The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-01
WIDE-A-WAKES
 HOLD REUNION
THIRTEEN OF ORIGINAL GROUP OF FAMOUS LINCOLN SUP-
 PORTERS DINE AT ROCK.
COMMODORE WELLES HEAD
Four North Haven Boy Chums And CO-Workers Meet Again at This
 Event.

Four men now of advanced age who were born in the same town, North Haven, who were brought up to- gether, went to school together, and fought in the ranks of the Civil war after they had all joinedf the organi- zation which. more than any other agency, helped to elect Abraham Lin- coin president of the United States got together yesterday at Savin Rock, with the other living members of the Wide-a-W association, and rem 'inlsced on the changes which the na- tion and individuals had passed through since the time when as strip uniform, with the great glaring eye l on it's back, and picked up the torches which signified their aliveness to the demands of the nation at that time. Around the board were other mem bers of that famous association, some as old as S2 years, the majority of whom had seen service in many a bit ter campaign of the war which fol- lowed upon Lincoln's election. The four invincibles were pr. R. H. Good year, of North Haven, elected vice. president of the Wide-aWake associ- ation of Connecticut; H. D. Todd, of North Haven; J. Boardman Smith. of 4NCW 11dNcn, dIIU D. AAOIPC, .O4 North Haven, chaplain of the Wide-a- Wakes.
 The occasion of this unique meet ing, the only one in the United States at present, was the annual reunion of the Wide-a-Wakes. Commodore Will liam $. Welles was reelected prest- dent; Boardman Smith, who has been secretary pro tenn. of the asso- citation since the death of William E.. Whittlesey, was elected permanent seer etary and treasurer; $. B. Thorpe, of North Haven. chaplain; pr. R. w. Goodyear, vice-president; Dr. W. A. Welch, assistant secretary, and H. F. elected members of the executive committee. Although the organization was peculiarly political in its purpose the survivors wish to perpetuate it as a social rather than a political club, and aim each year to come to- gether to revive old memories and im- press upon present generations the debt they owe to the martyred presi- dent.
 The following members were re- ported as having died during the year: Carlos Smith, Joseph D. Bradley, Will liam E. Whittlesey, Fred D. Meeker, David W. Courtney, George H. Hall. ace Sherman.
 Origin of Organization.
 At the dinner which followed, Com modore Welles. presided as toast master and spoke at length on the debt owed by posterity to the Wide-a- Wakes for their part in electing Lin- coin. MT. Welles prophesied it as not improbable that in the future some religious sect will be established, hav- ing for it's code the ethical principles practiced by the Great Emancipator.
 MT. Welles recounted briefly the bis- tory of the Wide-a-Wakes, its begin ming in Hartford, it's spread to Wa terbury, New Haven, and finally to all the states of the union. It was during a, speech-making campaign of Abraham Lincoln in the city of Hart ford a year before his nomination by the Republican party. that the Hart ford Courant exhorted Republicans to be wide-awake, and continue to press their cause. The next day the watch word was assumed as a fighting slogan for the candidacy of Lincoln. In the ranks of the Wide-a-Wakes were the late Senator Hawley and other states men, as we'll as notable military char acters. It was a semi military organ ization and the effect of it's practices did much to stimulate military disci- pline, which was practically unknown to the first soldiers recruited for the war There are about 100 survivors in the state at present 13 of whom were at yesterdays meeting.
 Among those in attendance was Miss Ida, BlaS%e of this CitV.