Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-23
PIONEERS HOLD THEIR
MID-WINTER PICNIC
Observe Washingtons Birth
day With Program and
Entertainment.
MANY PATRIOTIC TALKS

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Nebraska Pioneers spent practically
all yesterday in the observance Of
Washington's birthday. They made
the occasion the date for holding their
annual mid-winter picnic, which
started at 10 o'clock in the morning
From that hour until , o'clock in the
afternoon members and friends were
entertained in the association rooms
on the ground floor of the courthouse
During this morning there was a
sort of an informal gathering, and at
noon refreshments, consisting of
sandwiches. ice cream, cake and cof-
fee were served in the rooms OF the
historical society. Something like
400 persons partook OF the refresh
mentS.
During the afternoon the entertain
ment was transferred to court room
No. |, and there President O'Brien
turned the affair over to d. H. Mer
Ger, chairman of the occasion. As an
introduction to the program. stand
ing, the pioneers and their friends
sang america" John A, McCreary
| singing the solo part, with Miss
Amanda Tebbins at the piano.
Program Is Changed.
Judge Woodrough of the federal
court having been unavoidably de-
tanned elsewhere, it became necessary
to make a slight change in the carry
ing out of the program. The judge
was to have been the first speaker,
delivering an address on George
Washington" to be followed by Cap
tain Charles E. Adams, speaking on
the Continental Soldier Their
speaking positions were reversed, and
in his address the captain paid high
tribute to the soldiers OF the CONT
mental army, yet the tribute that he
paid to the United States soldier of
subsequent years was none the less
glowing.
The captain pictured the boys as
the flower of the land, soldiers fight
ing for the principles laid down by
the constitution and not as hired men
fighting in the countries of Europe.
The address of Captain Adams was
not one that would nave been approved
of by the kaiser, for during his re-
marks, he took occasion to say that
I'VE are not people who will take
our orders from the man across the
sea and it any man, or woman Ill this
country cannot subscribe to the laws
of our land and the governing princl-
pies, he. or she should remember that
the gates of Castle Garden swing out
ward as we'll as in. II they feel that
they are not with us, let them at the
earliest moment secure their passage
back to the land from whence they
/ came.
Will Follow President.
Eve are a people of one country,
living under one flag and having but
one language and desire for peace,
but if the great questions now at
stake must be settled by war, we are
ready to follow the president i'll his
every desire to protect American
citizenship. We are people who are
not going to sit quietly by and have
one man dictate to us that the ocean
is closed to our commerce and trade
Frequently during his remarks he
was applauded, and at the close OF
his address he was loudly checred.
Judge Woodrough, speaking on
George Washington" detailed his
career from his youth to the time OF
his retirement from public life, re-
ferrng to incidents that indicated that
he was one of the greatest men the
world has ever produced.
During the afternoon there were
readings by Mrs. Elliott and Miss
leila Toney, vocal solos by Chief OF
Police Dunn, Mrs. D. H. Durham
Miss Amanda Tebbins and John A
McCrearv, and instrumental music by
Miss Augusta Mengedoht.
Rev. Mr.. Poucher, pastor of Trinity
Methodist church and adjutant OF the
Fourth Nebraska infantry, acted II
the capacity Of chaplain.