The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-07-13
vehicles as they arrived at the
chautauqua grounds.

vehicles as they arrived at the
chautauqua grounds.
Shortly after the parade, the PEG.
pie gathered in the chautauqua tent
where the presiding officer, George w
Champlin, opened the meeting with 6
few remarks, heartily welcoming al
visitors to the city. The Good Thur
der band played and the Lake Crystal
chorus sang. Among the selections
rendered by the chorus were Land
We Love-" and Anchored" Mrs. R
B. Thomas playing the piano accom-
paniments. A solo, Making the RAG,
was sung by Miss Pearl Christensen
and another, "We1l Never Let the Old
Flag Fall'' by Miss Lizabelle Norman
the other singers joining in the chorus
| Address BY Judge Comstock.
| Judge w. l.. Comstock was the
speaker of the day. The judge brought
out strongly the thought that the
American flag, which was so much in
evidence at that celebration, had never
been raised but in support of human
rights and had never been lowered ex-
| cept in victory.
The speaker said that in the pres
| ent crisis he could see but two classes
of people in the United States, those
who stood back of the president and
the army in this necessary resistance
! to European autocracy and those who
did not. Those who did not stand back
of the president and the army, wheth
er these were of American or foreign
birth, were not loyal Americans. Those
who failed in their duty were doing
| harm, as we'll as the alien enemy. Any
man who would discourage his son or
the son of a neighbor from defending
the flag was as great an enemy to the
country as the alien enemy who was
here to do harm. Every American man
and woman should stand ready, if need
| be, to sacrifice their all for the cause,
| for if America should not win, the
freedom for which our ancestors suf-
fered and bled would be restricted and
perhaps lost altogether.
He brought out the thought that
America was not waging war against
the Germans as a people, but merely
opposing the progress of Imperialism
towards our shores. He spoke of the
coming of Germans to America to seek
the freedom which this country gives,
to avoid the autocratic rule of the old
country, and he could not see how any
of these people could refuse to give
aid and support to the American gov
eminent in it's efforts to stay the
spread of the very things, to escape
which they came to America.
80 &n;L
He declared that there was now
convincing evidence in diplomatic
papers to show that the original plan
of the German government was not to
strike Belgium, but to strike the Unit
ed States through Mexico, whenever
there should be favorable oppor-
tunity and suitable pretext, and
that if American troops had not been
massed on the Mexican border. Ameri-
ca would now be fighting Germany,
not on French or Belgian soil, but on
American soil.
The judge spoke of the anti-demo-
cratic doctrines that were taught in
the schools of Germany. the doctrine
of the divine right of kings, the doc
trine that "a good war hallows any
cause" and others. He spoke of the
change of the doctrine, BLESSED are
the peace makers" to blessed are the
war makers"
He dwelt at some length on the
cruelties practiced by invading Ger
man armies, and remarked that proof
conld be obtained by going to Min
neapolis to see little children with
hon nd off hn icf
The judge denounced the lethargy
and Indifference that many Americans
showed. They should awake to the
danger that confronts civilization.
They should give and give to the
cause. They should give until it hurts.
They should be ready to sacrifice any
thing and everything save the honor
of this country.
Quite number Of people, during the
noon hour, held a picnic dinner on the
chautauqua grounds.
The Chautauqua Program.
In the afternoon, large gathering
again assembled in the chautauqua
| tent, to enjoy the afternoon chautau-
qua program. The Royal Gwent Welsh
Male Singers gave some exquisite en-
| tertainment Sarah Mildred Willmar
dramatic reader, gave highly en-
| joyable recital, Experience" charm
! ing allegory wherein youth, hope, ex-
perience, ambition, vacillation, OPP
portunity and many other conditions
of life were personified. In her open
ing words she said: 81 hope to shock
some of you good people so much
that wnen come again l will not make
the trip from Mankato here with peo-
pie to my right, to my left, in front
and back, in such condition as /
saw them this time" This was drive
at Mankato's wetness.
Later in the afternoon came the ball
game This was attended by large
crowd. 1t was contest between mar
ried men, and single men, who, on the
whole were much younger. The mar
ried men won out by a score of 10 to 8,
but it can hardly be said that they
demonstrated themselves to have a
stronger team. 1t appeared that the
teams were very evenly matched. Paul
Wiberg, one of the singles, happened
to bat out of his turn in the eleventh
inning. This fact was passed over at
first, but later he was judged to be
out on that account. This threw his
side out and nullified one Of the
runs made by that team. Otherwise
the score would have stood tie, 10