The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-04-13
PALATKA SHOWS THE
MILITARY Spirit
Is Not Dead Nor Sleeping -
Young Men Will Fight
for Country.

The meeting held at the board O
trade rooms last Monday night hat
a two fold purpose. Mayor Merriam
called it. He may have just wantet
to put the young men of Palatka t.
the test; to see if they would really
be willing to respond to their coun
try's call to arms; if that was in hi!
mind, he should be satisfied. Ther
he did really want to provide home
guard to be used in case of necessity
and war makes such organizations
necessary. But he had both ideas
and both were satisfied. He founc
that the military spirit was here.
Twas a big crowd; perhaps $50
and mostly young men, many Of then
in their teens. When the writer saw
that crowd of young men, instantly
there came to his mind the words OF
a poem he once read, but the author
of which is unknown to him:
"Hurrah for the manly man who
comes with sunlight on his face,
And the strength to do and the will tC
dare and the courage to find his
place!
The world delights in the manly man
and the weak and eveil flee,
When the manly man goes> forth tC
hold his own on land or sea-
The manly man is the country's need
and the moments need, forsooth
with hno ri thot lnntc tn hn y>1,1-
ing tread of the lillied leagues
of truth"
Mayor Merriam called the meeting
to order at o'clock; but the young
men kept coming. = There were a few.
older heads, gray heads, but only q
few and something like third were
in what is termed middle life" Still
good for fight, if necessary.
The mayor explained the objects OF
the gathering. He thought "home
guard" should be organized so that
protection could be had in case of
need. We were at war with a pow
erful nation; there were liable to be
foes within; they, too, might give Us
trouble Twas best to be on the
lookout. He didn't know what au-
thoritv in law there was for such an
organization, but steps would be tax
en- to find out and secure authority,
He asked for the selection Of a secre-
tary, and Tom Higgins of the board
of trade was elected.
Then the mayor asked for express
sions; he called for George E. Gay,
and that gentleman responded by tell
ing what home guard did back i'll
the last war. Capt. J. D. Points was
called for and the captain made a
good, sensible speech which was vo-
applauded at its conclusion.
Col. J. N. Blackwell also spoke, and
Charles Burt and c. R. Poole, and H..
NJ. Fearnside and George Hutchins
and M. B. Cochrane; they all got ap-
plause. Then a motion was made and
unanimously carried that Capt. }. D..
Points be given command of the or
ganization and to take immediate
charge. 1t was also decided that
Mayor Merriam write to the Cover
nor and get information as to. the
right to organize, and Sc
cure needed authority.
Then q call was made for recruits,
and everybody edged toward the ta-
BILE. More than a hundred signed in
ten minutes. On Tuesday very many
more signed. :,
1t was certainly patriotic crowd
from the mayor to the boy just out
of short pants. And those present
left satisfied that in case there was
,all for troops sounded anywhere near
Palatka the sound would be all that
was needed.
True there were some young men
present whom you would not dream
heretofore of associating with grim
visaged war, young men whom you
would naturally think would much
prefer to "caper nimbly in a lady's
chamber to the lascivious pleasing Of
A Lutte" and perhaps they would;
who wouldn't? But Just now they
are patriots first, and lovers, after
Capt. Points has called a meeting
If the company for tonight at the
court house. He selected the court
house for the reason that the board
If trade room isn't large enough to
accommodate the members.
Twenty or thirty additionals have
volunteered since Monday night.