Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 127, Decatur, Adams County, 30 May 1911 — Page 1

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Volume IX. Number 127.

TODAY WE PAY HOMAGE TO THE BOYS IN BLUE

CHEERS FOR LIVING-TEARS FOR THE DEAD * DECORATION DAY IS OBSERVED-W. R. C., SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OTHERS ASSIST THE G. A. R. IN THE PROGRAM

STARS AND STRIPES Nature Joins in Flow of Tears —Program Carried Out as Planned. MR. MORAN’S SPEECH The Oration of the Day— Memorial Sermon Delivered by Rev. Ehle. Decoration Day—Memorial Day— May 30, 1911—There was surely the unconscious if not expressed wish for weeks that this day would dawn fair, beautiful and golden in sunshine, that the day might be given over in unbounded fullness to the decoration of the graves of the departed heroes and i in other ways of tribute to them; yet, when a slow and gentle rain began L. N. GRANDSTAFF, Present Commander of Sam Henry Post,. G. A. R„ Decatur.. Monday night, and gave promise of, continuing through the day, there was not the great disappointment felt that one would imagine—because behind the mists and rains was the implied, consoling thought that even nature was contributing to this day of tears and flowers, that she was weeping for the ones who had given their best for I •M-' " I s Ml I 4- ‘‘s'; ./ T. R- MOORE, Adjutant of Sam Henry Post, G. A. R., Decatur. ——. ■ I I.—l I I ■ --• the upholding of her truest and best laws —and furthermore that from her tears would spring a bright rainbow of promise in the flowers and grasses and foliage in greater abundance that

SPECIAL DECORATION DAY EDITION, 1911. DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

would make not one day a Decoration Day, but every day a Decoration Day with its bountiful harvest and fruitage. Undaunted, the citizens, arizing early, put forth their best display of bunting and flags and from the porches of the homes and the windows of the business buildings there gleamed forth the colors of the red, white and blue —undimmed through the mist and the rain. In spite of the down-pour, the valor and enthusiasm remained bright and the exercises of the day were carried out with very little change over that planned as usual. The cities of the dead were peopled today with the living who took this method of paying tribute to the memory of those soldiers who have passed away, who gave the best part of their youth and valor for saving the principles of their country. The G. A. R. and W. R. C., in full assembly, gathered at the G. A. R. hall at 9 o’clock in the morning, bringing with them a wealth of all the beautiful colors of the spring. These were made into garlands, wreaths and other floral pieces, and committees sent with them to the Maplewood and St. Joseph cemeteries in the west part of the city where they were placed on the graves of the dead soldiers, the flags having been placed there some time before. Other members of the G. A. R. and W.R.C., then, headed by the City band, proceeded to the old Protestant and Catholic cemeteries in the south part of the city, where the same loving service was performed. This service over, they all repaired to the G. A. R. hall, where dinner was served and at 1 o'clock began the assembly of G. A. R-, W. R. C„ Sons of Veterans and all other patriotic citizens at the G. A. R. hall, where a line of march was formed to the court house and the program of the day carried out in full. The march was a very inspiring one, as the veterans, with somewhat slower step than in the sixties, but with eye still shining and enthusiasm undimmed, kept step to the stirring music of the Cityband that lead the line. The court room was handsomely decorated with the American flag and with potted and cut flowers, and the audience was never so enthusiastic nor so large. The present commander of the Sam Henry Post, G. A. R., L. N. Grandstaff, presided and opened the meeting in a very impressive way. being assisted by D. K. Shackley as officer of the day. After the invocation by the chaplain, Aionzo Cherryholmes, came the impressive ritualistic service in full. T. R. Moore, adjutant, then read the orders from the headquarters for the observance of the day, following with the reading of Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg. Adjutant Moore also read a report of the members of the G. A. R. who had passed away during the past year—from May 30, 1910, to 30, 1911. There are seven of these brave ones who have responded to the "last taps" during the past year, to awake at the sound of the great reveille on the judgment day, they being: John Ault. Abner S. Parrish. James H. Smith. Godfrey Christen. George Raver. Smuel Shell. Lieutenant R. S. Peterson. A very appropriate recitation was given by Mrs. Alice Freeh Funk, daughter of one of the veterans, and the song by the quartet, comprising D. W. Beery, J. Q. Neptune, E. E. Flee and J. C. Tritch, added much to the excellency of the program. At this stage in the service came one of much interest —that of the presentation of a badge to the oldest veteran present. The badge was one of the G. A. R. order and in a well worded speech by- the commander, L. N. Grandstaff, was presented to Randall Sprague, who last August arrived at the eighty-third year of his life, to the

Decatur, Ind. Tuesday Evening, May 30, 1911.

youngest member of the order, John Williams, who is sixty-two years of age, being delegated the honor of pin ning the badge on the breast of the gallant veteran. Mr. Aaron DeVlnney who was eighty-two last August, has the honor of being the second oldest. The address of the afternoon was delivered by the Hon. J. C. Moran, one of the attorneys of this city, who is an orator of note, the address being given in full In another part of this issue. It abounded in stirring thoughts and was one of great eloquence and inspiration. Another song by the quartet, followed by short talks by various ministers present, closing with the grand national hymn, "America," concluded the service in the court room. The line of march was then formed to the cenotaph which had been placed on the Niblick lawn just south of the court house. This cenotaph contains all the names of the soldiers whose deaths occurred during the war and many of whom lie in unknown and unmarked graves. The monument was placed at the head of an imitation grave, and on the cenotaph were placed wreaths in their memory, the G. A. R. conducting the services, as well as the W. R. C., the latter decorating the grave, passing in line and dropping thereon their floral tribute. This is a very impressive service in memory of those who. having gone down in unknown and unmarked graves, would be remembered on this day in no other way than in the hearts of their immediate loved ones. Then came the tribute to the naval heroes. This service was held at the Monroe street river bridge, where bouquets were cast upon the running waters and carried out to the seas to strew the watery graves of those who lost their lives .therein. Commander L. N. Grandstaff cast the first bouquet, then a member of the Sons of Veterans, then the W. R. C. members, who conducted their special ritualistic service for this event. The line of march to the river bridge was formed at the court house lawn, comprising many hundreds of veterans, sons of veterans, Women's Relief Corps members, school children, and citizens in general. The following was the line of march to the bridge: Form on Third street, right resting on Adams street; east on Adams to Second street; north on Second to Monroe; east on Monroe to river bridge. Services by W. R. C. for naval dead. Then march west on Monroe to Fourth; south on Fourth to Jefferson, where parade is dismissed. ORATION OF THE DAY. (By Hon. J. C. Moran.) It is well that on the forty-third anniversary of the founding of this day by the Grand Army, that we lay aside our work and our cares and together, with our wives, our children, our grandchildren, and our friends, gather around the sleeping dust of the beloved comrades, bedew their graves with our tears, strew them with flowers in memory not only of what good and brave men they were but what they did to keep our flag in the sky, that for which it stands should not perish from the earth; and as we scatter flowers on the graves of the esteemed comrades let us not forget the faithful wife who walked so long by their side,, who has finished life's work: nor the gray-haired father and mother who gave these noble sons to their country, when every day was a day of carnage and every hour was an hour of death; but they died not in vain. No grave of a comrade should be neglected and none forgotten, feeble though many of you are, the people of the land stand with out-stretched .hands to aid you ere your sun goes down. This day should not be a day of .merriment. We deplore its desecration by the unthinking who are un 1 mindful of the fact that they enjoy

the blessings of our noble dead, secured to them, and are sorry that there are any who disregard its sacredness. The purpose of this gathering this afternoon Is to reflect and comment upon the valor and neroic deeds of the honored dead who died on the field of' battle and likewise to comment upon the living who participated in these glorious struggles for freedom and Independence, not freedom alone In name but freedom in reality. In 1861 the destruction of our government was threatened on account of slavery. At once as if by magic, there was created an army and navy, the largest and best the world - ever knew, to meet and overthrow on land and sea the enemies of our flag; over two million gallant soldiers were placed in the field of battle and the coast of the Continent was blockaded with ships, and with these was put down one of the fiercest and most gigantic rebellions known in history. The war really began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. For | * •« | THOMAS W. MALLONEE, Senior Vice Commander Sam Henry Post, G. A. R., Decatur. thirty-four long hours nineteen bat teries rained shot and shell against the fort. Major Anderson's supplies of food and ammunition became exhaus’ed and he was forced to surrender. Thereupon Lincoln called for seventyfive thousand volunteers which was responded to, so that by the summer of 1861 the union forces numbered one hundred and eighty’ thousand. Men of all ages volunteered; some of them were mere boys who had never

A BUNCH OF THE VETERANS AS THEY APPEAR TODAY. I-• o- ' JHWr ■ Wi sssegsgg I ,-- JL- -“SsSSssssss & MME . fr- • ■ ' ' 5 J — ----- — Fifty Os The Living Sixtythree Members Os Sam Henry Post-Photo-Taken On West Court Steps Wednesday, May 24,1911

been away from home, and then began a series of battles unaparalled in history. ' The battle of Bull Rtm resulted in a victory for the Confederates. Instead of discouraging the people of the north it aroused them to new and greater effort and then followed some of the greatest battles known; there was the battle of Shiloh, the Seven Days Battle in and about Richmond, ; the three days’ battle of Gettysburg, the deadly struggle at the battle of the Wildnerness, where in less than ten minutes ten thousand union soldiers were slain; there was Phil Sheridan's brilliant dash at Winchester, the battle above the clouds, Antitum, and Sherman’s march to the sea, which were some of the decisive battles and conflicts of the late rebellion. And in all of those conflicts the gallantry of the union soldier was unsurpassed. The surrender of Lee ended the great contest which cost a half million of lives. In the hot flame and white heat of this war was melted the chains and shackles of more than four million of i slaves and made them free and every s one of them. In the rich, red blood of the soldiers I with sword and bayonet was written into the constitution the amendments j which made this a government free in fact as well as in name, wherein all men are equal and every one is free. These battles were not fought that men might have war as a business, nor were they fought ( that one man might kill his neighbor, but back of all this was the principle of freedom and the love of country and if principles of this character were not involved, you could not have fought as you did. The hired Hessians of the Revolution, soldiers of European countries, who are paid to fight, could not have accom- ; rlished nor withstood the awful on- ' claught arid the hardships that our soldiers withstood. The patriotic thrill and love of country only comes to those who have been, well governed: and In those countries in which they rule their subjects with an iron hand they are not thus defended. In a repuJic such as ours every citizen is a soldier. We paid a high price for our heritage and we should ever bear in mind the brilliancy of the soldier living and dead, and that while peace hath its victory no less renowned than war the price of liberty is eternal vigllence and we have battles to fight in time of peace as well as in war, and every one who protects himself beneath the shelter of the flag should so regard himself a soldier: that the great war-

’ fare between the strong and the weak, between the oppressed and the oppresser, between capital and labor, is a continuing warfare, that it is not so much the question of shorter hours or longer hours and the making up of J day, but that humanity must learn that the man who labors and toile must be fully recognized, socially and every other way; that we cannot in a free country have the vassal and the king, and we must all recognize that conscience is as paramount In the administration of government and the controlling of society as it ever was. It is not enough that man should defend his own rights but he should stand sponsor for the rights of his neighbor. The relation that one man bears to another was never laid down with more accuracy and precision than by the lowly Nazarene, when the Jewish lawyer asked the Master what he should do to be saved, and in that philosophy which stands unchallenged, and that which is as fresh and inspiring today as when utterd centur- , ies ago, he said: I "Love God above all things and thy > neighbor as thyself,” and again when - Interrogated as to who our neighbor was he answered in the parable so 1 plain and simple that he who runs may read the story of the man from L Jerico, who fell among the robbers. i And now In conclusion, let me say that the soldier who died that his •country might live and those who were willing to die in defense of their country should never be forgotten and while we pay honor to our noble dead we should likewise pay high tribute to the living soldier, his wife and to the wives of our noble dead. We owe a high tribute of respect to those grand organizations, the Grand Army and the W. R. C. / I know of no higher tribute to be paid to the remaining soldiers of the rebellion than government to give us more liberal pension laws and increased pensions to the surviving soldiers and to the widows of our noble dead, so that they may be well taken care of in their declining years. In a few more years none of the soldiers of the civil war will be with us. you have grown old. but we will not only demember your brilliancy while you live, but when you are dead. (Memorial sermon, delivered Sunday, May 29, 1911, by Rev. Charles E. Ehle at the Presbyterian church.) "OUR NATION’S HONOR." “Them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” —I Sam. 2:30. (Continued on Page 8.)

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Price, Two Centi

ELOPERS ARE HELD Youthful Hazel Smitley and Floyd Harden of Blue Creek Township WANTED TO ELOPE To Michigan to Get Marj ried—Mother Sent Word to Apprehend Couple. Floyd Marden, aged twenty-one, son of Mr. and Mrs. Milo Harden, of Bryant, and Miss Hazel Smitley, aged sixteen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neison Smitley, of Blue Creek township, were foiled in an eiopement which they endeavored to put through Monday evening. The young couple came to this city Monday evening at 7 o’clock and planned to leave at midnight for Kalamazoo, Mich., where they were to get married. The bride's mother, however, learned of the intended elopement and objecting onaccount of the extreme youth of the bride, notified Sheriff Durkin Monday night about 9 o’clock to be on the lookout for the couple. Night Policeman Melchi was thereupon notified to make a search for them and he finally located them at the railroad just an hour before the train was due to arrive to carry them to their Gretna Green. The girl was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Durkin, where she was given accommodations in their home apartments over night, neither the bride or groom being placed under arrest. The couple are very bright looking and good looking young people and when interviewed this morning were 'sitting on a sofa in the office of the Durkin home awaiting the bride's mother, whom they confidently expected would arrive about noon and assist them in getting the necessary license and let the marriage take place. The bride is a charming young lady, not yet in fully lengthened skirts, and she wore what was no doubt to have been the wedding dress —a white embroidered (Continued on Page 8.)