Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1918-03-14

at the front, we let out the contracts
not according to the old system; it
could not be done, We did not have
time; to the various firms according to
a percentage basis and, under the
management of Col. Littell, the can.
tonments were erected, sixteen in
number. 1t took almost billion feet
of lumber to build them. 1t took al
most hundred thousand carloads of
material to supply them; it took more
than hundred thousand men working
and toiling to erect these environments.
Roads had to be built. hundreds and
thousands of miles of roads had to be
built. These environments sprang up
as if over night.
Then came this army to the camps.
One million five hundred thousand men
came to these cantonments, transport
ed over the railroads of the country
and not life was lost. That does hot
look to me like the Government had
ceased TO function and had broken
down.
Then what happened? The men
had to be trained. We had to have
doctors; We could not get them within
the draft age. Thousands of fine
county and city doctors laid down their
lucrative practices and walked willing.
ly to the standard of their country and
rendered their efficiency and their tai
ent in the services in these canton
ments.
The Senator from Oregon read us
a letter from distracted and heart
broken parent. God knows my heart
goes out to him, but. Mr.. President.
| want to say in all kindness that do
not believe that was the way to handle
a question ike that at time like this.
The soldiers name was not given to
the Secretary Of War; the Secretary
of War. so Ear as | know. has never
been able to secure the name OF the
soldier who was thus mistreated. 1t
distracted many mother at home, it
dampened the enthusiastic ardor and
patriotic fervor OF many father back
nome.
IL received letter myself only a
short time ago in reply to the treat,
ment of soldier in the cantonment in
my State, Camp Zachary Taylor:
want TO say here and now that with
that camp. having between 80, coo and
~. 900 and probably 5000 soldiers
within its keeping. | know probably
personally as many Of the soldiers
there as any other man in civil life and
| have never reserved one single CON-
plant up TO that time. The letter TO
which have referred did not come
from soldier; it didn't come from
any Of his kinsmen; it came from a
personal friend OF mine telling me that
It was reported that this boy was neg
lected and telling me the county from
which he came in Kentucky and stat
ing that by reason of the neglect he
died. did not read the letter upon
the floor of the United States Senate
that il might 20 out into the humble
little homes in Kentucky. | did not
know the facts. Ny informant did not
know the facts. went down to the
Secretary Of War and | said to him:
Il want this case Immediately investi-
gated; | demand court-marshal be-
cause a man who mistreats an Ameri-
can soldier mistreats me and you and
every other American citizen.
"Thst case will be thoroughly and
completely Investigated. | also said
to Secretary that wanted the sever.
est punishment II guilt existed visited
upon those who had neglected this SOL
der.
"But, Mr. President. we all know
that Mary Roberts Reinhart told the
truth when she said that the soldiers
in these environments were the best
cared-for soldiers in the world. and
believe that to be absolutely true"
81 picked up this home paper pub
lished in the little town where live,
| find this letter in it and want to
read Il because | want the mothers Of
America. because they are the foun.
tains. they are those that finally bring
the teaching Of true patriotism to the
infant mind, | want them to know
That their country is not neglecting
their boys. read from the Critten-
den Recoid-Press. Of January 81.
Former city marshal. George Z.
Boston. received the following letter
from George Wood Anderson. evan
gelist, Huntington, w. Va, in regard
to his son. Wilbur, who is now some
where in France:
Huntington. W. Va. Jan. is. 1918
Mr.. George E. Boston. Marion. KY
| | had the pleasure Of meeting ana
talking with your son. Wilbur Boston.
He gave me your address that I might
he able to send you this short message.
He was nicely located and in fine
health and spirit. He was with other