The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-10-10
SPLENDID RoGRAM Is
CARRIED OUT
BANQUET WAS FEATURE
Several Addresses Delivered BY
WeII-knoWn Gentlemen;
Music Rendered
RAPiOAN SERVICE MEN.

Emil 6artsch, Henry 3artcsh, Otto
Beschnett, Carl sindig, Walter Blume,
Irwin Childs, Lynn A. Fowler, Ernest
Reitner, ReinhoIdt Hilern, Louis
Kastner, Harry keenan,, Reinholdt
Keller, William kclIar, Andrew knut-
son, Oscar knutson, Edwin kroeger,
Edward kroeger, Fred krceger, Grohe
Kunkel, Leland Mcdonald, Alvin Mel
son, Clifford 3. Pischner, August
Reedstrom, Edward Schoenrock, Louis
Skow, Allan Stratton, Thomas STRAIT
ton, Matthew Wier.
Rapiian threw open its arms Sat
urday evening in Homecoming cele-
bration for the gallant sons of that
village who went forth to war and re-
turned safely after the great victory
was won. The event was largely at
tended In tent pitched on the out
skirts OF the village nearly a thous =
and people gathered for the excellent
program which was given, 1t was a
homecoming spirit. one of Thanksgiving
and appreciation that was manifested
in the events of the evening.
Seated in the two front rows at the
middle of the tent were the returned
service men from Rapidan, in whose
honor the homecoming was held.
Twenty eight sons of the village were
with the colors during the war. Music
was furnished during the evening by
the Fifth Regiment band under di-
rectiOn or Lieutenant George Neill.
The tent was appropriately decorated
with flags and bunting. Prominently
displayed were the Liberty Loan hon
or flags which Rapidan now, by go
ing "over the top" with the men dur
ing the war.
William Just presided as chairman
OF the meeting At the opening the
audience sang America" led by n. A.
Kendall of this city, Miss Eleanor
Rogers played the piano accompani
ment. Miss Rogers and Mr.. Kendall
gave several vocal selections during
the evening.
Welcome Was Extended.
Arthur Mitchell, president of the
Rapidan chapter of the Red Cross,
babe welcome to- the men, in behalf
of the village He declared that he
could in only small measure express
the appreciation which the people of
Rapidan felt for the men. Their go
ing, the hardships they endured and
the homecoming now, he declared,
seemed to those at home but a
dream.
what you did while away, however,
will live on and be recorded with the
oo 1nnla-n1 "a hn-
lieve that history in a future day will
regard you as the men of the great
est army that was ever formed and
went forth to battle"
World unrest of today was referred
to by Mr.. Mitchell and he declared,
there are certain classes which
would undo all you have done" He
asserted however that his faith in the
future told him these agitators would
never succeed.
at is you boys who represent the
American people," he said, land moth
ing can daunt you. You went forth
to avenge a wrong to the old flag.
In the far corner of that flag shines
the north Star, bright and clear. Well
do know that if anyone attempted to
Ddlul IIldI SbdI ISu YOU "OuiO 1Cclp
forward and ayenge the wrong. You
will permit none to undo what you
fought and won overseas"
Judge w. L. Comstock was intro
duced as the second speaker of the
evening, following Mr.. Mitchell. Re-
ferring to the departure of the men,
and later their Homecoming, Judge
Comstock said:
Between the time of your going
and your Homecoming an effort was
made at the remaking of the world.
Today We are not at peace with the
world. Our battleships are gathered
in the Mediterranean and the Adri-
attic to maintain there the principles
for which we fought in France.
"In law we are at war with Ger
many, but we hope for peace. While
the apostle of peace and the great at :
torney for humanity lies on a bed Of
lain at Washington, suffering from
his efforts to bring peace, there are
those who are unsatisfied that peace
should come. Like dog they must
bark and snap and whine"
81 wonder that it can be after the
suffering and sacrifice Of the men
over there, after the service of the
people at home, in their fight for the
hope that war would never again
cast its blasting shadow across the
earth, that in the United States there
remain those who would place all
these efforts in doubt. Reluctantly
we must admit that as nation and
as people we do not measure UP in
our consideration of the men with the
standards they set over there"
Judge Comstock declared that while
the people expressed in feeble man
ner some appreciation Of the men that
men must let them know more fully,
by the assumption of new responsible
tiles as citizens, that they were aware
of the principles for which they
fought He declared man should al
ways be guided by his conscience
which pointed to the path of right in
all matters.
Tracing back to the time of the
founding of America, of the drawing
up of the Declaration of independence
the adoption of the constitution the
principles of the Civil war, the speak,
er related each step in the growth OF
American ideals. He pointed out that
there was opposition manifested to
each of these steps, that Washington
and Lincoln were harassed BIZ those
who saw not as they did, and he said
, that such condition was existing ev-
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