Fairmont Is Host To 200 Veterans Of War With Spain.

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WILLMAR NEXT

CONVENTION CITY

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Veterans Favor Conscription

Of Wealth. Elect Officers.

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Monday and Tuesday of last week Fairmont was host to Spanish-American veterans who assembled in that city in annual convention. This was the 20th annual encampment and as to time represented the 26th year since the men volunteered and did service in the war with Spain. Two hundred veterans of that war attended the convention.

Monday night was the first meeting of the united comrades. It took the shape of a camp fire at Sylvania Park. J. E. Haycraft, acting for Fairmont, gave the address of welcome. Otto Raths, state commander replied for the veterans and Blanche Heinman of St. Paul spoke for the woman’s auxiliary.

Guests of Clubs

Many of the veterans were guests at the Rotary and Kiwanis dinners held in the city. At Rotary, Judge L.S. Nelson, commander of the Worthington unit gave the main address. At Kiwanis, several distinguished visitors were present. Gustav Koschel, veteran of five crusades, entertained the club with an interesting, brief sketch of his life. Koschel, aged sixty two years, served four years in the German army, was in the Spanish American war; saw service with the U. S. forces in the Philippines; aided in the Boer war and wound up with Uncle Sam in the last unpleasantness with Germany.

Afternoon Program

The afternoon program at Interlaken consisted of ball games, boat rides, swimming, band concerts, and golf. The men marched to the park and made a fine showing as they marched as of yore, with heads erect and colors flying

Officers Elected

At Tuesday’s meeting W. R. Boyce, Fairmont, treasurer of Martin County, was elected State Commander of the United Spanish American War Veterans The city of Willmar was selected as the meeting place for the next convention.

Other officers elected are: Sr. Vice Commander, Louis Litner, St. Paul;Jr. Vice Commander, C. B. Ward,Worthington; Department Inspector,Albert Hamon, St. Paul; Department Surgeon,R. E. Walker, St. Paul;Chaplain, J.W. Davidson, Janesville;Marshall, George Anderman, Fairmont; Judge Advocate,A. E. Edwards,Minneapolis; Patriotic Instructor, Sam Rask, Blooming Prairie; Historian, W.W. Keilly,Duluth, re-elected.

Delegates to the National Convention which will be held in Michigan City, Indiana are: Doctor French,Duluth; Louis Hemen, St. Paul; L. S. Nelson, Worthington and Al Hamon of St. Paul. The alternates names were: Louis Litner, St. Paul; L. V. Hurd, Lake City; Chas. Dolan, St. Paul and C. H. Clem of Minneapolis.

It was an orderly meeting and perfect harmony existed. There was no opposition to nominations and the secretary was kept busy casting unanimous ballots.

Resolutions Adopted.

The committees on resolutions re-commended that the money power of the United States be drafted in case of another emergency as well as the man power; to expose soviet propaganda, to take care of their widows and orphans, to secure a re-enactment of the law granting Spanish American war veterans and education benefit of $200 with the proviso that they be permitted to take $200 in cash in lieu thereof; to approve the recommendation of the disabled veterans of the World War for a Minnesota Veterans Memorial, and to place in some school building in each city where encampments are held, a tablet with a brief description of the Spanish American War thereon inscribed. Other resolutions of lesser importance were also adopted.

New Ulm Review,

July 18, 1924

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