Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-12

! war.
Praises Successor.
And 1t was then, with the aid OF
the Divine Master, that l entered
| INTO a sacred covenant with moth
ers, fathers, wives and sweethearts
that l would look after their loved
ones and zealously guard their in
| terests and safety so long as 1t re-
manned in my power to do so.
! Those in the crowd who remember
ed the occasion two long years age
shamelessly wiped their eyes and
there were Jumps that would not be
| swallowed in thousands of threats
And luckily, when l was removed
from leadership of Battery B, man
was placed in my stead &ho felt
the great responsibility as l had
anG who always forgot himself for
his men," concluded Captain Carl
strom, paying tribute to Captain
James b Bereth of Monmouth who
succeeded him in command of Bat
| terry B.
Enthusiasm reigned, rampant
and unconfned, following Captain
Carlstrom's eloquent address. Il
was a magnificent and stirring
burst of oratory from the heart OF
the man of the hour in Aledo and
Mercer county and was fully ap-
preciated by the thousands who
listened, spell-bound.
Cooke Presides..
George A Cooke, Aledo's ex-
supreme judge, presided at -the-aft-
ernoon's program in North park.
Before ceremonies begun. veterans
Of the civil and Spanish-American
war wer called to take seats on
the speakers platform as was also
Mrs. Carlstrom. The program open
ed with the invocation by Rev. F. E.
Shut followed with a band selec-
ton by the Mercer County Com
munity band and an excellent rem
dition of Home, Sweet Home" by
Aledo's male quartet composed of
c. NJ. Wells, first tenor, T. R.
Kenny, second tenor, Arthur Lin
dorf, first bass, and A. K. Philleo,
second bass.
Judge Cooke then extended mem
bers .of the One Hundred and Tween
ty-third Mercer county's welcome
home. The speaker declared that
while the boys were having theic
trials and problems in the field, the
citizen army at home was likewise
engaged, but said he was happy to
state that the people of Mercer
county, with few exceptions, could
welcome the gunners with loving
hearts and clean hands, and with
the knowledge that they had thor
oughly performed the duties at
home necessary for the fighting
army to function properly and
without friction at the front
People Match Their Soldiers.
I'VE gave every dollar that we
were asked to give in Mercer coun-
ty," declared the Judge. And we
were the first county in Illinois to
go over the top in the various pa
triotic campaigns. We are glad to
be able to match your brilliant rec
ord as hackers. And there are rec
oTds accessible to you showing Just
how every man in this county stood
during the period of stress.
I'VE have much to be Thankful,
Tor. grateful for and happy for, and
In behalf of Mercer county people
bid you welcome and wish Won
good luck and prosperity" Judge
Cooke concluded.
CarlstrOm's Leadership Landed.
Captain James B. Bereth of Mon
mouth responded. He explained
how through no fault of his own
he became commander of Battery
B, displacing Captain CarIstrom.
and spoke in high praise of the ex-
cellent condition of the battery
when he assumed leadership. "The
organization functioned perfectly.
as a we'll oiled and set-up ma
chine" he declared.
Rev. Jack" Ferris, pastor of the
Methodist church at Carthage.
chaplain of the old Sixth Illinois
for 10 years, and turned back when
national guard officers were ex-
amined at Springfield. preparatory
to acceptance in the national army.
was next called upon. He re-
sponded with thrilling words of
praise for Mercer county men. TO
day is a memorable day made
worthy by worthy sons of worthy
sires," he said. He was given gen
eFouS applause.
Could Rely on Battery.
I could always rely on Battery
B and l never had to give it
thought" said Major E. H. Duna-
vim, battalion commander. who was
next introduced by Judge Cooke.
The behavior and soldierIy quail
titles of It's personnel were beyond
praise" he continued. 81 am
pleased to say to you that Aledo
and Mercer county, with the excep-
ton of Chicago, had more men in
one organization and unit than any
other city or county in Illinois"
The afternoon program in North
park began at 3 o'clock. At 2:15,
Immediately following a bounteoas
feask served by members of Com
pany B Boosters in the Masonic
hall, at which approximately 200,
$50 men in khaki, kuests
and members of the band, were
fed, the battery assembled for drill
in front of the court house, led by
Captain Carlstrom. In columns of
fours they passed in review before
Captain Bereth and Major Duna-
win.
During the dinner in Masonic
hall the men were entertained by
the Killarney trio with solos, songs
and character sketches.
The Program.
Program of the day follows:
10 a. m.-Public reception to
men of One Hundred Twenty-third