The Somerset reporter., 1908-12-24
Meeting of Somerset Veterans As
ISOLATION at Skowhegan.

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Friday Dec. Is. Owing to a cold
morning and threatening storm, the
comrades did not feel like breaking
camp and starting out any great dis
lance with team, but the eectrics
brought the usual number from Mad :
ison and the towns above on the Som
erset road.
The officers present were Col. +. II.
Wing, Chaplain j. d. Emerson, Adju-
tant S. F. Emerson, and Quartermas-
ter Samuel Vose. Prayer was offered
by the Chaplain and the Adjutant and
Quartermaster submitted their re-
ports for the last quarter which were
accepted by vote of the Association.
Col. Commanding Comrade Wing
then gave a cordial welcome to the
visiting comrades.
Comrade S. f. Emerson who was
appointed to draft resolutions on the
death of Capt. Zenas Vaughn, read
the following tribute to his memory
which was adopted.
The great sickle of time is reaping
rapidly increasing harvest as it
sweeps through our ranks and cuts
down our comrades on the right flank
and on the left. We are reminded of
this as we pause in our deliberations
to pay our last tribute of respect to
the memory of our departed comrade,
Capt Zenas Vaughn. Both in the
military service of his country and in
the responsibilities of our common
citizenship he was A leader among
men. He was brave, patriotic and
self reliant. He did his life work
well. We honor his memory and we
deeply recognize our loss as we close
up our ranks and move forward to
meet the only enemy we cannot in
our own strength conquer. "But
thanks be to God who giveth Us the
victory through our Lord, Jesus
Christ" The choir then sang Tramp
Tramp Tramp the boys are marching,
Emma II Dunton at the piano.
The next in order was the election
of officers for 1909, resulting as fol
lows: Col Co m an d ing, E. E.
Gould, Madison; Lieut.. Col, X. A.
Withee, Norridgewock; Major, Chas.
Owens, Bingham; Chaplain, j. F.
Woodsum, Norridgewock; Adjutant,
S. F. Emerson, Skowhegan; Quarter
master, Samuel VoSe, Madison.
An invitation came from Madison
to hold the regular March session
there and it was voted to accept the
invitation and the next session will
therefore be at Madison, Thursday,
March IS. Adjourned to one O'Clock
p. IN. In the meantime a dinner was
served in G. A R., hall by the Ladies'
Relief Corps, which was well patron
lied by the veterans and friends.
The new commander, Comrade E.
E. Gould, called to order at the ap
pointed time and offered appropriate
remarks touching, upon some of the
ssential factors that will be neces-
sary to sustain the association i'll the
future.
The intellectual exercises were
next in order and remarks were Of
fered by Comrades Frank Wade, j.
F. Woodsum, S. W. Smith, D. NJ.
Norton, S. F. Emerson and A. Greg
DRY. Comrade Norton showed a bal
lot that was cast in California for
President Lincoln in 1864 and Com
rade David Row ell presented a piece
from the staff of the ninth Maine
bait lie flag shot off III battle. Com
rade Isaac Dyer was loudly called for
and responded with remarks express
siye Of old war scenes. Comrades X.
a. Withee, +. II. Wing and j. b.
Treat each gave an appropriate reei-
tation. Selection i'll reading by Mrs.
E. E. Gould and then came the ques-
ton for discussion, "Who deserves
ia n hn st pH
and went to the front the fl rst year of
the war, or those who enlisted the
last year" Comrade S. F. Emerson
first followed by Comrades +. IL.
trary.
The speakers seemed to forget to
mention the fact that large numbers
who went in the first year of the war
were still there the last year and a
greater part served two years and
over, while those who enlisted the
last year saw but few months of SER
vice even at the most. If long years
of hard service does not give one
greater credit and honor then on the
same basis make every other line of
work and service stand on level.
No superiority, no achievement
worthy to be noted above the COM
mon level. The writer justly claims
that veteran who put in three years
of hard service is equal to three who
put in but one year each.
Rev. DR.. Leitch responded to the
call of his name with remarks touch
ing upon great questions that con-
fronted us in time of the war as well
as at the present time.
Word was received from Rev. Geo,
Merriam expressing regret that he
could not be present on account of be-
ing called out of town for the day.
Vote of thanks was rendered Com
rade jefferson Savage for giving free
use of the hall and ais o to the Somer-
set Traction Co, and the Somerset
Railroad for courtesies conferred up
on the Association. The thanks of
the Association were also due 70 Mrs.
Emma II. Dunton for playing so ac-
ceptably on the piano and to Comrade
E. f. Gould for the inspiring songs
rendered.
While half a dozen Maine towns
are talking division there are two that
are talking union. As the time APP
proaches for the assembling of the
Maine Legislature, the citizens of
Dover and Foxcroft are beginning to
renew the discussion. 1t is now be-
lieved that a large majority of both
towns favor the project. The villages
have long been one in everything but
name and municipal government, and
in many instances the taxes assessed
in both towns are for the same purpose