Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
Why the National Society is Bound to Hsv.
Prosperous Future.
CHARACTERISTICS OF VOLUNTEER SOLDIER
We Fights for His Country ana wants
90 Attend TO Business when
There IL No War 70 En-
gage His Attention.

merely doing a deserved good turn for his
Uncle Samuel. When the big hight Is over
ne Ia ready TO leave the ground to the DO
lice protection OF the regulars. Upon his
arrival at home the politician who comes
back from the legislature long enough 10
raise him to the pinnacle Of fame with a
grateful nation at his feet doesn't inspire
him half as much as does the head OF the
nrm Of Push q Progress. who raises him
TO the pinnacle Of an once stool at 500
per month.
tTior. Fighting he considers an expedient
rather than a business and rank falle from
him with his khaki coat. Colonel Hexe-
kiah Highrank. IL he be young in years.
becomes plain "zeke" in the same num-
Der OF seconds that he requires In chang
ing his clothes. Comradship is only fell
1owship between men who have been in
the same tight place at the same un-
comfortable time and who have helped
each there out Of It.
1t isn't until the volunteer gets older
and secs most Of those who SO helped him
fast succumb to a foe against which
neither courage or strategy avaiIs that he
v drawn to the few remaining. II isn't
nntil that time that he fully appreciates
DOW much there really is between them.
Future OF the Society
This conceded. Il is not hard to UNDER
stand why the National Society. Army of
the Philippines, had less than 500 veterans
OF the late campaign at it's third annual
'reunion in Council Bluffs last week.
Memories are still too vivid to require a
general Interchange to bring out details Of
the wars events. As the years pass this
necessity will arise and the attendance
Will he Rrootoa A.
Paul next year the ofncers anticipate 5000.
Later gatherings will see still greater
strength, numerically. General Halo
thinks so and General Hale is good au-
thority. There was a time when the Colo
Tado boys damned him cordially for his
1ncessant drilling; then they stormed
Manila and the reason for hts course was
plain. Since then his word has been sum-
cient In all things and II is in this. He
gathered the national society and has
against his wishes, been reelected its
president because he knows most about
1t. And he left Council Bluns pleased and
confident. He, aaiA.
Our futureG Bright Very bright
The attendance here was no larger than at
some previous meetings, but there was
manifest a growing interest In orRaniza-
fion. Now we have our charter adopted.
our inslgnia-chosen, our constitution and
bylaws altered to conform to necessities
and are ready to begin life in earnest. I
anticipate that hereafter growth will be
rapid and eventually the society include
practically all those who are entitled TO
membership. The coming in OF the Phil
ippine Island Veterans IL an important and
fortunate Incident, II would be a shame
TO have more than one organization Of
this kind and l don't believe we will have.
Some one recently has tried to launch one
In Philadelphia and others are mentioned
from time to time. but l don't believe such
enorts can reach fruition with this So
ciety so firmly on its feet.
II like to see the boys get together.
They are a magnificent lot OF young fell
lows. I couldn't help thinking OF it as
looked over them today. Intelligent,
keen. decorousi
And there never was an army better
cared for than that in the Philippines.
There were some hardshIps and some short
ages at times, OF course, but as nothing TO
what was endured in the civil war. Sim
pie fare. but plenty Of It,"
A q West Pointer don't you sometimes
sigh to soldier; didn't you enjoy the Phil
ipplne cAmpaignlngf" was asked the gen
eral.
Well. l did enjoy that experience ana
WOoiNh I haNo mdboeu IL IOr q great deal.
Moreover. II there should be another war
I would wish to 60. But now and In all
times Of peace / prefer civil life. / was
OF the engineering department. and the
men in that, OF course. are kept on the
move most OF the time. They can't have
a, home and that isn't pleasant"
Date of the ReuntOn.
The constitution provides that the annual
meeting Of the society shall be on August
IS, the date OF the capture Of Manila by
the American soldiers. but st. Paul asked
at Fridays session that the reunion next
year be not held until September. and the
matter was left with the executive COM
mittee. Concerning this. General Hale
said:
1T seems desirable that reunions be upon
the anniversaries Of Notable events and W.
have no other date nearly 80 important In
our history as August Is. Because Of this
dislike to see a new precedent established,
and that is what we will be doing II we
hold OF the ST. Paul meeting until sePtem-
Der. but the Minnesota men present q good
argument when they femind US that up
In their state. in South Dakota. and. IN
fact. in most of the state Of the section.
the middle Of August finds men very busy
and at a premium In the harvest fields.
AAoAI couNoAAcuSe must oc CohaAAeIuU NucE
the committee takes up tails matter OF
dates"
Sumner Knox came to bid the general
goodbye and to congratulate him on the en-
thusiasin with which be had been reelected.
Congratulations are due you Council
Bluffs men. said the general heartily,
"for your success In entertaining as"
The modest Mr.. Knox began to apologies
Tor the confusion at the lake on the night
OF the sham battle. but the general stopped
him. Don't let that worry you one min
ute" he said. 1T amounted to nothing
aud We are not complaining. 90 why should
you. The local committee Il always the
most sensitive Of all on such occasions al
this. know how Il IL to have little de-
tails OF the arrangements so wrong. but
don't worry over anything that has hap
pened here, We have been very well
cared for.~
WAY they Like Hale.
The amiabllity that General Hale dis.
played during this brief conversation with
the Iowan he displayed At all other times
Young men WHO had served under HIN
brought their aged fathers up TO meet
the commander and men who knew him
only By what he had done claimed NAM