Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-07-31

erty, equality, humanity and righteous.
ness These he stated were without
exception contra to those set up as
the ideals of our enemies.
5. l.. Benton in a few words exnla in.
ed the government insurance policy
and advised it's consideration.
The last speaker, Rev. F. H. Oehler
OF st. Luke's church, again held an
interested audience with a vivid pic.
turlzatlon OF our stand socially, re-
llglously and politically, defining Am.
erica as the home Of all that means
opportunity, liberty with law, Justice
ana talr play. In concluding he par
tlcularly warned us of our growing
tendency to become carried away by
our optimism. The program closed
with several selections by the band
and then the drafted men in squad for
nation preceded by the canteen CON-
mittee of the Red Cross and the band
boys marched to the station. Andrew
Johnson was honored by being chosen
flag bearer at the head of the squads.
At the station, fruit was treated to
the boys by the Red Cross and the
band again inspired the crowd with
number of selections.
The Atwater boys each received a
large package evidently containing
sWeet-meats from the branch of the
Red Cross at that place. Finally the
train pulled in and together with men
from other counties, our boys left our
community to take their stand in de.
tense Of their nations cause.
Cars containing fifty-six men from
Swift County, and thirty-fOur from
Stevens county arrived at Willmar on
the regular trains and were made up
as part of the special train from here.
Ludwig Peterson of Appleton was lead
er Of the Swift County bunch. The
Stevens county contingent carried a
banner with the wording, "Oyer the
Top. America First" and bunch Of
good singers sang imprOvised songs
to we'll known airs.
The train was a little late in leav-
after leaving Ltchfeld, where one
hundred boys were taken on: The
leader was Walfrid Lund, a brother
were then seven coaches. A brief stop
was made at Long Lake. A represen-
tative of the Y. M. C. A. was on the
train to distribute information and
assist the boys.
The train arrived at St. Paul at six
o'clock. Supper was served at the
Merchants Hotel. It was appetizing
and the boys made out a good meal
The County bunch were Joined here
by Elmer and Rudolf Larson, Leslie
Upton, Magnus Johnson and Gerhard
Ferring. Three more cars were added
to the train here containing thirty boys
from Kanabec County, sixty-f1ve from
Mile Laos and twenty-five from Isanti.
The train carried over four hundred
recruits when it steamed out from st.
Paul at 7:15 o'clock. The boys were
greeted at several towns with waving
of flags. At Eau Clare, Wis.,, the train
arrived at 9:42, and here card mail
ed The Tribune said Good-night."
This morning we received letter
from our former reporter, Emil AS
paas, one Of the recruits, dated at
Knoxville, Tenn. June %, at 1920 p. m.
At this town the boys had dinner at
three o'clock. The trip had so far
been very enjoyable and all had
good time. The Red Cross gave them
a treat, this place and Chicago, being
the only places at which they saw can
teen committees since leaving Will
mar.
At Greencastle, Indiana on Saturday
afternoon, Ira Jay Edgecomb of Grove
City, with the Meeker County cOntin.
gent, lost his balance and fell off the
steps where he was standing on the
moving train. He was picked up with
no more serious consequences than
bruised arm.
At Knoxville the train was six hours
late, and the boys expected to arrive
at Camp Wadsworth, Sunday night
at twelve o'clock.
The scenery thru Kentucky and Ten
nessee is described as being very in
teresting. Sunday forenoon the train
passed thru twenty-five tunnels, the
longest one requiring seven minutes
to pass thru. People along the way
said this was the thirteenth train that
had gone thru from Minnesota to
Camp Wadsworth so there must be
quite a large contingent of Gopher
boys there.
! Baptist, Y. p. S.