The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-22
THOUSANDS GATHER
At ROME ON SUNDAY
PATRIOTIC PROGRAM
Farewell TO Drafted Men One Of the
Big Features Of Big Day
Governor Philip and
Others Speak.

The third Patriotic Sunday held at
Rome Sunday added another jewel to
the crown of success in this movement
instituted by the Jefferson County
Council of Defense. It was the big
gest day in the history of the town,
over five thousand people being pres
ent and one thousand automobiles
were parked in the village.
Much of this remarkable success
may be attributed to the indefatigable
efforts of the citizens of the town it.
self. Every man, woman and child in
Rome made it their special business to
carry across this venture which was
indeed something of task for town
of it's size to undertake.
The meetings were held on the
school grounds and meals were
served to the selectmen present, band
boys and soldiers by the ladies Of
Rome in the basement of the Lutheran
church. A free dinner was served to
over three hundred men.
The keynote of the day was a fare
well to the three hundred Jefferson
tingent of drafted men and there
were two hundred selectmen present
1t was known as National Army Day
A. j. Glover and Rev. d. @. Grabill of
Fort Atkinson made eloquent address,
eS with SPECIAL reference to the boys
about to leave, and in the afternoon
Gov. Philip also gave a talk along
f1nc II %o1I
sin had done and gave a message of
good cheer and encouragement to the
selectmen and their friends
Prof. G. w. Wagner of the State
University gave most scholarly and
instructive address in the evening
Prof. Wagner is Of pure German de-
scent, indeed he stated that he is
more German than the kaiser himself
because the kaiser's mother was an
English woman. However, his sympa-
thies are wholly American. He had
two sons volunteer in this war and he
has lost one of them. He said he would
rather lose the other and go to France
himself than have Germany win. He
stated that if peace was made under
present conditions it would only
mean another war in few years His
theme was the character of the Ger
man government He has Travelled
widely and knows whereof he speaks
tenn, saying that three things COM
prised the whole basis of instruction,
namely, that Germany was chosen of
God to rule the world; that the kaiser
was the chosen instrument for her
guidance; that this must be done by
war and that war is a blessing and
not a calamity. By this teaching of
the people from childhood up Ger
many has built up it's gigantic war
machine and military power. No one
could hear Prof Wagner without be-
ing convinced of his whole hearted
sincerity and extensive knowledge of
his subject.
A unique feature connected with the
dinner served by the ladies to the
Council Of Defense band, soldiers and
selectmen was that it was done by
school districts, each Of the districts
comprised in Local Council No. g con-
tributing.
Other features Of the day were the
parade and guard mount by the COM
panies of Wisconsin State Guard of
Fort Atkinson and Jefferson and the
numbers by the Council of Defense
band, eighty-fOur members of which
were present, and the anti tuberculo-
sis exhibit under the direction of DIR
H. 0. Caswell of Fort Atkinson.