The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-25

East Las Vegas, N. NJ, June 24.-The
opening of the first annual reunion OF
the Rough Riders Regimental associa-
lion was delayed little by the railroad
washouts. which prevented Governor
Theodore Roosevelt of New York, who
as colonel of the famous organization
Of fighters and the special guest of
honor of this occasion, was looked upon
as the necessary feature of the formal
beginning of the affair.
For two days the crowds had been
gathering from near and lar. until this
morning the little city of Las Vegas
was filed as she has seldom been be-
fore. Nearly every surviving member
OF the regiment was present, many re-
SretS being expressed at the necessary
absence of Major General Leonard
Wood, the original colonel Of the rough
riders.
Colonel Roosevelt arrived here at 80
this afternoon, and was greeted as he
stepped off the platform of the rear car
with tremendous cheering from 5000
people masSed around the depot. The
noted New Yorker was cad in his rough
rider uniform and was easily recognized
by the crowd. He was almost lifted
bodily from his feet by the press OF
persons anxious to grasp his hand, and
as he and his party made their way
slowly to the CaStanoda hotel the
crowds surged after him. As he walked
down the depot sidewalk a line of rough
rider veterans saluted and joined in the
general ovation.
he calculated heartily, I'm glad to see
you," ut does me good to shake your
paw" How are you?" and similar eX-
pressions evincing his hearty sympathy.
Sleeps In Tent.
Colonel Roosevelt Travelled in the pri-
vate car of Vice President Morton of
the Santa Fe railroad. Mr.. Morton was
q. member of the party. H. H Kohl
saat, editor Of the Chicago TimeS-Her-
aid. Captain Day, Lieutenant Fergu-
son and Lieutenant D. NJ. Goodrich also
accompany Roosevelt Colonel Roose-
Welt has promised to remain until Mon
day morning, at least, and will attend
the review tomorrow afternoon. He
telegraphed today to the local commit
tee on arrangements to the effect that
he would accept no hotel accommoda-
tons and wanted to camp out with his
command. Accordingly a tent was
pitched for his accommodation in Camp
Cochran.
The business meeting of the Rough
Riders Regimental association was
held in the Duncan opera house, and
owing to the absence of Secretary Car
ter OF Prescott, Lieutenant Z. w. Ad-
ans of Santa F'e was chosen secretary
pro TEN. An address of welcome, on
behalf of the citizens of Las Vegas.
was made by A. A Jones, a prominent
attorney of this place. He said in con-
cluSion:
we are more than grateful to have
assembled here from the various states
and territories this happy throng, who
join lis in extending to you our hOspi-
tally, love and affection"
Colonel Roosevelt responded as fol- !
lows, his remarks at times being en-
Enthusiastically applauded:
Governor Roosevelt's Speech.
Just at this time 1 would not have |
left New York state for any purpose |
save to attend the reunion Of my old |
regiment, and for that purpose 1 would |
have gone to Alaska or anywhere else, |
for the bond that unites us one to an !
other is as close as any bond of human |
friendship can be.
1T was our good fortune to be among |
those accepted when the country called |
10 arms a year ago last spring, and |
when ten men volunteered for every one
that could be chosen l think / may
say without boasting that the regiment
did its duty in every way and that its
record is subject for honorable pride,
not only to the members themselves,
but the country at large.
I am proud OF you because you never
and never fiinched. When
you went to war you knew you would
not have an easy time; you expected
TO encounter hardships, and you took
them without d murnur. You We're all
readiness to learn and to show that
prompt obedience which makes it pos
sible TO turn the American volunteer
n a -rlqGS Of fphf-
ing man.
of those of our number fwho landed
for the brief campaign in the tropical
against Santiago, one
fourth were killed or wounded and
three-f ourths Of the remainder were at
one time or another stricken down by
fever. Many died. but there is not one
among you so poor in spirit that he does
not count fever, wounds and death it
self as nothing compared with the {
honor OF having been able TO serve with
the regiment under the flag of the ]
United States in one of the most right ,
aous wars which this century has seen.
Proud of His Men.
81 am proud of the way in which you
have taken up the broken thread of ,
your lives-in which you have gone
back to the farm, the ranch, the mine,
he factory and the counting room. In
ypical American citizens, FOR it has
always been the pride of our country ,
hat an American, while most earnestly |
3esirous of peace and ever ready to
show himself a hard and dangerous ,
lighter If need should rise and that on !
he other hand, when once the need has
passed he could prove that war had not ,
lurt him for the work of peace and that !
IL was all the filter to do this work for ,
having done the other too.
We may be called to war but once Y
n a generation, and l most earnestly
lope that we shall not havesto face war ?
gain for many years. The duties of :
,eace are always with us, and these we :
must perform all our lives long from
ears end to years end. if we are to .
rove ourselves in very fact good citi- =
ems of the commonwealth. We must
work. hard for the sake Of those de-
,endent upon US; We must see that our.
hildren are brought up in a way that
will make them worthy of the great
inheritance which we. their fathers
ave ourselves received from those that y
Won't before US; we must do our duty
y the state; we must frown upon dis a
onesty and corruption. and war for
onesty and righteousness.
Those Who Fell In Battle.
Let me say word to those to whom
ur thoughts should turn at such a
me. both among the living and among
he dead, to our absent living COM O
AIDES, and especially to our former
commander. now Major General Leon
I'd Wood, whose administrat ton of the is
royince of Santiago has reflected such n
igh credit. not merely -1Dan birpSalf :.