The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-12
VOLUNTEERS MET.
They Held Annual Gathering al
the Hotel Crown.

The dining room of the Crown hotel
was the scene of brilliant function on
Saturday evening. the occasion being the
annual meeting and banquet of the OFF,
GERS association of the First Rhode ISL
and Volunteer Regiment.
Among the guests of the occasion were
his excellency Governor Kimball and
Colonel Byron s. Watson. Department
Commander George III. Sheney OF the
Grand Army and Captain James II. Frier
OF the regular army. stationed at the
United States Recruiting office in this
city.
Previous TO the banquet election OF OFF,
GERS was held. resulting as follows:
President, Major Alvin A Barker OF New
port; vice president, Major N. Darrell
Harvey of this city: first member. Cap
tain Maurice ii. Cooke: second member,
Captain Stephen Waterman; secretary
and treasurer, Captain Alonzo r. VIII
liams.
Following the election and other busi-
ness matters of routine nature, the ban
quet was en- Jyed, after which speeches
were in order, Lieutenant Darrell N.
Harvey presiding In the absence of the
president, Captain Forsyth.
The first speaker was Governor Kim
ball, who. after dwelling upon his ex-
perience as a private in the state militia
called attention to the prestige of Rhode
Island in the several wars from the Revo-
luton down to the war with Spain.
'XOu are daSaryiup ~ much
credit as those who went 10 the 'front.'"
he said The events which follow war
almost always have some bearing on that
war. At the close Of the Spanish war this
country took a new departure. II is our
duty TO see that Cuba has as good a
market as we took away from her We
are under obligations TO give the Philip
pine Islands a government where life and
property shall be safe. The army officers
In the Philippines are much better judges
OF the conditions there than are we, and
We should be chary OF criticising their
actions. Those people who are critics.
ing our forces are doing something that
can never be done without helping the
enemies of our country. When we criti-
else the governing powers we are giving
aid and comfort to those who are seeking
to overthrow the government"
Captain Frisr followed Governor Kim
ball II have a great deal OF sympathy
Tor the man VINO stayed behind, he said.
The little force at the front was not
enough. IL was the great roll in readi-
ness that enforced the demands and made
peace.
Department Commander George H.
Cheney was the next speaker. Among
other things, he said The old soldiers
were proud OF you. Your services were
creditabe to the state. We all knew what
the duties Of soldier were You marched
over some of our old camp grounds, and
we felt bond OF sympathy. Among
your number l have some warm personal
friends You were about the same age
when you enlisted as we were. There are
I'm the Grand Army men who served six
months or three weeks. We i'm the Grand
Army make no difference between a four
years man and a six weeks man"
Rev. j. J. Woolley was greeted with
great applause as he arose 10 speak He
made one OF his characteristic speeches.
full OF kindly greetings and pleasantries.
other speakers were Major Hubert Bliss
and Captain stephen Waterman. Letters
of regret were read from Lieutenant
Alonzo r.. Williams. Colonel Charles w.
Abbott. Jr.. Commander Gardiner c. Sims
and Captain John r. Bartlett