The Mankato free press., 1918-06-21
'NONPARTY LEADERS
VERBALLY Skinned
Address By Mankato Lawyer
AT Flag Day Exercises
PROGRAM BY THE ELKS
Beautiful Impressive Services
Carried Out at Theatre
Last Night


Wilson in a stirring address on "The
Call of the Flag" at the Elks' Flag
day services last evening. "The l..
w. W., the socialists, the anarchists
and the Nonpartisan league are all
affiliated together. They form the
bolsheviki of America; they teach the
doctrine of hate, they oppose every
officer who has stood for law and
order in his administration, and it is
the duty of every American to vindi-
cate the call of the flag, to hurry aid
to the oppressed, to further the cause
of freedom and to crush with an iron
hand any attempt at revolution at
home"
Mr.. Wilson gave the address of the
evening at the Elks' ceremonies in
honor of the flag. The program op-
ened at S:15 o'clock last evening in
the Mankato theatre. Previous to the
exercises in the theatre the Sixth
Battalion drum corps and members
of the Elks' lodge paraded from the
Elks' lodge down Second to Cherry
down Cherry to Front street and on
to Main where the column swung up
to Second again and thence back to
the theatre. The parade was led by
the Sixth Battalion drum CORPS. Fol-
lowing the drum corps, Sergeant
William Knoff. returned from camp
on a furlough carried an American
flag. A long line of Elks, marching
in double rank followed the colors.
After these huge American flag
was carried by members of the Elks'
lodge and the grand officers of the
Mankato lodge led by Exalted Ruler
Roy Allison, brought up the rear of
the parade.
Opening Number BY Orchestra.
Lamm's orchestra furnished the
opening number of the program at
the theatre. The stage was beauti
fully decorated with the Stars and
Stripes and the large American flag,
borne in the parade covered the en-
tire back of the stage. Seated on
the platform. were the officers of the
local lodge, including Exalted Ruler
Roy HI. Allison, Esteemed Leading
Knight Dr. B. HI. McCleery, Esteemed
Loyal knight J. M. McLaughlin, Act
ing Leading knight, J. M. Paulson,
Esquire Frank M. Thompson, Secre-
tary Fred Force and CHAPLAIN F. w.
Bates. The speakers of the evening
ON the platform were John E. Regan,
/. N. Tompkins and S. B. Wilson.
Introductory exercises by the ex-
alted ruler and officers were held
following the numbers by the orches-
ira. Exalted Ruler Roy Allison stat
ed that at this time it was only fit
ting that Flag day services should be
held. 1t was an honor that the Elks'
,4I, Nd
was entirely in keeping with the ira
ditions and ideals of the organization
that they have charge of the services
in honor of the Stars and Stripes.
Officers of the lodge then told the
ideals for which the flag stood and
which the Elks as an organization up
held The chaplain of the order
offered short prayer.
The patriotic song, Beautiful Flag
of Liberty" was sung by the ladies'
quartet The audience applauded re-
peatedly and the ladies were obliged
to respond with an encore.
"The History of the American
Flag" a patriotic sketch of the flags
t-7at have been carried by this nation
and the manner in which the Amer
lean flag first came into use, was Civ
en- by I. NJ Tompkins. Mr.. Tompkins
stated that the flag was first made
on June IA, 1777, and that Yesterday
was the one hundred and forty-first
anniversary of the birth of our flag
The red, the white and the blue, were
pointed out as symbols of defiance
purity and Justice and it is for these
ideals that the American flag has al
ways stood.
Impressive and Patriotic Services.
Impressive and patriotic altar serv-
ices were carried out by the Esquire
Frank Thompson, and officers of the
lodge. Red roses. white lilies and
blue violets were placed on the altar
as symbols of the ideals for which
the colors in the flag stand. Wher
the flowers had been placed on the
altar large star, hanging in the GEN.
ter of the stage became illuminated
and a bell tolled eleven times. The
ESQUIRE stated that the eleven strokes
were for eleven departed brothers O
the local Elks.
Following another number by the
orchestra, John e. Regan gave the
Elks' Tribute to the Flag. Mr.. Regar
,cade an inspiring address on Olt
Glory and the high ideals of Ameri-
canism for which this flag has Away!
stood. He said that the achievements
carried out under the glorious fold:
of this emblem we're greater than the
wars and the conquests of all history
To-day that flag stands betwee1
France and the vampire nation o
the world, between you and me ant
the outlaw among the powers of th'
world" said the speaker, "it seems
only fitting that our flag should b.
unfurled in this holy purpose. Wher
ever that flag has cast its shadow il
the past the hand of tyrant ha
never again been felt"
Mr.. Regan closed his address witt
the statement that the American fla
was not alone for Americans. it wa
the flag of all free people and it wa
our, duty to always keep the folds pur
and unsullied and to have it alway
stand for the same principles ou
forefathers fought so bravely to es
tablish.
The ladies' quartet sang. "Wel
Never Let Our Old Flag Fall" b
Kelly and following this S. B. Wilsoi
gave the address of the evening.
Mr.. Wilson in opening his addres
paid high tribute to the America
3 flag and the ideals for which it stands
He said that flag breatheS the sen