The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-09-19
IDAHO REGIMENT
BEST SAYS CHAPLAIN
Reverend A. Stewart Tells of
Conditions al Front
POST EXCHANGE FOR MEN is A
WELCOME SUCCESS.
Democracy of Officers is Reason Civ
en- for Success and Good Standing of
Idaho Regiment.


Idaho Regiment
you folks at home may doubt that
we are the best regiment on the border
but we are, and l ought to know. And
the reason for the high standing of
the Idaho regiment is the democracy
of the officers. 1t is a "crack" regi-
ment, and the men of Idaho are more
nearly like regulars, and the men can
be put anywhere, and are capable of
adapting themselves to any condi-
tions."
So said Chaplain Stewart of the
Idaho regiment to the crowd which
packed the Baptist church Sunday
evening to listen to his talk on Con
ditiOns on the Border" His talk was
informal and of great interest to the
friend and relatives of the boys at the
front, and his message gave his lis
teners a closer view of the conditions
to which the militia is subjected,
Mr. Stewart is home on thirty days
furlough and at his own expense is
telling of his experiences and those of
the Idaho regiment in order that those
interested in the welfare of the boys
may uuutlSldHu tOnQlliOno do tuCJ
really exist.
1T was a bunch of home-sick boys
that left Boise for the trip to the bor-
der" said Mr., Stewart, "and there was
little on the journey to cheer the men
on the way. There were few signs of
recognition until we reached Tucson,
Arizona, and there we received our
first real welcome The women of
TtrOcnn God h1acc omQif-
ing us with cans of milk iced tea.
fruit, sandwiches, cookies, postal cards
and other welcome things, and this
thoughtfulness brought tears to many
eyes.
when we arrived there we found
companies with no mess funds and
men of the different companies we're
taken to fill out extra companies such
as those of the machine gun and sup
ply. There was no way to gain money
for them unless we hit upon some plan
of our own. AS the old fashioned
"canteen" was tabooed we hit upon
the scheme of establishing post-ex-
change. l spoke to the colonel about
it and he fell in with the plan with
enthusiasm. A post-exchange is a
place where cookies, candies cold
drinks, combs, shoe laces and so forth
may be sold to the boys, and the idea
came so close to filling the wants of
the boys that it met with immediate
success. The profits were to go to
the mess fund of each company. We
built store for 5000, and stocked it
with $4,000 worth of goods. With no
capital as a starter we did business
for the month of August amounting to
$4,000, of which the profits we're $1,000
This divided among the companies
left SLAB a man, no small sum on the
border. The building was 81 situated
that men from the other companies
had to pass by, so its inviting appear
ance is largely the cause of it's sue
cess.
Speaking of mail, I suppose many
of you mothers, wives and sweethearts
have received letters from the boys
stating that they don't get much mail.
This isn't exactly true, for according
to Hensley, who is my assistant in
the postoffice, and who worked in the
postoffice here, the boys are receiving
more mail a day than you folks in
Twin Falls, and this is saying some
thing when you realize that the popu-
lation of Twin Falls is 5000, whereas
there are only 100 of us. We love to
handle the mail and it's a tonic for
c the boys when they receive some word
: from the folks at home.
"There is comparatively little sick
= ness on the border. 1t averages one
: half of one per cent, smaller than any
t town in the United States. Great ere
= dit is due the medical corps in main
!, tanning sanitation in camp.
And as to moral conditions in the
e camp, you mothers need have no fear
t about having sent your boys with the
/ Idaho regiment. Our officers are for
E all that is pure and clean and up
e lifting and they viii not leave a
l stone unturned until they have done
all in their power to make this trip
= to the border worth while They win
{ send your boys home better men. We
E ought to be proud of these officers
= from the colonel down to the second
lieutenants.
Some Of you folks may think a
chaplain with the regiment does moth
ing. | want to correct the mistake
Besides caring for the postoffice and
post-exchange, | run a barber shop, a
: laundry, telegraph office, and with the
s aid Of Nick Wenzel and Mr. Randall OF
/ Twin Falls, l run printing and de-
q veloping shop. These boys are also