Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-03-08

Through the kindness of our old
friend Henry Greene who for many
years enjoyed the pure air of Extra
we print the following from the Los
Angeles Daily Times:
IOWA HOST GATHERS.
Twenty Thousand Former Residents
and Others Celebrate Holiday With
Picnic.
There was an outpouring of former
Iowa residents and visitors, at the
seventh annual picnic at Eastlake
Park, and from all the beach and
suburban towns they came by the
hundred to renew their pledges to
to their home State and to the Iowa
Assertion of Southern California.
From noon the people were massed
in every part of the Park. and esti-
mates of the number ranged from
10000 to $4,000. Each of the counties
established headquarters on the grass.
and by that way Iowans were enabled
to meet old friends. At q central
stand papers from the state were for
sale, and badges were to be obtained
for modest nickel.
The delegation from Santa Monica
reached the park with band of their
own, and as soon as noon approached
there was rush for the lunch bas-
kets. But the table did not suffice
for 1.-THE of the visitors, and the
vast majority lunched on the grass.
AT half past one the annual election
for officers of the association was held
at headquarters. 1t was strictly
business meeting, and was called to
order by the retiring president: w. G..
Benedict. The offers elected were:
Iorrey Everett, of Pasadena, President;
DR.. Harmon Cook, Whittier. vice
president; DIR. e. Henderson,; Pomana,
treasurer, and @. H. Parsons, Pasa-
dena, secretary. These officers also
form the executive committee of the
Iowa Association of Southern Cali.
fornia.
The two bands on the ground play
ed selection of patriotic airs, and
shortly after two o'clock the audi
forum in front of the band stand
filled up with the Iowa veterans of
the war with their families. 1t was q
soldiers reunion and the old spirit
was abroad, for no introductions were
needed as the men chummed in to-
gether and compared notes ON the
old time.
Then Maj. Donnell called the old
soldiers to order and made a little
speech of welcome, and introduced DIR,
Cook who aroused the "vets" to enthu-
siasm by giving exact data regarding
the forty-nine regiments of infantry,
ten regiments of cavalry and four bat
teries of artillery that Iowa sent to
the front in the early sixties.
But perhaps the greatest amount of
pleasure was experienced when e. H.
Conger, ex-minister to China and
more recently representing the coun-
try at the city of Mexico, was present.
ed to the audience, who cheered to
the echo while the ladies present gave
the chautauqua salute. Mr.. Conger
spoke with brevity but paid tribute
to the men of his state for their pat
riotism and sturdiness of character.
He concluded by saying that the
women-the wives, mothers, sisters
and sweethearts were as much soldiers
as the men; from them it was the men
received their inspiration, and he paid
eloquent tribute to their self denial
and devotion.
N. u Chamberlain followed reading
an original poem written for the occa-
sion, and which in semi humorous
vein was lauditary for the state OF
Iowa. Col. Steadman past command.
er of the g. A. r. of Iowa, closed the
reunion by makinga stirring talk to
the boys in blue.
About hatf past three people be-
gan to make for home. At dusk the
crowd had thinned out, and ere dark
ness fell the seventh annual picnic Of
lowans had successfully been brouhgt
tn an an1