Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-08
FIRST DRAFTED
SOLDIERS OFF
FOR TRAINING
Patriotic Demonstration
Marks Departure Of
North Dakotans.
THOUSANDS ATTEND
PROGRAM AT~DEPOT
Dean Vernon P. squires
Gives Farewell Address
Boys Enthusiastic.

for the first timo since the United
states entered the war with Germany
friends and relatives Of men who are
TO participate in the great conflict,
were forced to bid them farewell last
night when h first contingent Of the
great draft army departed for Camp
Dodge, Des Moines.
AT 5.45 o'clock last evening the SOL
diers representing counties in the nor
thern portion of the state reached this
city. At Larimore they were met by
Clarence A. Hale and each was given
| badge, The reception committee
met them at the depot upon their ar
rival and they were ushered to the
Column bia hotel where a banquet was
served and q program Of addresses
was given.
Rev. Harvey J. Moore acted as
postmaster. and after welcoming the
visiting soldiers here, introduced
Mayor James A. Dinnie and Dean
Vernon p. Squires. Shortly before z
o'clock h committee accompanied
the drafted men to the Great North
ern depot where a crowd of several
thousand people awaited to give them
Forks Military band presented a pro-
gram of popular and patriotic num-
bers and a second speaking program
was held. Rev. Moore again intro
duced Dean Squires. who in part said:
Dean squires' Address.
At the station, Dean Vernon P.
Sauires. who said he had come totally
unprepared to make a speech, gave
the following impromptu address,
which struck responsive chords in the
hearts of the masses crowding the
platform and standing far out on the
tracks:
we are gathered to say goodbye
and God-Speed' to the boys of the ma
tional army who are leaving Us to-
night. The presence Of such a great
company as is assembled here is far
more eloquent than In words of
mine could possibly be to express to
citation of their loyalty and high pur-
pose. We in North Dakota are al
ways interested in our crops, and we
are proud of the fact hat we help
support the world by our great fields
of wheat. But after all the finest
crop we raise is composed of our boys
and girls, and we feel proud indeed
tonight that we are contributing our
share to put down the common foe Of
humanity.
Soldiers Have Good Wishes of All.
Il am very glad that such a great
number have assembled here tonight,
1Ot II "lli tIeip THESE boys 10 IS6l IQaC
not only their own families and the
various communities whence they
come are interested in them, but it
will send them away feeling that they
represent the entire commonwealth
and they carry with them the good
will of all the people in our great
state.
I congratulate the boys that they are
going at this time. Three years ago
we hardly knew what the war was
about, and if called upon hen to send
our boys w would have had many
m~isgivings. Two years ago the issue
was still not clear. Even one year
ago many could not understand it.
But now the case is plain. On the
one side is a selfish autocracy obsess-
ed with a mania for world power and
ruthless in its designs for securing it.
On the other side are four-fifths of
the civilized people of the world, who
love peace and freedom, who respect
the rights Of their fellowmen and are
willing to live and let live.
What the Issue Is.
They do not want tt have Hohen-
Zollern-Kulture forced upon them by
the sword. They prize their own lib
critics, their own national ideals, their
W ancestral heritage. They have
risen up in righteous indignation
against the egotistic arrogance OF
those who seek to crush and dominate
them. This is the issue in the war.