The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-11-23
GREAT BIG AFFAIR
STAGED IN CITIES
Loyalty Parade and Addresses
Thrilled the People
FLAGS we're ALL AFL0AT
Heads Uncovered As Old Glory
Was Carried Along ST.
Paul Streets
From Fridays Daily.


From Fridays Daily.
Mankato and Blue Earth county
were right UP in the front ranks at the
big Loyalty meeting held in st. Paul
yesterday, and returned delegates are
enthusiastic over the spirit of patriot
| ism and enthusiasm shown by everyone
The parade was one of the biggest, II
| not the biggest, ever held in st. Paul,
and it was estimated that there were
about sixty thousand men in the line
of march, the parade being about five
| miles long. Stirring addresses were
given in the auditorium by Thomas
O'Connor of Ireland, a representative
in the house of commons Senator'S
Frank B. Kellogg and Knute Nelson
and Carl Vrooman, personal repre-
sentative of President Wilson. The
| last speech was given by a French
| soldier, who has returned from the
trenches at the front, having been in
the battles Of the Somme, Verdun, and
others. He was introduced by Cath
Ollie priest who had taught him his
| first English in this country fifteen
years ago, in Renville county. The
young man also went to school in st.
Paul and to the Columbian university
but when France entered the war he
went at the first call, and became an
officer. ~
Instructing American Soldiers.
He is now instructing American
soldiers in warfare, and he declared
that when the Minnesota boys go to
| France he will enlist and go with
| them.
The Mankato delegation left Man
kato yesterday morning at 6 a. M, and
arrived in st. Paul between 900 and
1000 a. m. They were met at the
depot by F. w. Hunt, chairman of the
delegation, who piloted them to the
Saint Paul Hotel. En- route to the no
ltel the marchers were joined by dele
cations from Watonwan and Chisago
counties, and headed by the Man
fkato- Sandon band marched to the
| hotel On Third street the marchers
were halted to have a picture taken
OF the band and delegates from the
three counties. Upon arriving at the
| hotel a large crowd was found as
| sembled.
| = Mankato Band Made Hit.
The Mankato delegation and band
| were given parlor for their use dur
| ing the day, and shortly after arriving
| the Mankato- Sandon band gave con-
cert in the auditorium of the hotel,
making an immediate hit, and being
cheered to the echo. The Mankato
boys were liberal with their music, and
in their handsome red caps and capes,
and excellent marching proved decid-
! ed favorites being enthusiastically ap-
plauded and cheered whenever they
marched or played. At 1915 the band
and delegates met again and marched
| to the capitol grounds, where the 10y
/ atty parade was formed. Many bands,
and clubs in uniform assembled ON the
grounds in readiness for the march,
! and the scene presented was vivid and
inspiring. Practically every county had
banners showing the name of the
county and expressing the loyal senti-
ments Of the people, 400 per cent
loyal" and words to that effect. Lyon
county displayed an immense banner,
twenty feet long containing the words
Hook the Kaiser" Lincoln county
delegates were headed by a man who
| impersonated Abraham Lincoln, and
| he was followed by the Spirit of TO-
fife and drum and flag bearer.
People Stood Uncovered.
/ One thing was very noticeable as
showing the attitude of the immense
concourse of people which thronged
/ the streets. AS the big United States
/ flags fluttered by in the line of march
every soldier on the streets saluted,
and every man and boy stood un-
| covered while the Stars and Stripes
passed by. The Mankato delegation
had two big American flags.
| At the auditorium the crowd was
capably handled. Each county dele
cation easily found their allotted sec
| lions of seats as signs announced the
places. The Mankato delegation had
| a conspicuous place near the front OF
! the auditorium. The band accompany
| ing each county delegation played, one
after the other. Just before the con-
| vention was formally opened the
| Mankato band of twenty-five pieces
played Goodbye Broadway, Hello
France" which caused an uproar of
patriotic cheers all over the vast
auditorium.
| Sang "Star SpangIed Banner.
| The immense audience then SANG
"The Star Spangled Banner" the
regimental band playing the air. The
program was then formally opened
Dan w. Lawler of st. Paul introducing
the speakers. Applause greeted every
point made by the speakers, and at
times the cheers and changing of bells
interrupted the talks so the speakers
| were obliged to wait several minutes
for quiet before continuing their talks
In Difference to the official rank of
some Of the men on the platform the
delegates would stand at attention to
show how they honored their repre-
sentatives. Among those shown
especial honor by the crowd were
Hon. Frank Wheaton and Thomas
O'Connor.
i