The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-04-25
AMERICANISN
Al at MANILA !
,Hhole Town Abtaze With Patriotism
When Meeting Is Held for
: Young Men Who Enlist.
TWO HISTORIC MEETINGS HELD
Special Representative of State DAILY
Newspaper Present and Gives Pub ,
licity to tt.c Gathering ,

. how it came about: They modestly
phoned they were to have patriotic
rally at Manila in Crawford county
and would come out by the a, m
train and join the people in bidding
goOdby to the recruits who were tC
leave by the $3.50 train for the Denver
training camp? - b. ..sl IL
OF course would, and did. and
count it morning beautiful to hold
in memory. But l baked at; that S a.
IN. arrival and went Sunday evening
arriving at Manila population 12oo)
at $3.50 D. IN. None knew of my com.
ing, so walked up through the park
to a brilliantly lighted corner, sur.
rounded by automobiles for Manila
is in the heart of rich German farm.
ing district. -G.-.
Rally in Germania Hall.
On that corner stood great two
story double front frame building that
was at the moment ablaze with light
at every window. glanced at the
broad front of the building and saw
there in large letters, "Germania Hall,
IoJU. an IOuhcu, luCIc SdulOh bIopa
the building great chorus, and they
were singing, as only those to whom
music is racian instinct can sing
"The Star Spangled Banner!" 1t was
the finale to an evenings program. ahd
as the strains Of the band and chorus
died away and the meeting dispersed.
sought the hotel murmuring to my
self, well, God bless Germania hall!'
But let me tell you about that meet
ing. 1t was union church gathering.
The business men met Friday to get
ready To bid The boys goOdby. They
appointed a chairman. a secretary and
a treasurer in good, business like
fashion. They called the meeting for
Sunday night at Gernania hall. The
Rev. Geo. II. Mitchell, Presbyterian.
1 presided. The speakers we're the Rev.
Fsther Francis Mcneil Of the lsonlan 4
ssssthclbc yisss Bar y & tti.e'
{ MethOdists and the Rev. III F6iitlt OF
the German Lutherans. s ~
Never "a sbe Forgotten,
There was the band OF twenty piec-
es, five of whom were enIisting. There
was congregational singing of "Ameri-
ca" and "The Star Spangled Banner"
and five old soldiers sat on the plat
form with the enlisting youths. The
evening was one never to be forgotten
by Manila.
| went to my hotel. but at a. IN.
was fairly blown out of bed by giant
dynamite blasts. one for each of the
forty eight states and not soul in
Manila slept after the first shot.
dressed and went out upon the
main street at just $3.50 a. IN. and even
then they were busy getting the hall
ready for the mornings exercises.
walked about with Mayor Saunders
and was introduced to the business
men. We then gathered at the hall
where splendid breakfast was served
to the recruits and the members of
their families. 1t was breakfast new
er to be forgotten. the tables were sur.
rounded by the ruddy faced youths. II,
18 and 10 years old. their fathers and
mothers, their sisters. big and ltttle,
the members of the committee and
myself. r 'sta ~ %" Ho"as ~
The boys ate ravenouslvIs as boys
must. but the mothers anu tile little
sisters were thinking Of the separar
tion but an hour away. 1fThe boy sol
diers seemed Very young but re-
membered that the boys of 1861 were
no older. 'Iz1hr9 tt - i''tsti.
. Personnc, Of Recruits. 2, I
But let me give you the names of
these patriotic young Americans who
have answered the nations call. Note
the racial suggestion in, these names:
Robert and Allen Hird. twins. sons
of Isaac Hird. contractor.
Clifford and Victor 1heobald. Sons
of Edward Theobald of Manila Ma
tional bank. q. i..r ~
Max and Frank Berkemeicr, sons
OF II. Berkemeier. implement dealer.
George Gaumer, son of w. N. Gaum-
e.. .0t.
Lyon McCracken. son of James Nc
Cracken. stockman. "
Bryant Cooper, son of Henry Coop
er. mail carrier.
Leo Perion, son of James Perion,
manager Green Bay Lumber company.
Allen Saunders. son of Mrs. Ruth
Saunders, farmer.
Leslie Curricr, grandson of V.
Soules. old soldier. ~
Ed Algee, son of w. e. Algee. and
two others who left few days before.
The half was filed to overflowing
by a. m, the band playing patriotic
airs, the iWlibfe place alive with ex-
pectant humanity. We formed in line,
the recruits in advance, and with the
chairman, the mayor and the few old
soldiers, we marched to the platform
amid deafening applause. There were
the prayers for the boys so soon to
go, and for those who are to do tho
waiting in the anxious months Just
ahead.
Mixture OF Races.
The audience arose and sang Amer
ica," and l shall not soon forget that
mixture of races that faced me as !
arose to speak.
The serious faces. the sense of union
of races from all over the world gath
cred to offer their sons upon the altar
of the nations need, the presence OF
the old soldiers, the waving flags, com
bined to remind me Of the days OF 81,