Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-29
TROOPS
SHOULD BE sent
TO THEIR HOMES
President Of Company B
Auxiliary Defends Action
of Women Who Work for
Regiments Return.

Nampa, Oct. 2s.-In reply to the let
ter of Mrs. Bates of Parma, which was
recently published. and the statement
by Mrs. Pittenger. who is with her
husband at Nogales, Mrs. Evelyn M.
Lamson. president of Company Aux
Hilary, today gave out the following
letter in defense of the action of the
auxiliary in inaugurating the move
ment to secure the return of the Idaho
regiment from the border:
On reading an article in the Evening
Capital News of Oct. 26, saying that
the movement Of certain organizations
in Idaho. looking toward the release of
the Idaho Second infantry, now on
border duty, did not represent the feel
ing Of the officers and men Nof that
regiment, l feel that justice both to
myself and the men and women who
have been active in this movement re-
quires some public statement in regard
to the matter. To begin with this
movement did not originate in Idaho,
but emanated from the enlisted men of
the regiment themselves. To prove
that this is true L quote from a num-
Der of letters received in Idaho, from
different ones in the regiment.
First letter: I'VE wish you to know
that If the men Of this regiment (the
Second Idaho) were allowed to vote on
the matter, eight out of every ten
would vote to go home. Most of the
commissioned officers are drawing
more salary now than they receive in
civil life. Several of the officers have
their wives with them, while we en-
listed men who are married cannot
even be discharged. We wish it
known therefore that the enlisted per-
sonnet of the Second Idaho feel that
our duty here Is done and that we
should be allowed to return home. We
would like our friends to know how we
feel and we ask them to do all in their
power to see that this regiment is
home before Thanksgiving"
OTHERS HAVE RETURNED.
Extract from second letter: I'VE,
the enlisted men OF the Second Idaho,
now serving on the border, desire to
state some things that the people of
Idaho may know how we are feeling
few days ago the sentiment of the
regiment was felt out by the powers
that be- and that sentiment is that If
the government feels we have done
our duty here, we should be returned
to our homes. We believe we have re-
ceived training which has helped us
and we also believe that no sacrifice is
too great for man to make for his
country. else we would not have been
here. However, we think that we
could be more useful to the govern
ment and our comUonWealth If allowed
to return and take up our work once
again than by remaining here. All we
can see we are doing Is enriching the
Golfers of the merchants of this town.
Other regiments OF infantry have been
here three months and have returned.
We have been here the same length of
time and are still on the border. Many
of us are losing what will take months
of hard work to replace. Some of us
are married and our wives suffer from
lack Of the funds which were theirs
before we came. AS we feel our duty
here is done we would ask the people
of Idaho to use their efforts to see that
we are returned to Idaho. Why should
Idaho remain on the border when Cali
fornia and Connecticut have returned?
Why should we be turned into border
policemen when our business Is not
that of soldering? Why should not
we be shown the same consideration
that has been shown to others? Not
being a branch of the mounted service,
could not regiment of regulars take
our place? If all men wore the uni
form and filled their turn of service,
then We could make no objection. We
hone M 10
obey orders, but we would like to have
this question answered: Can we be of
more service to our country and flag
and state by remaining here on patrol,
than by returning home and taking
our place as useful citizens of our
commonwealth? We think not.
Respectfully.
THE ENLISTED MEN,"