The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-03-24
From Tuesdays Daily.

from TUESDAY DalIT.
Mankato business interests should
give better support to the local COM
pany of the Minnesota National
Guard. So said Judge Lorin Cray Of
Alexander Wilkin Post No. 10, G. A.
R., and SO said Captain A. o. Scott
of Company II of the. Second infan-
try of the Minnesota National Guard,
at the supper held by the PresDy-
terrain brotherhood last evening in
the basement of the Presbyterian
church. Such also was the unani-
nous opinion of the hundred or
more who were present, if one may
Judge from the applause.
The brotherhood entertained two
visiting organizations, the local
Grand Army post and the local mi
litia company. The boys of the ma
tional guard were there at one table
in their service uniforms CT brown
fsh gray, while the veterans sat at
another table.
Large flags appropriately decorat-
ed the walls, and the tables were
adorned with red carnations and
by the Sixth division ladies of the
Presbyterian congregation.
The program was tastefully varied
from time to time with music. Joseph
l.. Tallman rendered solos at times
and also led the singing by the en-
tire assemblage. His first solo,
"Tenting Tonight" was promptly
followed by calls for an encore, and
he responded with another, ooh
Starry Flag" He led in the singing
of THE Star Spangled Banner and
America" the last being suggested
as a closing song by j. R. Brand
rup The accomplishments were
played at the organ by Mrs. w. L
Tallman, mother Of the soloist.
Welcome to the Guests.
DR.. J. A. Hancock, in calling the
meeting to order, heartily welcomed
the guests, saying that he was sure
that he voiced the sentiments of the
brotherhood in expressing great
pleasure at seeing both the soldiers
of former day and the present day
soldiers. He said the church at all
ages had been glad to extend its
influence over the soldiers. The
church was anxious to keep alive in
the breast of soldiers the spirit of
chivalry. He spoke of the qualities
of the soldier and said these quail
ties were exceedingly useful to
humanity when directed in the
right channels. He spoke of the
sturdy Norsemen, whose soldierl1ke
qualities took them into many parts
of the world, and whose influence
had accomplished much that was
good for various countries in which
they happened to settle.
Judge Cray, speaking on the
subject of preparedness, declared
that in his view it went without say
ing, that the nation should be better
prepared for the possibility of some
great war.
Man Who Would Not Shoot.
The judge related conversation
that he recently had with friend
of his on the subject of peace. The
friend asked the judge whether
there were any circumstances unuer
which he would be willing to kill a
man and the judge replied yes, there
were. The friend said he would not
kill a man under any circumstances.
The judge asked him if he would
not shoot in case man were
threatening his life and robbing him,
provided there was a good chance to
shoot the robber, and the friend
said he would not. The judge asked
his friend whether, if he had been
present in Mortified at the time of
the great robbery, when the bandits
were shooting at any man that
popped his head out of his place of
business, he would not shoot the
bandits if he had the chance, and
the friend said he would not. The
judge told the friend that he would
make a good soldier and added, "You
are a better Christian than l am"
~ g.- Expense of Preparedness.
Speaking of the expense of pre-
paredness, the speaker said. that to
place the army and navy of the
United States on such a footing as
would enable them to cope with an
other great power, it would require
an expenditure of about three hun
dred million dollars Now, where
was that money to come from? The
judge spoke of other things for which
Americans spent vast sums-twenty-
two hundred million dollars a year
on intoxicating liquors, twelve hun
dred millions on tobacco, eight
hundred millions on jewelry, dia-
monds, gold and silver plate and the
like, and five hundred millions on
automobiles. 1t would not require
much reduction on these expenses
to raise all the money that was need
ed for the army and navy.
Judge Cray remarked that the
argument had often been advanced
that those who were advocating
preparedness were doing SO in the
interest of the manufacturers OF
munitions, who would reap a profit
out of the movement. The speaker
remarked that if a person bought a
pair of shoes there was profit in it to
somebody. The fact that the sale of
the munitions was going to result in
somebody's financial benefit should
not deter the government from get
ting ready to protect the country.