The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-09-20
PLEDGE LOYALTY TO NATION
Men Going Out to Fight Are Feted and
Presented With Remembrance to
Cary With Them Into Trenches
Old-Time Dance Ends Evening.

Recalling the romantic memories of
the civil war when men dropped out of
the rhythmic measures of the stately
quadrille to drop into the ranks of the
fighting men on the battle front, the
town of Bristol sent its fighting men
away with smile on Tuesday even
ing when the whole village and many
of the people of the surrounding terri
tory turned out for fete in honor of
the "Liberty Men, held at Woodman
Hall on Tuesday evening. 1t was one
Of the most notable gatherings ever
held in the village of Bristol and the
men who leave Bristol on Saturday to
go with the national army will carry
away with them happy recollections
of the evening. Arranged under the
direction Of the Bristol Lodge of
Masons and the Mystic Workers the
event was a great success.
There were farewells said it is true,
but with every farewell there was the
encouraging hand clasp which said,
eve people back in Bristol are going
to be just behind the firing lines all the
time and we are proud of you"
The Bristol boys going away on Sat
urday include Robert D. Pringle, Will
lard Williams, Thomas Fullaylove
Oliver Hunter and Frank Hoffman and
they were all awarded the place Of
honor at the gathering on Tuesday
evening Color was lent to the mill
tary aspect of the evening by the pres
ence Of Ernest Knapp and Otto Link,
two other Bristol men, who already
wear the uniform Of the United States
army and who had come up from
Camp Grant for the evening.
There was music and dancing, din
ner was served and at the close of the
evening William Bacon took his place
on the platform and while the orches-
ira played some of the old time tunes he
called off some of the old-time dances.
Everyone joined in the merry party.
Frank Rowbottom presided at the
gathering and the evening opened with
the singing of the Star Spangled
Banner and closed with the singing of
"My Country Tis of Thee" There
were short patriotic addresses. Judge
Randall spoke ON Why America is in
the War; and showed that the United
States had been forced into the war
as a matter of self defense He de-
clared that no army ever went out to
fight for a greater cause, because the
Liberty Men of 1917 are fighting to
bring liberty, not to a nation, but to a
world. GIVE are no longer fighting the
battles of the allies,' declared Judge
Randall. F'The United States is fac
ing a definite danger and her men are
fighting for the United States We
must win the war to make the United
States safe for its own people and we
must win the war to contribute the
part that great free nation should
contribute to the cause of democracy
and civilization.
w. T. Marlatt' spoke of some of the
definite obligations which were impos-
ed on the people tback home' and
the definite contract that the people
who remained behind are making with
the boys VINO go into the trenches to
fight. DR.. Fl. G. Darby of Wilmot,
chairman Of the county exemption
board, was the other speaker of the
evening. He told of the work of the
board and paid high tribute to the
loyalty Of Charles H. Whitcher,
prominent Bristol man, who had left
his sick bed to aid in the organization
of the board The tribute to Mr..
Whitcher was especially touching to
the Bristol people for even as farewells
were being said to the boys going away
to fight word came from the Whitcher
home that the chairman of the board
was very near to death. He had been
unconscious for hours, but before his
condition became so critical he had
asked that word of cheer be sent over
from him to the boys going out to fight
for the nation It was one of the
touching incidents Of the organization
of the army in Kenosha county.
There were songs by the Bristol
Masonic Quartette and an orchestra
furnished music for the dancing.
It was one of those happy cordial
gatherings so representative of the
spirit of the whole hearted people of
the town of Bristol and the memory
of it will be one of the happiest things
connected with the going away of the
Bristol fighting men.