The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-11
Women Appeal To Men To
Offer Themselves For
Country's Aid
HOME DEFENSE co.
TO BE ORGANIZED
Ninety Red Cross Members
Attend Rally-Crowd
600 Strong

1t took less than fVe minutes Tor
ninety-six men of the exempt classes
to step forward when the call was
made for volunteers for the Home De-
tense Guard.
AS the men, young and old, detach-
ed themselves from the crowd and
walked forward, cheer upon cheer
rent the air.
When volunteers Jagged, some
member Of the Red Cross, or some
Minute Man orator would step forward
and make a fresh appeal to Southern
chivalry that brought immediate re-
Spouse.
Women Call For Volunteers.
"Where are the boys I taught
twenty-five years ago." cried Mrs.
E. J. Wilson, in one such pause.
'Here," said one man, holding up his
hand. He had already joined the
ranks.
"The women are anxious to shoul-
der the guns, but they are not al
lowed" said Mrs. Berry. "TiSa =
gaur privilege
At other times the Red Gross sang
Dixie, My Country "Tis of Thee,
Three Cheers for the Red, White and
Blue, and other patriotic songs.
Fought Once, VIII Fight Now.
Men, listen to me-" said J. D.
Rawles, leaping to a table. "In '96
volunteered for the war with Spain.
After that I served an enlistment in
the regular army. / have wife and
two sweet children. | love them, but
/ love my country, too, and Pm with
these boys tonight" and he too fell
in.
Beard Makes Hit.
John s. Boards speech made the
hit of the evening. 1t was during
one of those depressing pauses when
no one had stepped forward for at
least half a minute Beard" whis-
pered someone, and the shout was
taken up. Mounting the table, Mr..
Beard then launched into an impas-
stoned burst of oratory that fairly
took the people out Of themselves.
Declaring that the South had al
ways prided itself on fighting for the
flag. "Where are the sors of the men
of Gettysburg that do not see more
before me tonight who are ready to
fight for their principles ?" he de-
Jared. "This war is ont only war
rim defense of our sacred rights, il is
also a crusade to carry the principles
of democracy to all the nations now
suffering under a brutal autocracy.
This flag that you are called on to
defend is the flag of Yorktown, of
Washington, of Lee, in Mexico, your
flag, my flag and it calls you to rally
around it.
81 have three sons who will be on
the firing line" he continued, "and /
am thankful Shame, shame upon
you that you do not come to the
front. In 1860 there We're 1900
votes cast in the state of Florida
that is matter of local record: yet
Florida, between '61-65 furnished IT,
900 men in defense of the flag that
represented the aspirations of South
ern chivalrv."
Gratified At Results.
James f. Phillips, Manuel Quina
and Louis Shuttleworth, who are or
ganizing the company Of militia, ex-
pressed themselves as extremely
gratified with the success of the rally,
which they said, was greater than
hNANIPcAbNh- 11k ACaob VI tllt IEGhGhA
to apply for the muster-in, and the
full strength of company is 108 men
and officers. 1t is expected that en-
rollments sufficient to apply for mus
term will be received today or to-
morrow, as the organizers are going
| right out after volunteers. Enroll
ments will be taken at the office of
the Chamber of Commerce in the
Brent building. Recruiting parties
viii be sent into the neighboring
country. A meeting will be called
shortly to conclude organization and
elect officers.
| An Auspicious Omcn.
Fully six hundred people answered
the rally call at Armory hall Tuesday
night. There were men and women
of all ages and from many different
walks.
First in the preparedness work d
their country, the Red Cross chapter
of Pensacola were guests of honor
(Contjnl1ed IN Para TLrepl