New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-06-24
Town Topics

OCnefS IN New BRITAIN, pOlt1cS even
taking second place. Everywhere, on
the streets, in public and private
offices, in homes and in the factories
! mobilization and militarism is the
theme and it is safe to state that never
/ before has the general public been
/ we'll informed as to the geographical
conditions in Mexico and along the
/ border as at present. 1t will be in
/ deed cold and unpatriotic heart that
does not feel a glow of pride as the
! boys in olive march down the streets,
! EN- bark on the train and leave, some,
possibly never to return.
To the young men who have en-
listed in the two companies of militia
should go unstinted praise. Thought
/ less ones have ventured to- make light
! Of they activities in the. army. but
! the fact remains that they have VOL
unteered and if called upon will go
to the front, possibly to death, while
those who laugh at them remain safe
ly at home. The various local fac
tories have shown their patriotic spirit
by agreeing to do an in their power
to assist any of their employees who
are mustered into the service. To
agree to make financial concessions
and to assure any of their volunteers
, their old position on their return from
army life is no little thing. 1t entails
more financial loss to the manufaC-
turer than one would ina CINE Yet
this is the spirit being shown all over
the country and as ever in times of
need, New Britain is no whit be-
hind any of the others. The spirit
shown here by the young men in vol
unteoring and by their employees in
their concessions is commenda BILE
it is patriotic--the spirit which makes
and preserves a nation.
The pay of a man in the army is
but SIS per month. If man is
single this may suffice. But if he
is married or has anyone dependent
upon him it is inadequate. The ones
who are left at home should be pro-
vided for in an approved manner that
will not SAVIOR Of charity. In case
of eventualities Mayor George Quiglev
would do we'll to follow the example
of Mayor Joseph Dutton of Bristol in
calling a civic meeting to make plans
to care for dependents of soldiers who
go from his city. A person dependant
upon a soldier for support would
shrink from accepting the charity Of
neighbOrs or the city, but should a
citizens committee be named for the
purpose Of making arrangements to
see that those left behind do not
want the act would not be one of
charity but Of organized recognition
of the sacrifice being made. The cit
liens Of the city should and doubt
Jess would. arise to meet these emer-
gercies. In addition to helping those
left behind. it would be a fine idea
to remember the boys who have gone
to the front by sending them news
possibly tasty bits to eat tobacco and
such things.
These days recall wildly to many
the exciting days in this city during
the spring and summer of 1898, and !
to a few the tunultuous days of 1851 !
imm edately following the fall Of
Fort Sumpter and Lincoln's call for
900 volunteers. At the time of the |
civil war the old Center church. 10 |
Gated on the site of the present Bur !
rift school, was hot bed of Unionism |
and it was here that military speeches |
were made, recruiting Offices opened !
and volunteers enlisted.
Following long weeks of suspension, |
on April 1, 1898. excitement became |
intense in this city when Assistant |
Adjutant General Landers reiterated
a call from Washington peremptorily |
immediate call by the president, Will |
liam Mckinley. Fever heat was !
reached on April Fl when Spain |
severed diplomatic relations with the !
United States and the North Atlantic !
Squadron was ordered to Havana. The |
next day the first gun was fired and |
a Spanish boat captured. On April |
23 President Mckinley called for
125,OO0 volunteers and on April PA !
recruiting was begun enthusiastically
here in Companies E, D and I, COM
manded by Captain HauerWas, Leon
ard and Rawlings respectively, the
latter being a first lieutenant detailed
as captain in place of Captain Moore
who subsequently rejoined his COM
pany Enthusiasm broke loose on
April 25 when war was declared with
Spain and scenes similar to those
of today were enacted two days later
when the local militia was given
orders to move to Mantle in five days.
On the night of May 3, 1898. the
militiamen held their final drill and
slept on their arms, preparatory to
leaving the following morning. May
4 dawned damp and rainy. but en-
thusiasm was rampant and even the
factories closed while the troops
marched from the armory to the
depot. "Rem ember the Name was
the motto and in the big parade were
the police and fire departm ents: two
bands the common council, the Grand
Army. various societies and school
children. Stamped indelibiy in the
memory of any who were present
when the troop train pulled out at
1903 o'clock is the feeling Of desc
latiOn and sorrow that pervaded the
city. This same scene is being re-
enacted and another generation looks