The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-06-21
TADLEAUX PLEASE VETERANS
Veterans View of Present War Given
by Col. Wattrous, who Speaks In
Absence of Governor Philip
Medal and Flag Presented.

That we had one of the brightest,
most progressive and red blooded cities
in Wisconsin was one reason that led
US to ask the G. A. r. to select Keno
sha as the place for the annual en-
campment this year. was part Of the
unofficial words of welcome of Post
Commander G. F. Stemm, at the patrio-
tic institute in the Coliseum Tuesday
evening II have in my hands, he
continued, "the combination of the
lock that opens our fair city to our
honored guests, but not the key, as the
mayor of the city will present it on
the morrow. Let me bid you thous
and times welcome to this city as the
greeting of one of its humblest veterans
and assure YOU that we will leave no
stone unturned to make your visit here
one that you will long remember. y
The welcome, thus stated by the COM
rnaafer of the Fred S. Lowell Pest, was
re-echoed by the applause of the vast
crowd that gathered for the institute,
given under the auspices of the Won
en- s Relief Corps. The heart of every
old soldier of the three hundred present
must have felt the patriotic thrill of
years ago when the Coliseum, fairly
filed with the decorations made from
the flag which they had sacrificed to-
save, came into his sight The pro-
gram as announced was carried out to
the letter with the single exception
that in the absence of Gov. Phillip,
who at late hour telegraphed his ina
bility to be present, Colonel J. F. Wat
trous of Milwaukee, gave the address
of the occasion. The music, which was
interspersed throughout the program
was furnished by the Kenosha Com
munity Symphony Orchestra, and in
Guided many of the old war
time melodies so dear to the hearts
of the veterans.
The opening tableaux, accompany
ing the playing of THE Star Spangled
Banner exhibited in an impressive
way Columbia and the United States
with her children, represented by school
girls in white, under the protection Of
the soldier, guarding cold Glory. -
Following it came the prayer of invo-
cation by Rev. O. W. Taylor, thanking
God for the men who had barred their
breasts to shot and shell that this
nation might endure r Commander
Stemm then made the speech of wei
come to the distinguished visitors,
which because Of the postponment of
Tuesdays program, had the distinction
of first sounding the hospitality that
all Kenosha feels to the men who
sacrificed for liberty in the war of the
rebellion. In his remarks he paid a.
touching tribute to the departed CONN.,
rade, Zalmon G. Simmons, who had
many years before by his generosity
and kindness, placed the local post in a
position to entertain their comrades.
Col. J. F. Wattrous, who in the alb
sence of the governor, addressed the
veterans and their friends, took as the
theme of his address the relation of
the sacrifice of the soldiers of '6l to-
the present war. He said in part:
II shall ask every member of this
audience to take into account the feel
ings of the comrades in regard to the
present war. There is a heaviness in
our hearts, comrades; we know what it
means to part with dear ones at home;
we know what it means to face
shower Of lead, aimed by good marks
men; we know that all these things are
coming to the young men who are to
cross the ocean to fight our battles in
France and feeling that, we have among
other emotions sad hearts and vet, re-
alizing the objects of the war, there is
a feeling Of pride which we cannot
describe. We know that the young
men are giving the same sort of lib
erty, the same sort of freedom TO the
world as our revolutionary fathers
gave to US and as we gave at APP