Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-06-08
THE YE0MEN PICNIC
Attendance is Large and Splendid
Program Carried Out.
CROWD WELL ENTERTAINED
Automobile Parade, Speeches, Prize
Drill Contest, Ball Game,
Dances and Music Keep
Crowds i'm Good Spirits
All Day Long.

The first northeastern Iowa Yeo-
men picnic to be held in Decorah |
was a grand success, and now the
Yeomen are saying, as have every
other organization that has been
entertained in Decorah, that's the
town for me-" The visitors were
enthusiastic in their praise of De-
corah and it's entertainment, and on
every hand the sentiment was ex-
pressed that it was the best picnic
the association has ever had.
The weather was fine, possibly a
little cold, but yet more pleasant
than the preceding days had been.
The city was elaborately decorated
with flags, streamers and buntings,
and presented a gala appearance.
The special trains from Oelwein
over the Rock Island and from
Clear Lake over the Milwaukee
brought in large numbers, and
scores came by auto from all the
surrounding territory.
The days festivities opened with
the automobile parade which form
cd on Washington street, headed by
t. ]. Qualley and George Schamel
as marshals, the mayors of Decorah
and West Union, the speakers, and
q long line of automobiles, decor
ated with the stars and stripes and
Yeomen banners. Passing up Water
street and down the side streets it
presented pleasing appearance,
being the first exclusive auto parade
the city mas had.
The speeches were given at the
Grand opera house, so that COM
Portable seats might be had. II. ].
Green presided, Mayor Daubney de-
livered a pleasing address of well
come, followed by an address by
Hon. John d. Dennison of Dubuque,
member of the Board of Directors
of the Yeomen. Mr.. Denison is one
of the most brilliant orators of
Iowa, whose reputation as speaker
is more than state wide, and his ad
dress was listened to with much
pleasure. This was followed by an
address by Senator H. l.. Adams of
West Union, who also is known as
one of the brightest minds and one
CT the ablest speakers of northeast
Iowa. Senator Adams has clear
voice, a pleasing personality, and
is a profound thinker. whose speech
made a deep impression upon the
audience.
Then followed an hour for din
ner, and at 1880 the prize drill
contest took place in front of the
court house. The Merchants Band
furnished music, and a large crowd
assembled on the square. The Oel-
vein and Alpha teams contested,
both in uniform and the drills were
splendidly executed and called out
repeated applause. The judges,
Col. Brandt, L. L. Caldwell and
John F. B. Portman, gave Oelwein
first place and Alpha second. The
purse was $4,000.
Soon afterward the band started
for the base ball grounds, and the
crowd began to wend its way thith-
er, for nothing will attract crowd
of Americans like the great nation
al game. Everybody knew that the
Colored Gophers of st. Paul were
a great ball team, and inasmuch as
Caledonia had defeated them once
and strengthened up for this game.
it was anticipated that it would be
close, but the Gophers got away
with four scores right on the start,
and had no difficulty in defeating
their opponents, score IL to 3. A
very large crowd witnessed the
game.
After the game the Northeastern
Iowa Yeomen Picnic Association
held a business meeting at the
Yeomen hall Routine business was
transacted, Oelwein selected as the
place for next years picnic, and the
following officers elected president,
G.. A. Snyder, Oelwein; vice presi-
dent, II. j. Green, Decorah; secre-
tary-treasurer, Mrs. Sarah Tiffany,
Oelwein; executive committee. A. o.
Tiffany, Oelwein, c. b. Hughes,
West Union. Miss Cand's Davis,
Alpha. A vote of thanks was ex-
tended to the Decorah Yeomen for
the splendid entertainment given
the association.
At seven o'clock in the evening
the Alpha team exemplified the