The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-02-14
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS TO
BIND SELVES IN CLUB
sOCIABILlTY The OBJECT
Meeting Held Last Evening At
Which PreIiminaries Were
Dealt With

| Steps toward the formation ol an
organization of the soldiers in this
| county, to be composed OF the men
| of the army and navy who served
during the past struggle, We're taken
| at a meeting at the auditorium in the
~ NJ. C. A. building, last evening.
Numerous committees We're appoint
ed and the work of completing such
an organization is expected to go for
ward rapidly.
Major Henry Sanborn, secretary OF
| the Y. NJ. c. A., opened the meeting
with a short address in which he re-
ferred to the manner in which the
Civil war veterans had organized into
the G. A. r. and the Spanish Ameri-
can war veterans into like organiZa-
ton. He stated that the men took
this step as matter of protection
for their own interest, to secure leg
islation for their benefit, and that the
step was wholly justified.
II was the opinion of Major San
born that the men should no offili-
ate with either the G.. A. r., or the
Spanish American Wan veterans be
cause their experiences had been diff
ferent and their aims also were along
different lines. The wars had been
fought for differently principles. he
stated.
Major Sanborn remarked that when
he returned to the United States aft
er service abroad he felt that he want
ed to take off his uniform and never
see it again. He said lie had been
in service so long that he was weary
of the reminder of his fighting. To
see other men in uniform, however,
had a certain gripping for all and he
stated there was certain feeling
which made him want to wear his
uniform again.
He was of the opinion that an or
ganization of the type that had been
suggested could and should do some
thing for the good of the men. He
stated that matters should not be
railroaded through but the soldiers
should take time to decide their course
of action.
People Should Not Forget.
J. E. Reynolds was called upon and
remarked that he was taken rather
at a disadvantage as he had never
been in the service, had never carried
flock of barns He Expressed regret
that he had never been able, to take
a pop at the Huns. Mr.. Reynolds
stated that he considered it the duty
of the men to organize. He said that
an organization Of the men who had
been in the service would be for the
good of the community. He was of
the opinion that national organiza-
tion should be formed and the unit
here should become part of that
body.
People, in after years, were some
times apt to forget the sacrifice the
men made for their country in the
past war, and the speaker declared
that he considered it not only right
but the duty of the men to place
themselves lin position to bring be-
| fore people some record of what they
had done in the past. Notwithstand-
ing the organization of the g. A. r.,
Mr.. Reynolds said there were times
when people were inclined to forget
what the men in the Civil war had
done The speaker thanked the young
men for an opportunity to be present
! with them and declared they had per-
formed service for humanity which
could not be estimated from any view
point.
Heard From Veteran.
| Colonel George w. Mead also spoke
to the men. He declared that he felt
he could address them as comrades
! because he had seen service both in
the Civil war and in the Spanish
| American war. 1t was not necessary
for anyone to speak of loyalty or
patriotism in such gathering, Col
onel Mead remarked, because all had
demonstrated beyond question their
loyalty. He said however, that one
of the principles of their organization
should be patriotism and loyalty.
Colonel Mead suggested that it
would be well to have some organi :
cation other than the G. A. r. He
said that the Son of Veterans organ :
ization had hoped to carry on the G.
i A. r., but that so far it had not done
so. AS the returning soldiers drift
ed back into their own channels and
left off their uniforms, he stated
that there would be less thought of
war and of the service the men had
performed
That those who had served in the
present war would feel ill at ease il
they were affiliated with an older or.
ganiZation was the opinion expressed
by Lieutenant Frank Morse. He was
of the opinion that it would be bet
ter to have ar organization of thei,
own. Lieutenant Morse expressed .
hope that the organization would new.
er engaged in politics, because he stat
ed, it stood for something higher and
better than politics.
Great Work of g. A. r.
4 The speaker referred to the great
work the G. A. R., had done in the
past in sending out lecturers fo,
the public schools. He remarked tia,
his first lessons of patriotism had beer
received through this organization
Lieutenant Morse suggested that the
men be not in too great haste to gel
into a national organization. He sail
the men still in France should have
something to say of the action of this
organization.
! Major Sanborn remarked that some
excellent points had been brought on,
10y Lieutenant Morse Gunner Lei
Smith of the Canadian Army smoke
Continued On Page Seyen)
/ Death Angel Invades Home in LIN.
81 coin Township.
ri Lake Crystal Union: Al double bur.
den 0f priaf hac fo1lox. s.x<<>.> ...1..