The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-15
Mayor Asked to Appoint Committee
to Welcome Famous Hundred
sixty-eIshth Infantry
on Arrival.
WELCOME AT CAPITAL
VIII First Appoint Committee to Raise
Money for Expenses Of Trip OF
the Welcoming Conn
mittee.

tAtOhuh Is tsShcu W dppOihl a WIZ
nittee of three citizens to go to New
the men still in the famous l6Sth
infantry who belong to Keokuk.
Mayor Lotion received the request
last evening and will very soon ap-
point first a finance committee to raise
the money necessary to pay the ex-
penses of welcoming committee.
After that is done, the names of the
committee of three to go to New York
will be announced by the mayor.
One man who heard of it has already
volunteered to pay his own expenses,
If appointed on the welcoming com
pIittee.
Appropriation for Des Moines.
The Iowa legislature appropriated
$4,000 for welcome home celebration
for the famous 168th infantry, to be
held at Des Moines after their return.
An amendment, proposed by Represen-
tative Nebiker, of Burlington, dividing
the appropriation among the counties
involved for celebrations at the coun-
~ seats. was defeated, and Des Moines
gets all the celebration, or at least
all the appropriation. The Des Moines
Chamber of Commerce is now asking
the other cities to help make 1t still
bigger thing at their own expense,
and sends out the following letter to
the mayor:
My Dear Sir: n
Your boys and our boys Of the
famous 16Sth regiment of the
Rainbow Division are coming
home Your city has one or more
units in this great regiment, which
has probably had a greater ex-
perience than any other division
that has gone to France, and It's
losses have probably been greater
than any other division Or service.
They have had numerous decora-
lions for bravery and they are
now coming home to US, tired,
wounded AMI ready for welcome
home.
The city of Des Moines has ap-
pointed committee to properly
welcome the famous 16Sth regi-
ment which will sail from France !
in few days. We wish to invite
your community to join with us
in a great celebration in Des
Moines, date to be set, when the
regiment will parade and every
body will be given an opportunity
to see them. The regiment Will
be ordered to Camp Dodge for de-
mobilization.
Good and fast work is necessary
IL we are to give them the KIND
OF welcome they deserve. We are
asking the mayor of your city anu
commercial organizations Jointly,
to appoint committee OF three
oR these men to go to New YORK
! Or other point of debarkation to
| give the boys the first glad hand
! from home upon their arrival.
This would probably include send
| ing to them, copies of their nome
| papers and such other things as
might occur to you.
| Our Des Moines committee is
meeting almost daily perfectings
| plans. We have the consent OF
fine Chief Of STAFF and Ad1utant
! General of the United States to
parade this regiment here we
! expect this to be one OF the Dig
fest days in the history OF iowa.
A great triumphal arch Will De
erected. Probably review VIII
be arranged on the new capltal
| plaza. w,
we will have an. ofhcfal wei
come Home badge Whlcn IS NOW
being prepared and we can furnish
Won with any number that you
might desire, at a very small cost
This badge it is hoped, will bear
the insignia OF the Rainbow DIV
sion.
II may be necessary or desir-
able for your committee of three
to meet at Des Moines prior to the
time of going to New YORK, TO per
feet arrangements whereby tne
entire number Of men may be
taken care OF.
VIII you unite with US IN TINS
great patriotic undertaking? If so,
name your committee and raise
YOUR funds Immediately so that we
NAV know that you are with us,
as we believe you will be, and that
we may send good representation
to the coast Your committee OF
three would also act as the official
] reception committee at the great
parade and demonstration when u
| is held in Des Moines, probably
| the day after their arrival at Camp
| Dodge.
| Inasmuch as the time is short,
Il we ask for immediate action and
II If all Of the above is agreeable,
\ please address the undersigned.