SMALL VOICE
A "Loyalty Day" parade staged in New York April 29 was drummed up during the preceding two weeks as the “answer" to the massive antiwar protest April 15 in the same city. Its organizers confidently forecast a turnout of 150,000.
The "Loyalty" march was organized by right-wing veterans groups. The police cooperated by granting them Fifth Avenue for the line of march, a concession they refused the Spring Mobilization Committee.
The communications media campaigned in favor of the prowar demonstration. City and state officials did their best. The White House and the Pentagon swung into action, bringing no one less than Gen. Westmoreland to the city on the eve of the march to whip up fervor.
Even the weather department cooperated, providing a balmy spring day in contrast to the overcast skies, chill breezes and final downpour on April 15.
So how did the "Loyalty" squads do
with their bands and drum majorettes?
The sponsors gave out their first
"estimate" -- 25,000. Later they scaled
this down to 10,000. The police said it
was 6,840. The New York Times assigned
two reporters to make an actual count.
The one at 69th Street came up with 3,380.
At 66th Street the count was a bit more
favorable -- 3,717.