Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1889-08-16
THE REUNION.
An Old Soldier From Clay Town.
ship Has Something to Say
about 1t.


about It.
Ed Graphic:-A few weeks age
it was decided to have an old SOL
diers reunion at kirksville. Ac-
cording to published reports
about $1,000 vas made up by the
citizens for the purpose of enter
tanning the country's defenders.
In addition to the money subscrib-
ed, farmers were invited to con-
tribute of their straw and other
farm products that could he spar
ed. Word was sent out that speak
ers of national reputation would
be present and that crowd of fif-
ty thousand could confidently be
expected. OF course the old SOL
diers of the county are always
ready for reunion, such as this
was expected to be, and farm work
was rushed that two or three days
might he spent with the old boys.
After the published preparation it
was expected that visiting COM
rades would be entertained in a
manner that would cause them
to ever remember the good time
they had at Kirksville. But it
must be acknowledged with shame
that the old boys Of the county and
those from outside the state feel
themselves badly neglected. The
boys OF the county feel worse on
account of their comrades from
abroad, and tLey feel keenly the
criticism of those who came from
a distance, expecting to be enter
tained in manner they deserved.
Had money been lacking the boys
of the county would have gladly
helped by giving what they could.
But it could not have been lack
of funds. We were informed that
the citizens gave $1,000, and that
the sale of lots for stands, and 9TH
er business, yielded about $1,000
more. After taking out the S225
for the balloon ascensions, 5000
for the band, $500 for the electric
lights and the very small cost Of
the barracks, and other expenses
incurred on the grounds, there
should have been money enough
left to furnish the right kind of en-
tertainment for visiting comrades.
There were no committees at the
trains, no programme, no speakers
and no one seemed to know what
was going to be done. When in
quiry was made for the executive
committee and others usually
prominent in soldier matters, it
was found that they had business
to attend to in the way of eating
houses and watermelon stands; and
that money making, with the old
soldiers to draw the crowd, seemed
to be the object of the reunion.
1t is no wouder that many of the
old boys went home at the close of
the first and second days. Citizens
as well as soldiers were interested
IN making the reunion success,
for, In addition to giving the boys
good time it would serve as an ad
vertlsement for the town. What has
been the result? The good name
of the town has been injured, and
every old soldier in the county has
been humiliated by the accusation
that the reunion was only ma
chine to grind money out of vis-
ltors. As money making was not
thought Of by those who had the
greatest desire to see the reunion
a success, the only way to get rid
Of the stigma of such an accusation
Is for the committee to publish a
statement showing the receipts
and expenditures, and this the
committee should do at once.
\ SOLDIER FROM CLAY.
The business card of Charles
?. Lincoln, of Washington, ID. c.,
appears in another column. Col.