The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1933-06-01
Uncle Sam Will Not Forget
Soldier Boy, Rogers States
To Large Memorials Audience
Government Should Take Care
of Disabled Vets and Not
Local Taxpayers
A G. A. R. VETS ATTEND
New Cemetery Ground Dedicat-
ed After Ceremony; Lake
Service Staged


of the American soldier who doled
out unlimited service to his country
during the worldwide struggle for
democracy and declaring that the
American government will not forget
these acts despite present day trends
in legislation, Harold N. Rogers,
prominent Minneapolis Legionnaire,
addressed capacity house at the
armory Tuesday morning as the prin-
cipal part of the Memorial day pro-
gram.
Feeling that World war veterans
organizations have been discredited
in the eyes of the public because un-
worthy members have been receiving
compensation from the government
since the war ended, Mr.. Rogers stat
ed, "true, the people are justified in
their criticism of some but you can
not afford to judge all by few"
He stated that less than ten per
cent of the soldiers have never drawn
compensation. "But why should those
who came back from France not only
battle SCARED from enemies bullets
but who also contracted the dreadful
disease, tuberculosis, suffer from the
actions of others. I confidently feel
that they will be taken care of by
the American government"
Touching again on soldiers COM
pensation, Mr.. Rogers said, veterans
should be cared for by the government
at Washington and the burden should
not be shifted directly upon the local
taxpayer.
Day Has Deep Meaning
"The government recruited men
from the factories, farms and bust
ness places when we entered the war
and converted them into full-fedged
soldiers almost overnight. I feel
positive that that same government
will take care of the men now.
Crowds of people are gathered as
you are all over the country" he con-
tinued, ''to pay tribute to departed
soldiers through programs on this
Memorial day. To many the day is
only another excuse to go fishing,
close their business places and in
other ways declare a holiday.
"But to these four G. A. R. veter-
ans, these four Spanish War veter-
ans and to all these Legion members,
the day has a different-much differ
ent-signifcance. It is looked upon
by these men as holy day in which
due tribute is paid to the dead.
"There are 26O G.. A. R. veterans
left in the state of Minnesota and you
are very fortunate to be honored with
the presence of four of them"
Recalling the days when the G. A.
R. soldiers were fighting for their
country, Mr.. Rogers stated it was
then that patriotism, patriotism in
it's true form was displayed. He de-
fined patriotism "as the unselfish de-
votion of an individual to his coun-
try, something now scarce"
FavOrs National Defense
On the national defense program,
he said, "The American Legion fav-
ors to the utmost good disarmament
program; we believe in peace and
peaceful happiness; we believe with
General Sherman when he said war
is hell but we also feel that the
American people should be prepared
to take their place beside leading
powers of the world.
GAS long as there is difference OF
ideals, differences in creeds and ma
tionalities the world is not through
with war; treaties will not make
world peace"
He reviewed the Washington con-
ference called by President Woodrow
Wilson shortly after the Armistice
was signed and how futile it was in
its attempt to gain results for which
many. diplomats strived. From Wash
ing he referred to Geneva where re-
representatives. Of leading world pow
ers gathered for the same purpose
and attained but little. He told the
group how America returned from
Geneva and enacted Is cruiser pro-
gram, building new and repairing old
ships and charging the navy to COM
pare in size with other countries.
It was at this time, Mr.. Rogers
said, that other countries began to
notice the progress America was
making and the London conference
was called.
Disarmament cannot be reached
by example," he concluded, "but by
agreement"
Brown Opens Service
Leon II. Brown, commander OF the
Melvin Daskam post, opened the serv-
ice by introducing Rev. j. P. Linn OF
the Presbyterian church who gave
the invocation The Redwood Falls
(Continued on page eight