Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-11-13

! At 2:50 o'clock Monday morning
the state department announced that
armistice terms had been signed by
Germany, and the world war ended.
The signing of the armistice was
first announced by the state depart
ment in Washington at 2:45 o.
clock Monday morning. 1t was
signed at o'clock, Paris TIME, to
take effect at IL o'clock Monday
morning, Paris time, or five o'clock
Iowa time
Thus after more than four years
of lighting the rights of mankind are
served The greatest day in the his
tory Of nations has dawned. The
German militarist classes-ar
beyond expression-are in defeat.
The Kaiser and Crown Prince are
in fight, refugees in an alien coun-
try, Holland, and the latter does not
want them. Germanic kings and
potentates no longer hold their sway.
The allied armies are triumphant,
and imperialistic Germany has met
the fate that ultimately must come to
any country that seeks to rule the
i world.
Deserted by her allies, Germany fs
on her knees, and accepted terms OF
capitulation which amount virtually
/ to abject surrender.
Germany has been beaten to her
knees and the beaten Huns begs
peace upon their knees and the Prus-
sian arrogance goes down, freeing
( foe oppressed.
Decorah Went Wild.
Decorah went wild Monday morn
ing. The first news of the surrender
of Germany came to Decorah over
the Standard telephone at 2;3O. but
mot until FIVE O'Clock was the news
made known to- everybody. and when
lit was the town went wild. "a
The fire whistle began blowing at
exactly five o'clock, and practically
every church bell in town was ring
ing, and the streets rapidly filled
with people shouting the glad news
Immense bon fires were started on
Water street at several of the in
tersections, and the happiest day th,
world has known in nearly five years
began.
BY eight o'clock in the morning it
was almost impossible to get through
Water street, the crowd was so dense.
Parades formed and flags were flying,
and mad carnival held sway until
midnight. Our people celebrated and
| put on a good one last Thursday
when news of Germany's surrender
was first made known. The news
was little premature that day, hat
it was only forerunner of what
was to come. Nevertheless big
demonstration was put on, and a
peach of a parade was put on. Waltz
ing on the brick pavement was one
of the features and was INDUCED in
by old and young. Ben Bear and G..
F. Baker demonstrated they could
waltz on the pavement just as good
IS on polished ball room floor,
G. r. Baker and Mrs. E. j. Curtin,
vice president of the Red Cross.
started the ball rolling with waltz
the music furnished by the city band.
1t was taken UP by others and Ben
Bear showed that he was just as
young as ever and glided over the
|ibrick pavement with Miss Bernadine
Shea as a partner. 1t was a great
day, anyway, even IL the news was
La little premature.
But ON Monday when the real and
[authentic news of Germany's sur
|render arrived the big noise started.
As soon as possible that morning
Mayor Hook proclaimed the day a
holiday and the merrymaking was
on.
At ten o'clock in the morning a
Injecting of citizens was called at the
leourt house, and Mayor Hook was
made chairman and Dr. +. w. Con-
lover, secretary, and an executive
lcommittee OF the day was immediat-
lely appointed, which consisted of G
IF. Baker as chairman, Emil Rosen-
Ithal, l. w. Brunt, Geo. Hislop and
Bert Slocum. Chairman Baker i'm
mediately appointed the following
subcommittees:
| Speakers: Mayor E. j. Hook
County Attorney j. A. Nelson, DR.
IF. w. Conover, Prof Oscar Olson.
Marshals of the Day-H. B. Win
ter, Bert Slocum.
| Schools -Supt. e. NJ, Fleming.
Red Cross-Mrs. e. j. Curtin.
Surgical Dressing-Miss Gladys
Jewell.
Music-Ben Bear, Prof. Sperati
Alert Larsen.
Fire Department-Chie Theo
Olson. Emil Rosenthal.
Ladies Societies-M j. Bradish,
Mrs. T. A. jayne.
| Autos and Flosts-W. F. Baker
Jess Reed, IS. f. Brickner, w. q
Reed and Geo. Johnson.
\ Fireworks and torches-B. u
Adams, Dr. T c., Hutchinson, Albert
\ .Aammer5ness, Dr.. w. r. Toye.
i Flags 3upt. Miller, NJ. D. SVeli9
4 Old Soldier Veterans-L. L. cousa
| n. 3. Fialvorson, Dr. B. Harmon
Thos. Weldon.
Belis-M. d, Wells.