The Great Welcome: Seattle Plans a 'Rousing' Ovation for Returning War Heroes

A ROUSING WELCOME IS ASSURED When the Volunteers Return From Manila.

THE CITIZENS OF ONE MIND All of Them Declare in Favor of a Public Subscription, FOR FIREWORKS, MUSIC, FEASTING Mayor Humes and Other City Officials Approve It.

SOME VERY NOVEL PUNS ARE PROPOSED One Contemplates a Mock Battle at a Lake Washington Park, the volunteers to Storm and Capture Calumpit—General Feeling in That the Preparations Should be Commenced at Once.

"Let us have a big celebration by all means when the Washington volunteers come home," said Mayor Humes this morning. The thing to do is to secure many small subscriptions to a fund and then buy enough gunpowder and bombs to do the celebration act up in good shape. The people of Seattle will all contribute. The volunteers can probably leave the Philippines soon after peace is declared. There is every indication that the boys will be here soon."

"Take up a public subscription by all means. Every merchant in town, every mechanic, would contribute," said James Goldsmith of Schaefer & Bros. Co. "This thing should not be done by a few. Everybody should feel that they had an hand in the affair. Several thousand dollars raised in small amounts, among the people in sums of five cents and upwards, would do the business. The brass bands, fireworks and cannon could easily be secured by a committee of citizens. Let The Star push this along. It is the best idea that has been sprung in Seattle in many a day."

"Of course, I am in favor of giving the Washington boys a hearty welcome," remarked Thomas W. Prosch when asked for his views in the matter. "It is the duty of the people to evince their appreciation of the bravery shown by the boys at Manila. When they embarked for the Philippines they were here such a short time before the steamer sailed that the people of Seattle did not have time to give them much of a 'send off.' The Washington boys have been in the thickest of the fighting, and have been good soldiers. They gave up their business, homes and sweethearts and went away to fight for their country. To give them a proper reception, money will have to be raised, but that will be an easy matter, as everybody will go down in their pockets."

"Capital Idea, that of celebrating the return of the Washington volunteers with a public ovation," exclaimed Charles H. Lilly. "Those boys are built of the stuff of which the old Romans were made. Whenever there has been fighting in the Philippines, you can bank on it, the Washington regiment was at the very front if the boys were anywhere within reaching distance. Who won the most battles? The Washington Volunteers. Then let us up and at them when they reach home in a way that will be a suitable recognition of their services. I am in favor of big fireworks display and red-hot time."

"I am in favor of a rattling celebration that will shake the state from the Cascades to the Olympics. Of course, it would be necessary to take up a subscription," remarked J. Rosenstiel. "My idea would be to publish the names of donors to the fund. Have some committee of prominent citizens to take charge of the money when collected, and purchase the fireworks. It is high time that the matter was taken up. We can invite all of the people along Puget Sound to come here and help us celebrate. Seattle should throw wide open to the boys."

Rev. Murch W. Richbert presents another plan. Said he: "This idea of giving the Washington volunteers a reception in Seattle should be carried on a magnificent scale. Let the people of the entire State of Washington be asked to come here and participate. Take one of the parks at Lake Washington, fix it up for a miniature battle, and then let the Washington boys storm and take Calumpit. The town wouldn't be big enough to hold the crowds that would come from near and far to witness such a spectacle. Have the ladies as well as the men interested in making arrangements, and invite the most prominent people in the state to be present and participate.

"Then give the boys a grand banquet in the evening, and have the ladies serve the supper with their own hands; then take them to an M.E.A. amphitheater and tender them concert with 500 voices. Add on the fireworks as an adjunct, and make the affair of the greatest magnitude. It will develop into the most important celebration ever held in this city."

"Nothing will be too good for the volunteers when they return," said Radelsheimer, who is usually one of the foremost citizens in the matter of celebrations. "I would suggest that they be met at the dock, and a hand given every one prevented with souvenirs. Not something worthless, but something of value to allow the esteem in which they are held by the citizens, something by which they can always remember the good will of the Seattle people. Of course, a suitable gift would cost a sum of money, but with the Seattle 'IT' aroused, the people would respond most liberally. From the street-urchin to the banker, every one would donate his share, and by an act every one would have a heartfelt interest in the pleasure. Have a general committee appointed, not consisting of men only, but have some of the prominent ladies of the town serve with them. Don't by any means forget the young people of the city, tell the young ladies. They have been away from refined civilization long, that nothing more would be better for them than to hear hearty greetings from the boys. There is not a person in town who will not assist in such celebration, and Star shows the light spirit in first arousing the latent enthusiasm."

"The heroes should receive the liberal kind of reception," said the members of the firm of Cooper & Co. "We should show that we appreciate their noble work. People throughout the state should be invited here and royal welcome extended, not only to the Seattle boys, but to the soldiers of the state as well. A big demonstration is necessary for, and a grand cheer up for the sake of the soldier. Money for the celebration? Why, let it take the usual way, by public subscription. This will be the most important celebration Seattle has ever had, and you would find that the people would tumble over them to give it to the proper committee."

"Celebration, well I should say! Nothing is too good for the Washington boys. They have made the name of this state famous throughout the world. Who did the fighting in the Philippines? Why, the warrior troops. What regiment usually in the thick of the fray? The Washington. These boys have distinguished themselves over and over again. And I think that the least this city can do is to give them a welcome that will be hot one. Take up a public subscription and push the thing for all that it is worth." This was the view voiced by Major [Name Illegible], president of the city council.

"Bring excursions here, secure the bands, and honor the Washington boys who fought so bravely in the Philippines. Let us have a big day. It will at best be little for the debt we owe them." These are the sentiments expressed by Councilman Crawford.

"Let us declare a public holiday, and let us celebrate the return of the Washington volunteers as we do our national holiday," remarked Councilman McArdle. "I am in for any time, and will certainly use my influence towards making the affair a success. Let the entire city and state join hands."

"The volunteers have fought well and deserve all the praise can be bestowed upon them," said Councilman Miller. "Fireworks, brass bands gifts by prominent citizens should be a feature of the program. Let us invite the entire state to join us in a demonstration."

"There should be big demonstration," remarked Councilman Budd. "We should all have a hand in welcoming the boys back. A public ration can be easily taken up."

"Let us have a big celebration, and ask every man, woman and child to participate. Make it a state affair, and run resources from all other interests into this one," said Councilman Taylor. "The time of the Washington volunteers should be made the pivotal event in the history of the city."

"The Washington boys should receive the kind of welcome when they return," remarked Councilman Nash. "Think of the hard work that they have made for themselves in the Philippines. The state of Washington can well be proud of such fighters. I am in favor of a public subscription and a big extravaganza on the Fourth of July when they reach this city."

"Everybody from Maine to Puget Sound knows about the Washington boys in the Philippines," remarked Councilman Hill. "Emperor William has heard of them, and would like to have such soldiers in his army. For I can't know all about them. Everybody in the world has heard of their daring exploits on the ground around Manila. The Washington boys have led the ranking from first to last. Let there be some reception that will be talked around the world."

"Let us have a speech by the mayor ten minutes long and a big handshake, plenty of cheer, and a good time generally," said Councilman Castelman.

"There is a capital idea of representing return of the Washington volunteers." said City Engineer Thompson. "The boys are still to be true Americans, and should be received in a patriotic manner. Let's give them a rousing reception."

"The celebration project is the best idea that has been advanced in [Seattle]. The Washington boys deserve all the honor we can bestow upon them."

"The plan for a rousing celebration on the day when the Washington troops return from Manila is an excellent one," remarked Councilman James. "We can afford to split town open on that occasion. It would, perhaps, be a good idea to have the children in the public and private schools contribute small subscriptions towards the fund. The young patriots seem like nothing better."

"The city should tender an enormous welcome on the return of the soldiers," said Judge James Hamilton Lewis. "The nation itself should join in appreciation of the noble manner in which the volunteers have upheld the name of the state. It is a distinction upon the state, should recognize their valor in a suitable manner."

"It is a very meritorious project," said Attorney John [Name Illegible]. "The boys have distinguished themselves, and I am in favor of giving them a warm reception upon their return. Seattle is a good distributing point, and they ought to be brought directly here. I don't think there would be any trouble in raising ample funds, as every patriotic citizen would be glad of the opportunity to show his appreciation."

"It is an excellent idea to arouse public interest in the reception to be given to the heroes when they return from the Philippines," said Sutherland McLean, of the real estate firm of Sparkman & McLean. "The celebration should be worked up on a magnificent scale. But we must also take into consideration that all of the boys returning will not be able to join heartily in the welcome. Some have lost a leg, or arm, or illness has brought them to their beds. Don't lose sight of the fact that a separate kind of reception must be given them. Let the ladies organize and prepare for the sick and wounded, as only the ladies can. They are our soldier boys. As to the money to carry out a suitable celebration, all the committee will have to do is to state their business, and no one will refuse to contribute. Whoop fer it! It is a good thing, and will almost push it—if."

"That's a good idea, and I endorse the proposition," said Judge O. Jacobs. "You can count on me for assistance in getting up a celebration."

"Let us give the Washington boys a fine rousing reception when they come home," said James Sparkman. "The public will certainly appreciate it. General entertainment for the volunteers. The school children who are able also should assist to subscribe to the fund as it will teach the patriotism. The occasion should be one of root and enjoyment for the soldier boys."

Miss Margaret Chisholm, stenographer in comptroller Terry's office at the City Hall, was very enthusiastic over the project of a celebration for the returning volunteers. "I will not be a young lady in Seattle who will not go and see the boys when they arrive. I, for one, will help to organize, and we will do all in our power to make their welcome most cordial."

"The Washington volunteers should be received in a royal manner. Have a suitable program prepared, and show by our welcome that we know they went and bravely upheld the name of the state, and are glad that they have returned. This is my opinion of the welcome that should be made for the boys," said Rev. F. X. Prentaine.

"I can endorse any proposition to entertain the volunteers of this state upon their return," said Judge W. H. Moore. "They have fought, and have distinguished themselves—our only ation that we appreciate by some suitable demonstration."

"Yes, the Washington boys should be royally entertained when they return from the Philippines," said Carroll. "They should be warmly received by the citizens of Seattle, to show them that their brave deeds are appreciated. A subscription for getting the funds necessary for the prosecution of such a scheme should by all means be raised."