The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-14
Emellent Military Police

! seen in decoration here.
Excellent Military Police.
Lieutenant John Bently was in
charge of the military police and per-
fected an organization OF discharged
soldiers that made possible the carry
ing out of the plans by clearing all
streets leading to the station where
the trains arrived.
A platoon of men were used at the
station to prevent any spectators from
getting to the train.
In addition to this box was formed
around the line of march from the
station to the Elks club where the
exercises were held,
In front of the column fifteen PAGES,
four men were placed to clear the line
of march Of any possible obstruction.
, Then fifteen PAGES to the right ana
4. left of the column and fifteen PAGES
APART other men We're placed TO pre-
vent the crowd from surginS IN. ana
closing the streets through which the
parade was to pass.
All additional men were used at the
rear of the line where platoon was
thrown across the width of the street,
Throughout the entire demonstration
the plans were carried out with strict
military efficiency.
Everybody Out Early.
At 8 o'clock this morning there was
a long line OF automobiles extending
into Keokuk from as far as the eye
could see on each of the three main
arteries into town from Iowa, ILLINOIS
! and Missouri.
! The townspeople were also coming
down town, q majority Of them not
having heard of the delay In the arrl-
val of the train. /,
After half hour Of drizzle and
threats of rain from 9 leaden SKY al
7 o'clock. the sun broke through. the
air took on different tang, and IL
became a glorious May day, ideal Tor
big outpouring of the people.
While the sidewalks were filled IN
the morning, announcement of the
delay on the motion picture theater
screens last evening late had notified
large portion of the population OF
Keokuk. and they waited until time
for the parade.
During the wait for the train, the
Keokuk Concert band played on the
street intersections, and this added
much to the enjoyment OF the day ana
converted monotony into pleasure for
the people.
Waiting for the Train.
AS announced On the screens, The
Gate City bulletined the situation hour
by hour. At o'clock the expected
time Of arrival was stated as 1870
O'clock. and this was confirmed by an
8 O'Clock bulletin.
The bulletin board attendance re-
minded one Of war times, and hun
dreds read it and told all they met
of what II stated.
The train left ST. Louis at 4:17
o'clock this morning, and was hurried
northward by the Burlington route
dispatchers who could pretty accur-
ately forecast its running time after
they got hold Of it.
How Service Flag was Made.
Mrs. J. N. D. Chenoweth and Mrs.
A. e. Buck were given the honor of
making the fine service flag ordered
at the last hour yesterday.
These two patriotic women worked
hard all day and by evening had the
flag finished and turned over to the
Keokuk committee ready for mount
ing on it's standard.
1t was difficult and hard task to
sew 624 stars on the flag neatly. bu.
it was done in record time.
The girls of the Duncan-Schell COM
pany cut every one of the 624 stars
by hand ready for the seamstressas
who sewed them on the field.
Their Home Towns in Iowa.
The men in the battalion belo ls
chiefly in southwestern Iowa.
D company is the old national
guard company of Centerville. +
company belongs to Shenandoah. p
company came originally from Viii
lisca. G company started from o..
tumwa. H company was from Oskl-
loosa in the old Third regiment of
the Iowa national guard.
All these towns had a special ~
terest in the battalion and made
great preparations to welcome then
on this trip, which like Keokuk's
were badly deranged by the decay
in the schedule east Of st. Louis.
Oskaloosa was hit the hardest. it
had wonderful decorations for day
light and prepared big supper FOR
all the men, who now will not a.
rive there until late tonight.
Color Guard Of Honor.
The color guard, in charge Of James
e. L. Semones, was composed Of the