Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-05-03

L ~ III AvIII vA
The passage Of the conscrip-
ton law by congress and its fail
ure to provide measures for the
further organization OF volun-
teers put monkey wrench into
the present status Of the company
tot Missouri Valley volunteers,
which has been organized here
|since tho declaration Of war. I'll
was feared that under the Cir
cumstances the. company would
have to disband and that the
membership would later be con-
scripted into the service, thereby
losing their status as volunteers.
In order to find out just exactly
what could be done for the boys
at this time ascommittee of citi-
Gems composed, of DR.. R. D. Nc
Eyoy, C. w. Kellogg, r. C. Lab
man and NJ. B. Russell went to|
Omaha Monday and laid the
whole matter Z before the U. ST.
army recruiting officer there,
Iwho. after hearing the details Of
the matter happily informed the
Icommittee thatNthe government
had already issued orders cover
ing just such matters, anticipat-
ing that such a condition might
come up. He said that the Mis-
souri, Valley boys could at once
be enlisted individually, and that
| by special permission from the
war department that all could bel
assigned to the same regiment in
the regular army, and that by en-
listing now before the conscrip-
ton law becomes effective, that
they could be enlisted as volun7
teers for the duration, of the war
and would be carried on the mus
ter rolls as such.
Carrying out this idea the re-
|eruiting officers will be here two
days this week, Thursday and
Friday. for the purpose Of en-
rolling all members of the local
company and as many others who
can enlist at,this time, after
which the war department will be
asked for permission for special
assignment for the men, and
and then as. soon as this is
granted, all will be sworn into
the United.lS States service as vol
nnteer soldiers.
1t is indeed gratifying to those
who have interested themselves.
in the organization of this COM
pany, that Notwithstanding the
consumption law our, boys can
yet get into the service Of our
country and 80 to the front as
volunteers. Then too unless the
men enlist together, it would be
impossible forsthe citizens Of the
town to organize and look after
the comforts. of her boys unless
all are in the same organization.
The $1,000 fund raised here can
yet be used provided the boys en-
list together. It would be out Of
the question TO attempt to keep
in touch with few here and Z
few there, scattered in different
organizations.
From the standpoint Of what
is best for the boys, who have
signified their. intention of serv-
ing their country at this time, it
is far better for them to serve in
the regular army than to serve
in volunteer organizations for
the reason there they will have
experienced officers to look after
their needs; they will have all the
benefits of the many comforts
that are provided for the soldiers
in the regular army, and above
all. their ratiQns will be prepared
and served by; experienced cooks.
Then, too. they will be better
clothed and cared for better ell
around. The matter was placed
before the boys last evening st
the drill and: from all the express
sions heard the boys seem to
be we'll satisfied to enter the
service as volunteers under these
soaditions.
This will be busy week for
the town. Arrangements are al
ready under way for q big fare
we'll reception for the boys. Plans
are being mapped out for big
program, and when the time
comes for the boys to leave Mis-
souri, Valley will put on her Sun
day clothes and do her boys an
honor that will be credit to the
town. just what will become of
the small organizations Of vol
unteers over the county remains
to be seen, but it the men who
are behind them will get busy
right now they can get their boys
enlisted all in the same organiza-
ton just, as the Missouri Valley
boys will be, provided they act at