Morris tribune., 1917-12-07
TWO MORE YOUNG MEN
LEAVE FOR SERVICE
Big Banquet Given in Their Honor
Last Friday Night at Merchants
Hotel

A. A. Stone, Jr. and Jay ]. Berkin,
two Morris young men who enlisted
in the aviation section of the United
States army, left Sunday night for
Berkeley, Cal, to enter the training
camp at the University of California.
In order to give the boys a proper
send-off, a banquet had been ar
ranged at the Merchants Hotel for
Friday evening, and one hundred
and fifty people were present to wish
the boys the best of luck and a safe
return. The evenings entertain
ment was especially pleasing, due to
the presence of a large number of
ladies and also because the Norris
Home Guards attended in full uni
form.
Shortly after nine o'clock the din
ing room of the hotel was thrown
open and the crowd took their
places at the tables. In order to &C
commodate the large number present
landlord Dushek had provided tables
in the rooms adjoining the main
dining room and everyone was COM
fortabIy seated. An elegant three
course meal had been provided and
those at the tables we're catered to
and served most courteously by the
walters.
Attorney T. J. Mangan acted as
master of ceremonies. He spoke ap-
preciatingly of the large crowd that
had gathered to befittingly bid good
bye to Mr.. Stone and Mr.. Berkin
and then called on Judge Flaherty
for a short talk. The judge paid
tribute to the young men going to
the front to fight their own and our
battles and also said that the young
men now fighting who had enlisted
had responded to a much higher call
ing than they could ever expect to
attain at home. He further said,
'The country is back of these young
men, we are all back of them. They
are fighting our battles in order that
we may have a country worth living
in"
c. L. Voss was next called upon
and he responded by saying that
these young men we're giving the
best five years of their lives to the
service of their country that we may
continue to enjoy the same freedom
of democracy as in the past. He also
emphasized the fact that these
young men we're exempt from mill
tary duty but enlisted, which exem-
plified the highest type of American
citizenship.
Mr.. Mangan next called on Prof.
Schweikard of the University Farm,
who good-naturedly humored the
crowd with several stories, after
wards pointing out the fact that
these are serious times and we
should not take this war matter
help here at home, especially in the
little things.
Mrs. Frank Hancock talked in be-
half of the women and in a very
fOrceful manner said that the wo-
men were behind the boys and we're
doing everything possible in the way
of Red Cross work and food con-
servation. She also said that Christ
mas boxes we're being provided for
every boy from Stevens county, but
that letters and news from home
we're more welcome to the boys than
presents and told how everyone
could do their "bit" by sending mes
sages of cheer to the soldiers.
L. G. Dorweiler of Chokio, and
Mrs. Robert Adams were called up
on and both responded in turn. They
both praised the boys who had gone
and assured those going that the
home people are backing them up.
Rev. Stever gave one of his pleas
ing talks saying among other things:
'"The American people have the
strength to face the present war sit
uation without flinching, and also
have the pep" to make them sue
cessful in the things they are under
taking The boys about to leave us
will be missed, but they are the type
of Americans that make for success
in aviation service
Miss Minnie Hanson, secretary of
the Red Cross Chapter of Morris, was
asked to make a short address and
she told of the work the local Red
Cross was doing and explained the
different service flags. She also told
about the membership drive which
was to start on December II, the
aim of which is to raise the number
of members from five million to fif-
teen million.
The two young men, in whose hon
or the banquet was given, took oc-
casion at this time to thank the peo-
pie for the kind things said and the
evenings entertainment. Mr.. Stone
said, II am proud to go to the front
from Stevens conuty and though we
will be separated by distance, we
shall constantly think about the
home folks.''
F. w. Murphy of Wheaton, was the
principal sneaker of the evening and