The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-02-02

boys should be called on for this
service and that the service ought
to have been more general, they
should preach this doctrine. But he
did not believe that the boys were
sick of the soldiers life, and he be-
lieved that they would be ready tt
go again, lit should be necessary.
On Behalf of Parents.
Mr.. Currier in his presentation Of
Judge W.. l.. Comstock, the next
speaker, who was to extend the well
come to the boys on behalf of the
parents, referred to the great in
terest that this speaker had always
taken in military affairs, and to his
| re- organization of his company.
The judge remarked that although
the company had done no fighting
there was no doubt that the boys had
done their duty. When on their return
home, they showed their military
training and discipline, their prompt
ness and precision, it was evident
that they had been busy from reveiile
ITO taps. 1t took, long and arduous
training to produce the perfect fight
ing machine that had been made.
He declared that the presence OF
the national guard on the border not
only saved that part of the south from
banditry but saved this country from
being plunged into foreign war.
The masses of the American people
did not really know this, but history
would teach it to them. 1t was known
already at Washington, but there was
much that WAS known at Washing
ton that it would not do to reveal at
this time Washington had its secrets.
Washington had been alarmed to find
evidence that its code of secret COR
respondence had been discovered.
Washington had to have it's secrets.
There were spies of nations of many
parts of the world walking the streets
of American cities, seeking informa-
ton.
Extending, the welcome to the re-
turning soldiers on behalf of the
parents, the judge dwelt particularly
on the joy of the mothers at seeing
their sons coming home safe. He
spoke of the greater sensitiveness
of women to the sorrow of such part
ing. Men were made of sterner stuff.
Suffered Because of Politics.
The speaker referred to. the fact
that the boys had suffered at times
on account of political work. Men
who had been placed over them for
political reasons had at times failed
in their duty. He spoke particularly
of the time when the boys were
hungry and inadequately cared for at
Fort Smelling, because somebody was
in position the duties of which he
did not properly fill In such cases
the nation and state were not to
blame The institutions of war could
not be criticized because some one
person had failed in his duty and
done an injustice. Such things should
merely be suffered by the soldier in
silence.
The Judge spoke highly of the Of
ficers present, and, in order to test
the feelings of the men, he mentioned
in succession Captain Cosgrove, Lieu
tenant Colonel Duane, Lieutenant
Hauck and Captain Liedloff, asking
what was the matter with each, and
each time the company shouted an
reply that the officer
was all right.
Referring to DR.. Liedloff, Judge
Comstock spoke of the evidences of
good medical care that the men must
have had in the unmistakable signs
Of excellent health that they dis
played.
Judge Lorin Cray on behalf of the
veterans of the Civil war living in
this community extended to the
members of Company H hearty
welcome home. He spoke of the man
ner in which the citizens had greet
ed the returning soldiers and cared
for them. He contrasted that with
the hardships with which party of
wounded soldiers of the Civil war
came back to Fort Smelling. He was
himself with that party. The party
was obliged to disembark at ST. Paul
as the boat could go no farther up
stream. A request was sent to Gen.
eral Sibley at Fort Smelling to send
a wagon and mules to take the wound
ed soldiers to the reservation and the
request was granted with extreme re-.
luctance. Judge Cray said he had
always felt resentful towards Gen
eral Sibley since that time. Five of
the soldiers, including Corporal Cray
had to ride in lumber wagon from
Fort Smelling to thirty miles beyond
Mankato. 1t was long, tiresome, jolt
ing trip, and there was nothing in 1t
suggestive of accommodations OF a
modern, p-to-date railroad train.
Tho iudge remarked that it had
often been said that the hardshlps OF
the life of the soldiers had a tendency
to harden him and make him less
sympathetic with others. While that
was probably true, there was an on
set to this, and that was the fact that
such life had a tendency to produce
a man who was not so prone to think
of every little hardship and danger
that might confront him, and who
was more apt to think of promptness
to fulfill his duty towards others. IN
this connection he humorously told
of an incident that happened at his
own home shortly after he had re-
turned. The white settlers were In
a great state of excitement over the
Indian massacres, and one night his
mother was sure that there were
Indians around their own house. The
young corporal seized the bread
knife. got his mother to hold the
light and threw the door open TO
make a sally, but the disturber was
nothing but a cow.
What About Texas Soil?
The speaker referred to the tramps