The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-08-18
LOYALTY RAMPANT
AT HUGE MEETING;
NATIVE GERMAN
ACTS AS CHAIRMAN

Bemidji broke loose last evening.
She broke loose in a spirit of patri-
otto demonstration which left no
doubt as to what Bemidji consists Of
Americans and proud of it. Her
citizens turned out and gave vent to
their feelings in an unmistakable
manner and showed Minnesota that
the capital Of Beltrami county is be-
hind the state and the United States
and heartily in favor of lifting the
crown and scalp of the German
kaiser.
The band turned out, the "Boys of
81" went in autos, the Home Guard
marched under command of Captain
Thomas Swinson, scores of automo-
biles wheeled into line and the par
ade passed from the city hall
through the business district to the
Grand theater where a crowd Of over
a thousand had gathered, packed the
theater and stood in the streets,
while Third street was congested
with autos. Many were unable to
gain admittance to the theater which
was damned to standing room, but
they were glad to have turned out to
show their colors.
]
of grizzled Civil war veterans added
zest to the setting, and there was an
air about it all that showed Be-
midjis spirit and determination to
brook not the slightest peep of dis
loyalty from anyone. 1t was Be-
midji's affair.
The theater held an enthusiastic
audience, attentive to a marked de-
gree. 1t showed its appreciation in
wave after wave of applause
throughout the evening. Nothing es-
capped it.
Vocal Selections Feature.
The addresses were of the highest
order and two of Bemidji's leading
vocalists added greatly to the pro-
gram. Miss Dorothy Torrance sang
America" and was roundly applaud
ed. Burt O'Connor sang Good Bye
Broadway, Hello France and was
also warmly received. At the close
Of the, meeting the entire audience
arose and sang America" as only
her sons and daughters can sing, the
roar of voices reverberating through
out the business district. Miss Jane
Hayner was the accompanist.
1t was meeting of the people Of
Bemidji. It was inaugurated by the
executive committee Of the Patriotic
League of Bemidji, the first patriotic
organization in Bemidji, formed i'm
mediately after the outbreak of the
war. President A. G. Wedge Of the
league at the opening of the meeting
spoke briefly Of the organization and
it's purposes in formation.
Native German PreSideS.
A. E. RakO, native born German
and president of the board of county
commissioners, presided in a most
capable manner.
For nearly an hour before 8
o'clock the city hall was the center
of gathering interest. At 1855 the
long parade was launched and the
evenings program was under way
The newly organized Bemidji band
led the procession, followed by Com
pany D, Home Guard. Closely be-
hind the Home Guards followed the
veterans of the Civil War in auto
mobiles, and then came long line
of autos while the streets were con-
gested with throngs Of citizens. A.
ter traversing the main streets the
marchers entered the theater and the
program was Immediately begun.
A. G. Wedge opened the program
and presented the reasons for hold
ing the meeting and expressed his ap-
probation for the large crowd that
attended.
County Commissioner A. E. Rako,
who acted as chairman of the meet
ing, next made a short address in
which he referred to the kaiser as
"the iron hand in the statement,
my heart goes out to the German
people-not to the man that rules