The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-05-24
VETERAN
! SPEAKER '.|''. {: A. AT : HUGE
EVI"AiEIY NY; {" Al MEETING; \ {
. MAJ. Y0ST PRESENT

- =. - e.. !. s. ~
: Without casting any aspersions
upon other patriotic speakers who
have appeared here, Bemidji was
given a real treat last night when
A. A. Harrington Of Duluth was "un-
covered" at the big meeting held in
the Methodist church, ! the edifice be-
ing packed to suffocation, while a
large number We're unable to gain
admittance.
Who is harrington? No one here-|
abouts seems to know, but Bemidji
is going to get better acquainted
with that chap and an effort will
be made to have him come to Be-
midi again on some important occa-
sion and deliver another of his inim-
table addresses. He just naturally
opened up last evening when bel
pulled ''er wide open" and he had
his big audience sitting on edge,
listening intently to every word and
ready at any moment to burst loose
in laughter or explosions of patriotic
fervor. He had his hearers "sitting
up close" and they'd been there at
breakfast time this morning had Far
rington continued.
Artistically Skins Kaiser.
Tall, slender, with an intellectual
cast of countenance, pleasing per-
sonality, Unaffected with mastery
of rhetoric that was. revelation,
harrington took the war situation
in hand, and in most artistic man
ner took the hide off the kaiser and
his propaganda and hung it on the
fence, one layer at time, and his
hearers went right along with him
every step of the way in performing
the operation.
Now Knows Bemidii.
Mr.. harrington has been accom-
panying Major John D. s.Yost, U. S.
A., head of the Minnesota recruiting,
and Corporal Howard Welcome Of
Pershing's forces, for two days as a
representative of the government de-
partment of publicity. He was ask
ed two days ago by Major Yost to
accompany him for a couple Of days
on the tour Of the state. Mr.. Far
rington acceded, remarking that he
would "take couple Of days vaca-
tion.' In the two days he made 10
speeches and when he reached Be.
midi was about "all in," but he said
after the meeting, II never saw such
spirit in an audience before and
when l felt it, it quickened me to
realization of the spirit of those
who confronted me. You have
wonderful people in Bemidji."
Strange as it may seem, Mr.. Far
rington up to the time America en-
tered the war never spoke in public
to any extent. But he became in
tensely interested in the cause Of the
United States and the government Sc
cured his services in arousing the
people to a realization Of what the
nation is facing, and it's causes.
Pershing Veteran Speaks.
The appearance Of Corporal We'll
come was enthusiastically greeted.
He is Boston boy and one of the
first Sammies to 60 across, he being
a member of the famous Twenty-third
United States infantry, the first body
of American soldiers to leave for the
front Fifty of these veterans of
the trenches were sent to the United
States by General Pershing to tell
the story of lover there" in the in
terest of the Liberty Loan and Red
Cross drives. The contingent was
divided into teams and sent into ev-
cry state Of the union, Corporal We'll
come being assigned to Minnesota,
where he has been hard at work
speaking in behalf of his comrades
in arms and tell What it all means,
both to them and to the people back
home.
Ready for ''W0rk."
The young soldier appeared in full
battle regalia, gas mask and full
equipment, sans rifle. His saucer
like steel helmet weighs nearly three
pounds, and bears a dent made by
an enemy shrapnel. He was wound
ed in one of the battles and included
in his narrative was a modestly mar
rated incident where he was one of
five who fought and killed or cap
tured an enemy patrol Of II BOches. |
At times, the young American grew
intensely earnest as he drove home
to his hearers the urgent need Of CO.
operation at home. He urged that |
they do all within their power to
back up the Americans at the front
and those who were going and soon
to go. He urged the stamping out Of
all sedition and disloyal propaganda
in the United States, saying the boys
at the front would fight on the line
and that the people left behind |
should fight the enemy on this side
as vigorously as the men in the
trenches and on the field.
Gas Mask Demonstration.
An interesting demonstration of
the use and application of the gas
mask was given, and he gave briefly
the life of the men in the trenches
and what they were obliged to en-
lure, but he stated they were cheer
full lot and intent on getting the
kaiser and all he stands for.
Yost Urges Enlistments.
Major Yost, in charge of the Min.