The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-20
WELCOME THEM IN STYLE
The Montana Regiment Should
Have Glorious Reception.
TIME TO BEGIN TO PLAN
Ex-Governor Richards Offers Some In
teresting Suggestions-A Medal Pro-
posed for Every Man-Commlt-
tess Should Be Appointed.


the Montana regiment now in the Phil
ippines a royal welcome home is sub
ject that began to engage attention
since the announcement came from the
| war department a few days ago, that
the regiment might be expected home
at a day considerably earlier than has
been supposed. Everybody agrees that
the boys should be given a big recep-
ton and some have even gone so far
as to say they would favor having no
Fourth of July celebration, but instead
would put it off and make the demon
stration in honor of the soldiers all the
more emphatic. But there is to be a
celebration, and plans for 1t are now
maturing. AS the regiment is expected
home not long while afterward,
many people think it is time to begin
planning their reception as well as for
the Fourth. Ex-Governor Richards is
one of the enthusiasts and would like
to see the boys honored as they de-
serve. In conversation with a stan
dard reporter on the subject yester-
day, Ex-Governor Richards made some
very good suggestions.
Say said he, why don't you agi-
tate in the columns of your paper the
matter of giving the Montana boys
now in the Philippines a royal recep-
ton when they come home? You no.
ticed a day or two ago that the assist
ant adjutant general, in reply to let
| ter from Governor Smith, asking the
| discharge of one of the Montana boys
/ who was i'll, made the statement that
all of the volunteers will soon be start
| ed home, and that there were nine
4 f.,t1 lryt.1r tJa 10
| bring them. Many of us have reasoned
| it out and reached the conclusion that
our boys would not reach home much
before September l. but it may be that
they will now get home earlier, SO no
time should be lost in planning well
come home that the citizens of this
state are ready to give the brave boys.
There is no doubt that every citizen
of the state feels pride in the record
| made by the Montana regiment, and
that their blood bounds faster and
warmer when they think of the royal
welcome they contemplate giving the
soldiers when they once more put foot
on Montana soil. 1t was not to be ex-
pected when they left home more than
II months ago that all of them would
return. Under the most favorable con-
ditions some would unquestionably
have died of disease. When we add to
the number of those who have thus
we cannot help feeling pang of sor-
row that SO many who left Montana
| for the far-away islands in the sea in
| response to their countfy's call will
| never return. Thinking of the noble
| dead should inspire us to give to the
| living the greatest welcome home and
| the warmest reception that is possible.
For my own part l feel there is moth
ing too good for these brave men, from
| the colonel commanding, down to every
| private in the ranks, for they all alike
have covered themselves with glory
and made the name of Montana
more honored one.
Now, aside from the duty we owe
these men, there is to be considered
the lessons of patriotism to be taught
the rising generation when they wit
ness and participate in the reception
that the regiment should be accorded.
/ suggest that public meeting be
| called and proper committees be APP
pointed for the raising of funds and
making preparations for the reception.
| Helena is already moving in this mat
| ter, and it is given out that if they do
| not get the regiment over there in
body they will give the local compan-
| les such a reception as they will never
| forget, and we all know that in these
matters Helena never does anything in
| a half-hearted way. / do not know
| that it would be practicable for us to
| attempt to give the entire regiment a
| reception in Butte. That is a matter
| that can be determined later, but I do
| feel that the local companies should be
| welcomed home in a manner that will
| make them know that we honor and
| revere their names-every man of
| them.
During my recent trip East I no.
| ticed that Pennsylvania, Minnesota and
| the DakotaS are already moving in
| these a
| welcome home, and it is well known
| that California has been moving for
some months to give to the noble LIST
| of their state a great reception. You
| know our state has been criticised be-
cause we did not raise an emergency
| fund for the regiment when it went to
| the Philippines, as did some Of the
| other states. And this is another rea-
| son why, If any reasons should be
given, we should make amends by hon
| oring our regiment. 1t has been in my
mind that we ought to give to every
| man in the regiment a medal of some
| kind. I doubt not that if placed in the
| hands of good committee the mining
| companies would contribute the silver
| gold and copper sufficient for the MAX
| ing of these medals. If this suggestion
meets with approval, 1t is another rea-
son why no time should be lost in get
| ting the matter under way, for it will
| take some time to have the medals
| properly designed and struck off.
| II would not confine the subscrip-
| lions to Butte, but would invite the
| entire state to contribute toward get
ting up such medals as will make them
valuable and worthy of becoming a
| family heirloom. I hope some one will
make a start in this matter. Per-
sonally, I am willing to do my part and
will devote my time and energies to
it. for believe we cannot do too much
for the regiment"