinto Bartoli, Andrew Batula, John Patrick Baxter. J. H. Bellamy, T. H. Bevan, Fred George Birch, Thomas Birtley, Enos V. Blazys, Theodore Blure, Anthony Boknos, W. T. Bolton, Cosmo Borsellino, John P. Boyle, Frank W. Brady, Edward Brachocki, Harry Brandt, William J. Brown, Frank J. Bukosky, Harry Bush, Hatrick Cadden, Theodore Carro, Miss Mae E. Carter, Dominick Casperavitch, Peter Joseph Cawley, Alfred V. Charles, Joseph Cina, Daniel Mabee Clark, Russel Cole, Miss Therese Colline, Peter Comiskey, Nicholas Concavskas, James J. Conklin, Edward R. Conley, Jr., Robert Eugene Connor, J. J. Comway, James Corley, Thomas H. Coyne, nladislaw Crihocki, Thomas Culkin, John Joseph Curran, James Cusick, Edvard T. Dailey, Theodore Oliver Dale, Edward P. Daley, David L. Davenport, Harold Davis. James E. Davis, Joseph Deane, Frank Decker, Wladislaw Demozych, Stanley J. Detrick, Theodore R. Dewey, Harry Dinner, George Dornheim, Jerome Dougherty, John J. Doyle, Arthur J. Duffy, Frank J. Duffy, Michael Patrick Duffy, Howard Edwards, Earl Bike, Joseph T. Farrell, Stephen W. Ferris, Guy A. Fessenden, Anthony Fialkowski, Carl Fickus, Donald M. Fielding, Frank G. Fiore, Frank J. Fisch, James Flatley, Michael J. Flynn, James A. Forkan, Joseph Forkin, Joseph French, Patrick Gallagher, Charles Geiles, Miss Anna P. Gobney, Joseph S. Gorgol, Edward C. Grahamer, Hugh Gray, Archie Lee Gro@gs, Barney Grigaluinos, Alfred Hale, Alfred Hall, Frederick A. Hama, Walter W. Harris, Robert G. Hartsock, Henry C. Hawkins, D. Heal, Gray Healey, Frank Healey, Dennis J. Heath, William J. Heffron, Harry Horne, Harvey 0. Hinckley, Charles M. Hollister Mowry R. Holgate, Leo Hopkins, Walter Gustave. Horak, william S. Horan, Miss Eugenia Hosie, Fred L. Hunphrey, Edward Huss, Victor Jarvarowsky. William H. Jessup, Albert II. Jones, John H. Jones, Michael A. Jordan, William Lee Judge, Charles A. Keegan, James Keegan, John Kelly, John Kenehan, Henry Keough, Joseph W. Kiesel, Louis J. Koch, Victor Koch, Nicholas Koschok, William Kozakiervicz, Robert Powell Lance, Miss Lillian M. Langdon, William R. Leslie, Henry H. Levy, Miss Romayne Lewis, Frederick J. Ducke, Charles Lydon, Frank Paul Lyons, Arthur Brooks McClave, Eugene H. McDonald, Joseph Emmett McDonaldm John J. McDonough, John McGinty, Bernard J. MoGloin, Patrick E. McGoldrick, Michael F. McGowan, Thomas A.
C
142
McGowan, Thomas McGuire, Martin A. MeGurrin, Andrew McHale, Banjamin MeLeon, Lawrence Malloy, Martin Maloney, John Martin- kus, Beter Matulavitch. Elmer E. Mauror, John Mayernick, Henry Millor, Ralph Miller, James F. Miskoll, Joseph F. Miskell, J hn Charles Mlincher, Roger Montgomery, George T. Mooney, Ray Moore, John F. Morgan, B. Morgan, George Morgan, John Murphy, George Edward Neher, George Adam Nouls, James C. O' Donnell, Matthe : Mark O' Malley, William O'Malley, James C. 0'Neill, Frank Paff. John Pallian, John M. Pallo, William Parry, Frank Partyka, Luthor Longstreet Peck, Homer Lathrop Peckhan, Walter Perlo, Petor Petronis, John Phillips, Herbert August Pittack, George Plauski, Edwin G. Powell, franz Proper, Adrian 5. Purcell, Stanley Anthony Rabiega. E. T. Reese, John Reese, Rupert Roeso, James A. Reilly, Andrew Oliver Reynolds, Banjamin Richards, David William Roberts, Mearl H. Roberts, Tofil Roginsky, Wil- liam Rose, Joseph E. Ruane, J. Rusinsko, Charles William Schlesser, John Scholl, Joseph Schultz, Harold Seeley, J. Se- main, Warner Shafer, Jerome Simonson, Stephen Smakula, Fred Hunsinger Smith, John Smith, Joseph H. Smith, Samuel Smith, George Smithson, Norman G. Snee, Robert A. Sprsempak, John Stankiewicz, Clemence Stefanowicz, Edwin C. Stehle, Anthony Stepanowich, Max Storr, Robert Strenbeck, W. Graydon Stull, Richard A. Sullivan, William E. Sutphen, Clayton Dewey Sweetzer, John Thomas, Joseph Timlin, James Timoney, Alexander Tomito, Stanislaus Tunsak, Raymond T. Turn, John Visosky, Charles H. Wallace, Anthony Walsh, Edward J. Walsh, John T. Walsh, Thomas Clifford Walsh, Mark Walsh, Harold Bacon Waro, Clarence Warner, William Wassis, Tony Wasylak, Albert S. Weisberger, William Weiss, David O. Williams, Frank Wisniewski, Harry F. Wood, Harry J. Woods, John Yarasunas, Silverton Yusliawylka,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.