Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-09-26
BOYS DEPART NIB
CHEERS AND TEARS
Continued from page ~

deputy as advised to do from head
quarters. He closed by wishing the
boys good luck.
Auditor Nelson spoke along similar
lines, addressing the recruits as
Friends and Soldier Boys" He ex-
pressed the hope that they would all
return after duty we'll done in secur-
ing the peace so much wished for.
DR.. Dawson testified to the willing
ness and good nature of the boys in
submitting to the physical examina-
ton, and expressed the belief that few
counties would be found to have sent
a better physically fitted contingent.
Judge Gilbert then made an ad-
dress. While no one knows the fate
in store for the boys, he wanted to ex-
press the strong feeling of pride all
felt for them. He assured them that
their selection was privilege to them
for which they would be honored for
all time. He called on Mr.. DeLaHunt
to step forward, and he presented to
him for the boys flag, from the Will
mar Commercial Club, complete with
holster, and urged the boys to return
it at the end of the war unsullied,
whittier it had been their lot to carry
it: Mr.. DeLaHunt received the flag
and spoke for the boys in acknowledge
mont Of the same.
The next speaker was Gov. A. E.
Rice who spoke at some length for
the G. A. r. comrades. At times he
almost choked with the emotions
which oyerpowered him. Especially
was this true when he spoke of the
leave-taking Of the 18th Wisconsin in
February of 1862, when it left on a
hurry call from Camp Randall to as
sist Gen. Grant at Fort Donelson In
Tennessee. He spoke of the flag that
was given by the women of Chicago
with the inscription, "For God, and
Home, and how absolutely happy the
boys had been to go. And after three
years of fighting they had returned
the flag to the donors. He called on
Comrade Jorgenson to verify his
statements.
Gov. Rice referred to the "copper"
heads" of our day whose mistaken
propaganda will kill our own boys. He
spoke Of the Prussian autocracy
which must be- crushed or it will come
over and crush US.
He promised the boys a great re-
cept1on on their return, and we will
include your families and sweet
hearts"
He admonished the boys to never
permit themselves to be inveigled in
to gambling. Gambling is vice with
great temptations to the soldier Your
mothers and others will think more
Of you If you keep yourselves free
from the demoralizing gambling habit.
Gov. Rice reminded the boys, most
of them Of Scandinavian descent, to
be worthy of their forefathers who
were all good fighters. He quoted his
tory to show how they had dominated
European countries in the past. He
again referred to- the German arro-
gance, expressed in the Kaiser's words
to Gerard, "I'll stand no nonsense
from the United States"
In Conclusion he admonished the
boys not to be slackers, but be brave
and true. He wished them Godspeed
and hoped they might all return.
There was not dry eye in the aud
fence when Governor Rice sat down.
Judge Gilbert then introduced as
the last speaker, Rev. Andersen of the
Synod church.
Rev. ]. N. Andersen spoke in SUBJ
stance as follows:
II have only few moments in
which to speak to you and will
promise not to exceed the time limit.
"Our gathering here today is called
a farewell dinner to the boys who are
leaving us. To say farewell, means
parting, and parting implies sadness
It is so today. I shall say nothing
about the feeling Of sadness in the
hearts of father and mother, Of broth
or and sister, of wife and sweetheart
Nor shall I attempt to describe how
you boys feel now that you must part
from your dear ones. will only say
that there is a feeling of sadness II
the hearts of all Of us. And though
we are all men-1s am not now speak
ing to the ladies to whose efforts We
owe this bountiful repast-I say, tho
we are all men, we are not ashamed
of the catch in the throat and the tea,
in the eye.
'But I am not going to dwell OF
this side of the matter. There i
something else that I want to EN-
phasize.
"Our gathering here today may ais
fittingly be called dinner In homo
of the boys. It is for the purpose o
honoring you, boys, that we are me
here today. That is why these oil
} soldiers are here. That is why 8
/ many of the prominent men of thi
community are here. That is why W