The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-08-11

the members of the nation
al guard for the sacrifices they
must necessarily make in the
performance of the soldier duties in
addition to their regular civilian re-
quirements and he praised them for
the spirit each man shows when he
takes his place in the citizen army.
Star SpaneIed Banner
First Of all the programs events
the fifth regiment band played the
Star Spangled Banner. Lieutenant
| Colonel, Ivan Bowen, master of GER
emonies. introduced Mayor w. A..
Beach who spoke in behalf
of the city of Mankato. Mayor
Beach praised the spirit, pur-
pose and personnel Of the ma
tional guard organizations which
are found in this city and charac
terized these citizen soldiers as the
surest defense of the nation.
Colonel j. B. Woolnough of St.
Paul, commanding the Sixth Min
nesota, was next introduced by
Colonel Bowen Colonel Woolnough.
as an officer in France going into
combat with inexperienced and un-
trained troops, said that he knows
fully the advantages that lie with
the trained soldier and that in the
national guard is the place to &C
quire such training. He urged wives,
mothers and sisters to lend their in
| iuence to having their men in the
service of the guard on the grounds
that should there be another war,
the training received in peace time
will be all but invaluable to the in
dividual soldier. he described the
military establishment of the Unit
ed States as it is now composed OF
small standing army, national
guard establishent and an organic
! ed reserve.
Lauds Commanding Officer
| On behalf of the men and Off
GERS of the regiment and as a citi-
zen of Mankato, Colonel Bowen took
occasion to speak in glowing terms
of the work that has been done here
| by Colonel W. S. Fulton since his
command of the Fifth began. He
praised him as soldier, an officer
and a citizen. Colonel Bowen also
thanked the city and the citizens OF
Mankato for the cooperation given
in aiding the arnory project with a
donated site and for the financial
aid that was voted toward the build
ing's erection as directed under the
law if such an armory can be built.
| Governor Holds Reception
Immediately following the close of
the speaking program, the Governor
and Mrs. Preus held a reception and
several thousand persons from this
community went through the lines
to meet the states executive and
the first lady. Assisting in the line
were Adjacent General and Mrs. w.
l. Rhinow of st. Paul, Lieutenant
Colonel and Mrs. Ivan Bowen of
Mankato and Colonel W. S. Fulton
of the Fifth regiment
| Among the other visitors from st.
Paul was Captain Donald Robinson
regimental machine gun officer of
the Sixth Infantry at st. Paul.
Music for the reception was fur
nished by the Elks' band whose
members occupied the stage as soon
as the speaking program was finish
ed. The band played until the gov
ernor and his party had left the ar
mory. Other music was by the Or
pheus Octette which sang three
numbers, two following the insistent
demands of an applauding audience.
Miss Helen Black played the &C
compartments to all numbers.
Dienitaries On Stage
During the exercises the stage
was occupied by the governors par
ty. by local officers of the national
guard. representatives of all veteran
Organizations and their auxiliaries
county as well as by few citizens
OF the city. Colonel George w.
Mead, first commander of a guard
unit in Mankato, and Colonel Alba
Lewis, first commanding officer of
1.-THE Fifth regiment, were. on the
stage as were State Senator Gustav
Widell, State Representatives John
IGerlicn and T. B Taylor The Drs.
Heilscher, prominent in the affairs
of the American Legion and the Lv-
gion Auxiliary were seated with the
honor guests and Captain Al.
Kircher, with B. D. Grogan of the
district organization Of the Legion.
represented the Legion, OF which
mander.
Seated in the line with Governor
Preus was Mayor w. A. Beach and
members of his council. All other
patriotic bodies of the city were rep
resented there but took no active
part in the program.
tives who attended last night were
Mrs. e. c. Baker of the w. R. c.;
Mrs. B. D. Smith Of the American
Legion auxiliary; MIS-. Z. A. GOOD
ridge of North Mankato, president
Of the Spanish War Veterans and
Horace Roberts Of the Spanish vet
Grams.
! Mayor George Leach of Minnea-
polls who was scheduled to speak
on the program here was not able to
fill his engagement here owing to a
change Of plans made at the artil-
lery camp which he has been at
tending at Lake CITY.
! How Building Was Secured
The building which was so impres-
sively dedicated last night was built
as a result of legislation enacted by
\ the legislature which authorized the
expenditure by the state of SIS, 600
for housing a company of the ma
tional guard, provided that the city
furnish the site and deposit $1,000 in
} addition to the money from the
state. That amount was appropriated
Il for the first Mankato armory when
there was but one company in this
city but since that time, three addi-
tional companies have been form
ed here and as a result, space at
hand was wholly inadequate for the
ii purposes to be served. For the addt-