The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-11-10
FOLKS BACK HOME
BEHIND THE ARMIES
Governor CornweIl Wildly
Cheered When He Said
This.

(By Associated Press
FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON. Ind.
Nov. 10.-Governor John ]. Cornwell,
of West rginia, today reused to a
high pitch of enthusiasm the Ninth In
fantry company, in the officers train.
ing camp, here, when he declared that
the folks back home were behind them
to man, and not only were the people
Of their state supporting the common
cause Of the country by buying Liber-
~ bonds but they were quietly gong
about their daily tasks, each intent
upon doing his part.
81 bring to you men," said the Gov
ernor at the conclusion OF his address.
.the greetings Of the people of West
Virginia, and pledge you that they will
btand behind you, faithfully and to the
end"
The Governors message was re.
ceived with a cheer. emblematic OF the
hearty good will manifested on every
side since, in response to the invita-
ton Of the company. which is made up
cntirel yos West Virginians. he and his
party had entered the camp as its
guests.
The Governors party. which includ
ed Mrs. CoTnwell, his secretary. James
w. Weir, and Senator Ben Rosen-
bloom, of Wheeling, had left Charles
ton at noon Friday. and upon their ar
rival in Indianapolis, had-been greeted
by military escort chosen from the
student officers. Orderlies had been
selected to look after the Governor,
and every other detail of the most elab'
crate program the camp has known
had been worked out. Quarters in the
rompony's barracks we. 9 placed at the
Governors disposal, and he was told
that he was expected to eat at least
pne army mess with the command.
Then these hard working. earnest
young West Virginians had arranged
for a brigade review, reception and
ball, and had invited no less than a
thousand Of their friends. civil and mil
itary, to Join with them in fittingly re-
ceiying their chief executive.
Governor Cornwell was enthusiast
cally received when he rose to speak,
and was frequently interrupted by ap.
plause.
Il bring to those of you who hail
from West Virginia the greetings OF
your friends back home" he said. ITO
all OF you men, from whatever state
or section you come, bring greetings
OF the state at large, for in this hour
Of our fellowship, our sympathies and
our patriotism are not bounded by
state lines nor are they limited to the
narrow confines Of any commonwealth.
Men meet today on the broad and level
plain of patriotic comradeship, for no
matter from what state or section we
come, we are Americans, all.
To-day we are not thinking in terms
of party or in terms of state or Sec
ton, but in broad terms of American
ism, for this great contest, which our
country has entered, and In which you
ren are fitting yourselves to partici-
pate, will determine the ultimate fate
and destiny of our country. II America
fails in this world struggle, all other
questions matter little or nothing. If
our national ideals should be crushed,
destroyed and trampled under foot,
or worse still, exchanged for Prussian
seutocracy or Prussianized government.
! al and social policies, what will it mat.
tOt 6uouI pOitt4ShA pdht'CS duu uOLACS'
tic policies as we know them now or
have known them in the past here in
this blessed land of liberty and equal
opportunities?
But we must not fail, we will not
fail. The. spirit which moved you men
Of this training camp to voluntarily
leave your homes to come here for
months OF intensive training to fit
yourselves to lead other men who have
volunteered or who have been selected
because Of their fitness and their situa.
Z tion to 60 Into the army, that spirit is
taking hold Of the people OF the state
from which ] come, and firmly believe
It is taking hold Of them, or the great
majority OF them, all over the country,
and that the spirit OF sacrifice and Of
service, the two things essential to
that other things, success, is Just now
manifesting itself more than ever be-
lore.
ut was not strange that great per
cent. Of our population peacefully in.
clined and trained to the belief that
we were secure from attack or even
nolestation, should have gone stead.
i.y about their business for more than
two years after this war began. feeling
. sense OF security and without thought
Oi our becoming embroiled in it. 1t is
ceplorable that our public conscience
Eas not more aroused 1t the fate Of