Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1923-11-15

and Stripes Forever" which was
followed by short speech by Mayor
Donald G. Ralston. DR.. Ralston's
speech, like Mr.. Alderman's, was
classic He said that the occasion
was one that thrilled the heart;
that it had been charged that we
are sentimental people. If such,
he stated, was manifest to the ex-
tent of giving expression in such
memorial as this, then he would say
we are indeed sentimental. He
said that the occasion commemor-
present. He spoke of the pride in
the history of Morgan county; that
the monument is in keeping with
that history made glorious by the
citizens Of all the county. In ne
half of The citizenship he thanked
the Simpsons for the monument. He
then intro 1uced Capt Keaneth II.
Little, formerly OF Co. d, j4eth IN
fantry, Of which a large nuriber Of
old Co. M soldiers were a part.
Capt. Little Speaks
Captain Little is a. attorney from
Troy, O. He stated that it was not
an easy thing for him to come to
McConnelsville for such an occasion.
Fe expressed his close feeling to
McConnelsville, and that while they
had come to dedicate the monu-
ment, they could not do it, since ii
was beyond their power The real
dedication was in those who gave
every thing their entire service. He
said he wished to speak as a plain
American citizen, and not as a SOL
dier. These things he said do not
speak for individuals, but they COM
memorate whole efforts-that those
who gave their all had gone step
further. 1t was an Allseeing Cod
who had brought back those that
took part in the service of the war.
Here the speaker dwelt at some
length regarding our Morgan county
soldiers with whom he was in COM
mand. He said the greater part of
his men were from Morgan county.
He paid our boys many compli-
ments, saying he never saw the
least inclination in one of them to-
shirk his duty. He spoke Of the
time when our boys went up and oc-
cupied the Baccarat sector, taking
with a feeling of confidence. Our
boys were ordered to go on slope
where they were rained with a
shower of snot, and while this was
their first experience of the kind,
not one of them was scared in the
least. From that time on their
bravery was manifest and every
man went about his duty with as
surance. From there they went on
several fronts. At the initial of the
Argonne drive with its million and
half soldiers, our men occupied
the center of the front, where they
/ assisted in clearing out Mount Fa-
| con. Then they were directed to
follow some tanks, which they did
into Death Valley. Here it was
that the speaker said he saw the
shell come down and kill one of our
men eve learned that it was Delmei
! Pennel) That day, the speaker said,
he learned what glory means. There
1t was that many of our men had
the vision that took them back
home better and bigger men. That
day many learned to pray and they
learned what a feeling of safety
meant. He said he felt that it was
the end--that he couldn't see how
they could escape--then came the
thoughts of home. Then came the
comforting thought that it was God
| who had put him where he was, and
! he was ready to go on and complete
| the job, and his feelings were the
same as that of others with him.
| Here the speaker gave his views
as to what he considers the best mil
itary policy. He believes that we
should have a standing army per-
haps some larger than ours is at
present, 125, 200 men, and this army
together with the National guard
units, be maintained as a nucleus
for citizen army, out of which
could be easily and quickly formed
an army of sufficient strength in
case of war. He has no use for the
| 'pacifists," so-called. He said sol
diers do not mean war, but they