The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-06-24
RALLY FOR MILITARY COMPANY
SPEAKERS STRESS WORTHINESs
OF CAUSE WHICH CALD OUT
MILITIA.
Men OF Sumter Company are Given
Godslpeed by People OF Their Town
X. big and Enthusiastic Crowd in
Attendance upon Meeting.

From The Daily Item, June q.
A crowd which taxed the capacity
of the court house gathered last night
to wish the members of the Sumter
light Infantry Godspeed in their trip
to Styx, the Mexican border or into
Mexico. If they were ordered that far.
The crowd was enthusiastic and every
speaker was most heartily applauded,
all references to Gov. Manning. Presi-
dent Wilson and nearly everything
connected with the call and object of
the trip were greeted with applause.
The speakers were Col o. X. La
Rogue. secretary to Gov. Manning;
Mayor L. D. Jennings, DR.. r. s.
Truesdale. Secretary E. I. Reardon of
the Chamber of Commerce and Rev.
]. p. Marion, chaplain of the Sumter
Light Infantry. Col. r. D. Lee was
unable to be present, but sent his re-
srets at not being able to be pres-
sent to talk to the young soldiers,
but stated that his sympathy was
with them.
The meeting was presided over by
Mr.. H. L. ScarborOueh, who stated the
object of the meeting. The members
OF the Sumter Light Infantry and Of
ficers Of the regiment attached to the
local organization were present at the
meeting In body and were given the
seats OF honor up in front of the
speakers stand inside of the rail.
They were most enthusiastic in their
reception Of the speakers.
The meeting was opened with pray
er by Rev. j. p. Marion, after which
Col. 0. X. LaRoque was introduced.
Col. LaRoque brought with him the
REGRETS of Gov. Manning. who was un-
able to be present. but expressed his
pleasure at being able to be present
and speak on this occasion. He re-
ferred to Gen. Sumter, of Revolutions
nry fame. and other officers who had
always been furnished by Sumter ia
Il -
times past when there was q caIi for
troops. saying that Sumter had al
ways heard and responded nobly to
Its country's call and he knew that
1t would do so now. q statement which
met instant applause. He referred To
the fact that employers were given al
opportunity of showing their patrio4
tisn by holding the jobs Of their: en-
ployes open for them upon their re-
turn. He referred to the fact that no
had competed with the Sumter boys
In firemen's tournaments and he
knew what they could do, 80 he felt
sure that the Sumter company would
get what 1t went after, when 1t want
ed one hundred and fifty men to en-
list before it left on Friday for Styx.
The minimum strength Of the militia
OF South Carolina. he stated, was L.
600 men. but he hoped that there
would be at least $500 men at Styx
when the troops were modified there
and the muster roll called. and he felt
sure that Sumter would have as good
representation of men as any city
in the State.
Mayor l.. d. Jennings stated that
this was the second such meeting
which he had ever attended, referring
to such meeting in the old court
house when call for volunteers was
Issued to go into the war with Spain.
All of the members of the Sumter
company went then and returned and
ne hoped that such would be the
case In this instance. He referred to
the policy Of President Wilson in
Mexico for the past four years as
one OF the utmost patience and con-
sideration and he knew that President
Wilson was not one who sought war.
AT the Democratic convention, which,
he had been attending, he said, it
was stated that Wilson had kept the
country out Of the European war
thus far and leaders believed that he
would continue to keep 1t out Of war.
1t was not to avenge the loss of mon
ey that the present steps were being
taken, but to avenge the loss Of the
lives OF infants and mothers and un-
armed citizens and to assure safety
for the lives Of them in future against
Mexican invasion, he said in referring
to the justice of the cause of Presi-
dent Wilson's side. He stated EN-.
phatically that President Wilson was
right when he sent troops first into
Mexico and he was right now to call
upon the people of the country for
It's defense and the preservation Of
Its honor. He said that Wilson had