The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-22
Company c Took Action On
Matter Last Night
DRILL FOR YOUNG men
Selected Quota Was Entertained
At srmory;Several Addresses
Were Made
From Wednesdays Daily.

is the sentiment of Company Z. Slxth
battalion, Minnesota home guard, that
the rally of the league scheduled 10
take place II Mankato next Saturday,
February %, is not wanted by the
people here, was the declaration
adopted by the company by unan-
imous vote at the armory last even
ing.
This was done at the suggestion OF
Captain Allison, just after the exnl-
bition drill that was held by the COM
pany for the benefit of the conscr1pt-
ed Young men of the county, belong
inc to the first and second classes,
who were gathered at the armory
last evening.
The whole aggregation then assem-
bled at one end of the hall where
several speakers discussed the two
main purposes of the gathering. These
were, first, to form a company OF the
young men who expected soon to De
called upon to go to camp as men,
bers of the national army, and also,
to see what could be done to get these
Young men enrolled in the night
school that will train them along
certain vocational lines. giving them
special work to do after they join the
army.
Splendid Was Turn out.
Major G. A. Lewis of the Sixth bat
TALON presided. He expressed his
qualification at seeing the splendid
turn out of the young men. He re-
marked that even those in the army
who had special vocations would get
a certain amount of hard drill. Ii
these boys got a start at military
knowledge in advance of the others
in the national army they would
stand better chance of promotion
to corporalships and higher offices.
Those men who stood erect in the
ranks when they were first lined up,
and assumed the correct position of
the soldier would catch the eye of
the officers. The officers would soon
know who those were that had re-
ceived some military training. They
would have such men step to the
front. The man who did his work a
little better than the rest and did
more than was expected of him was
the man that came to the notice OF
the officers. Those who were dis
posed to hang back and showed no
ambition were the ones who would
get the detail work and the work that
was disagreeable.
Address BY j. e. Regain.
John E. Regain addressed the young
men, telling them that they should
appreciate the fact that they have
been honored in being selected among
those deemed fit to serve in the army
at this time. He remarked that Blue
Earth county had already nearly L.
900 young men in the service. The
children of these men would point
with pride to the fact that these men
had left their all and gone forth to
fight not only for their country but
foG the world.
Miles Porter impressed on the boys
the chance that all had of advance
ment who showed their superiority.
He told how during the recent home
guard sojourn in ST. Paul there were
two members of the same Duluth
company, hotelkeeper and his bell
boy, both privates at first, but the
-bell-boy won a promotion and his en-
ployer remained private. 1t hap
pened that the bellboy had occasion
to give his employer some detail
work to do.
Mr.. Porter said it was great priv
ilege to live in this day and age, and
to take part in the worlds greatest
struggle. Those who fought for Amer
fca were fighting for humanity and
were also fighting to protect their
own homes.
Gave Names to Bates.
Major Lewis asked all those who
were interested in joining a company
to be formed in Mankato for the pur-
pose of military instruction to give
their names to Lieutenant Roy Bates
who is adjutant to the major The
major also asked those who were in
terested to stand up. There was a
prompt response that appeared to be
prompt response that appeared to be
universal. He now called on Super
intendent of Schools Sperry to tell
about the vocational night school,
Mr.. Sperry said there werd nine
teen different occupational lines
along which the government would
like to have the young men of the
army get special advance training in
the night schools. Mr. Sperry said il
ganization that the Russian army
failed. The American army must
have its men skilled along their spe-
cial lines.
He spoke of the fact that Mr.. Kir-
cher had already organized a gas en-.
CINE work night school, 1t was JUS
as interesting to young man to BIZ
spending his time at such a class az
to be wasting it in the pool rooms
1t would not hurt any of the youn&
men to take two or three nights {
week to such work. After they came
back it would be a tremendous ad
vantage to them that they had hat
such special vocational training. H,
said he had some registration blank.
that he would pass around. He re-
marked that his solicitation for tn,
night school work through the mai
had not been satisfactory He hat
sent out two hundred circulars ant
gotten thirty five replies.
Mr.. MetcaIfe to Speak.
Mr. Sperry announced that tn,
uncle of Principal w. G. Bate of tn,