Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1919 — RENSSELAER IS REPRESENTED [ARTICLE]

RENSSELAER IS REPRESENTED

COMMITTEE ATTENDS HOMECOMING RECEPTION AT INDIANAPOLIS. ... J - ■ Mayor Charles G. Spitler and his committee, consisting of Harry Parker, J. J. Montgomery, Charles W. Rhoades and Louis H. Hamilton, were -the official representatives of Rensse* laer at the rousing reception given at the Indiana capital Friday, January 10. James H. Chapman, who had been appointed a member of this committee, was unable to be present on account of sickness. It was an ideal day and the arrangements by Indiana’s adjutantgeneral, Harry B. Smith, for the reception, of the 2,500 Indiana boys of the 137th and 139th Field Artillery, just returned from overseas, could not have been improved. It was planned that the committees from the twenty cities from over the state that had soldiers in this long parade should have the most prominent part in this reception of “our boys.” The members of these committees met with the adjutant-general in the hall of representatives at 10:30 a. m. Friday, and tickets for admission to the reviewing stand, which had been erected on Meridian street just across from the Board of Trade building, were given out. The stand was occupied by these committees, the members of the legislature. Governor James P. Goodrich and wife, and the members of his staff. Here one of the most thrilling sights to be witnessed in a life time was seen. The two thousand five hundred Indiana boys, every one looking the part of a real soldier, marched by, and how proud each one felt as the boys that belonged to him passed by. The first Rensselaer boy to be recognized was Laban Wilcox. A chorus from the Rensselaer committee rang out, “Hello Laban.” This, of course, was answered by a smile only. But that smile was as bright and cheerful as the noonday sun. Jammie Eldridge was next recognized, and when the fellows cried out “Jammie,” he came very near breaking ranks and coming to the stand. And so thrill after thrill went through the committee as the boys mentioned elsewhere marched by and were recognized, as with a smile almost as effective as a good warm handshake. After the long June of march had passed by, Adjustant General Smith presented those on the reviewling stand with tickets to the Murat theatre. As the soldiers entered this large playhouse the committee was able to grasp their hands, and every one of them came back with a grip that made one know that they were truly glad to greet you. It must be noted that Indianapolis people were not allowed to fill up the theatre, but that the box seats, which were the only seats not occupied by the soldiers, were occupied by the committees from the cities, the members of the legislature, and by not more than twenty people from Indianapolis. Adjutant General Smith was in charge of the program at the theatre and short addresses were made by Governor Goodrich, Mayor- Jewett, Col. Robert L. Moorehead of the 139th Regiment Field Artillery, and Col. Cleveland C. Lansing of the 137th Regiment. Col. Lansing, by the way, is a brother of Secretary of State Lansing, and from the expression from the soldiers when he spoke, he is decidedly popular with his men. After this brief speech making, theatre people from the several playhouses of Indianapolis put on a very interesting progham for the soldiers. Some of the best talent in the country was represented and all did their parts for the entertainment of the boys without pince.A general invitation had been sent out to the Jasper county boys to be the guests of the committe from this county at the Columbia Club for dinner. The following were able to ibe present: Floyd Hemphill, Hollis Turner, James Eldridge, Orphde Gant, Glenn Swaim, William Grayson, William Jenkins and William Holmes. After dinner the boys attended Flo Flo at the English Opera House as the guests of the comnrittee, and the evening was certainly an enjoyable one. Thetboys report that Asa Snow is at the Fort Harrison hospital and that he ha| not yet fully recovered from the shell shock he received in France. All of the boys of the two regiments are expected home during the coming week. Some are to be mustered out Monday and the others Friday. As far as we were able to ascertain the following Jasper county boys are in the two regiments now kt Fort Benjamin Harrison. Lieut. George W. Healey. i Sargt. James Eldridge. , ' Hollis Turner. Corp. Orphie Gant. Glenn Swaim.' V Floyd Hemphill. Will Grayson. . William Holmes. : ' William Jenkins. . _ . . Harvey Myres. Asa Snow. LabanWilcoxT” Glen Burns. George Powers. William Gant. Philip Miller. Allen Bowsher.