The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1914-05-30


the Nixon opera house this morning,
to participate in the Memorial Day
exercises. The stage was decorated
with the National colors and flowers,
seats being occupied by Chairman A.
r. Lasher, Rev. p. +. Meehan, Rev.
p. II. Willis, Judge J. A. Langwith,
Scars, Pat O'Donnell and Nahum
Swallows. The latter is residing at
present in Colorado. but happened to
be in Winnemucca today on business.
The exercises were opened at 1915
by the audience singing America"
followed by an invocation by Father
Meehan. Chairman Lasher then de-
livered the principal address of the
day as follows:
Chairman 'Lasher's Address.
1t is doubtless well known to all
that Gen. John A. Logan, in 1868,
then commander in chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic, desig-
mated May 3Oth for the purpose of
strewing flowers or otherwise decor
ating the graves of comrades who
died in the defense of their country
in our late Civil war. In closing his
order for a National Memorial Day,
Gen. Logan said: cit is the purpose
of the Commander-inC Chief to inaugu-
rate this observance with the hope
that it will be kept up from year to
year while survivor of the war re-
mains to honor the memory of his de-
parted comrades.
At first this order created much in
tense feeling; many really loyal peo-
pie thought that the observance of
such day would engender bitterness
and strife; that there would be the
| discussion of things that should be
| dead which would canse dissension
and be productive of much lll-feeling
But Gen. Logan's idea was the
right one; it's observance has steadily
grown in good feeling, unit today all
unite in honoring our dead heroes and
friends. irrespective of creed or po-
litical affiliation.
Our greatest opportunity for good
and lasting service on this day is to
interest the school children in these
exercises. In California the state SUI
perintendent of public instruction ad-
vises patriotic exercises the Friday
previous to Decoration Day This will
awaken in them desire to assist in
these exercises. Let the tiny hands
carry the little flag they love.
Let us teach,
Each boy in this broad land
To pledge his heart and hand,
And vow our Flag shall wave
Forever for the brave.
Each girl to pledge her might
To keep our banner bright;
To mend the tattered bars,
Replace the missing stars,
Our happy homes command,
For God and native land
Comrades we have the saddening
fact continually before us that we are
passing away at the rate of over
one hundred each day; but can we
not find some compensation for this
melancholy TRUTH
Has not God been very good to us
in prolonging our lives until there
could be shown the most glorious re-
suits of all that we fought for and
ganedf
When we enlisted it was to con-
front a million men in arms to destroy
the government; when we finished our
work no man dared to draw sword
or lift flag against the government
which had been so savagely assailed
for four long bitter years.
When we enlisted our nation was
bankrupt. Our bankers would not
lend it dollar unless it s paper was
endorsed by New York or Massa
chusetts Now it is the richest ma
ton in the world and has the highest
credit.
When we enlisted the United States
was scoffed at and ridieuled by
Europe Now it towers above all ma
tions as the leading world power.
When we were mustered out the
country was bitter with the hatred of
four years sanguinary war and the
sight of a million new made graves.
Today, in contrast with that dark
picture, We have more than three
times as many people living in homes
where contentment reigns and plenty
bides.
From the restless waves of the At