Newspaper Page Text
More Engineer Regiments.
The wonderful record made in
France by the engineer regiments,
largely composed of American rail
road men. has resulted in a call for
6ve more regiments ami 19 battal
ions, which are beinsj recruited.
This will make a total of 50.000
men from this country mgaized in
railraod construction and operation
i:i France.
Some of the engineering regi
ments have been overseas longer
than Geo. Prshing him:-elf. The
first of them landed there in August
1917. Nine of the 12 regiments
recruited by the volunteer system
have been engHged on construction
work and thrte are used in operat
ing the American railroads in
France. The Government has spent
$160,000,000 in equipping these
railroads, including 1,727 locomo
tives, 22,630 freight cars and 359.
O00 tons of steel rails
On occasion the engineers have
dropped the tools of their trade to
grasp the rifle and grenade, as at
the time of Gen. By ng's thrust to
ward Carnbrai last year and in the
recent German drive for Amiens,
when some of them formtd an im
portant part of the immortal band
known in England as "Gen. Carey's
chickens," with which that resource
ful Briton plugged the gap between
the French and British lines during
the great retreat in March. They
have not only built railroads, but
terminals, wharves, docks and
ligh;erage at the water front, switch
ing facilities, railway shops and
fcui.d houses. Some of the work
they have done will remain as a:
monument to America" genius long
after the war and will bear an im
portant part in the revival of
French business and industry.
mm
E.vdovernor
I W Ffll
Candidate
for...
Will Speak
at
Monroe City
June 22
1 P.m.
I i m
HwX.RWnfleylM
CO Trry5truss-Reyrori
A native Missourian whose intimate friends call him "Zen." He was
named after his unc!?, Xenophon linda.ll, who commanded Pindall's
Sharpshooters, the advance gurrd of General Sterling Price's army. His
father, James F. Wilfley, of Audrain county, was a lieutenant in the
Coni-ed'-re.te army.
When Xenophon i'R-rte Wilfley,
Senator of the United Suites trow
Missouri, was 5 ytars old, 25 physi
cians agreed that he could not pos.-.i-bly
live. The boy disagii-ed w.tn the
doctors. He told tht-ni, at all times,
during a terrible illness w Uich extend
ed over a period of five years, a.:d
which left a pennant in impr--ss '. jii
upon him, that i.t- uou'.d live and u;
a successful man.
The boy's unfailing determination,
animation and vi ,;!iiy ti iiiinpiieu. ..e
lived, bci-ame a .successful sel.ooi
teaclier and lawyer, ar.d lias rt-i.eutly
been appointed by the Governor of
bis state to the most honorable- posi
tion in the world save th, of lVusi
der.t of the U.ii'td S'uies. As Air.
Wilfley is only 4? years old, it is rea
sonable to assume that the luture may
bold fun her honors and successes for
him.
Supreme courage, unfailing good
temper, insatiable thirst for knowl
edge, direct s.atement and treun-ii
dous vitality are the distinguishing;
characteristics of the new Senator
from Missouri. He lives in the fu
ture. The past means nothing to him
other than a possible guide to con
duct in coming conditions. Tho ter
rible physical suffering which he un
derwent in his youth, and from which,
indeed, he never has been at any time
wholly free, has left heavy impress
upon his limbs, but no impress what
ever upon his lace, his mind or bis
soul. Life has been one long night of
physical suffering for Wilflt-y, but he
never thinks of the night. Uis whole
existence lies in the bright day of
knowledge and accomplishment. His
limbs are twisted, his sufferings de
prived him of two legitimate feet of
bis natural stature, but his eye is as
bright, his face as cheery, intelligent
and interested in knowledge as the
face of a boy. Indeed, it is bard to
find a metaphor to describe the fas
cinating eagerness of the Wilfley
countenance.
WILFLEY WAS BORN ON
AUDRAIN COUNTY FARM.
The story of the life of Senator
Wilfley is an inspiration to the Ameri-
j can boy, especially to the boy who
feels that be is handicapped in the
! atruggle of life by locality of birth,
Illness, loss of education, limbs and
Buffering.
Wilfley was born on the prairie
near Santa Fe, Monroe County, Mis
! aouri, which is 18 miles northeast of
; the goodly city of Mexico, in Audrain
County, and 12 miles west of the fa
mous village of Florida, the birthplace
of Mark Twain. The Wilfley farm,
820 acres, a full half section, is on
Littleby Creek, which flows into Mark
Twain's Salt Uiver. If is a good place
to ' born and to live in.
j T- prairies of Monroe are the fair
est In the world. Mile after mile, aa
far and as straight as the crow may
fly In any direction, the land Is black
and deep" and perfect for the purposes
of the farmer and of the stockman.
It was settled by men who for 300
years had been accustomed to taking
their choice of the fairest lands in the
world. That they took it is proof of
Its perfection. Its settlers had never
taken any but choice lands. There
were millions of acres of choice lands
to be had for the taking in the United
States when the Wilfleys and Pindalls
and Shelbys, Xenophon Wilfley's fore
bears, settled in Callaway, Boone,
Monroe and Randolph counties. The
settlers had their choice. They chose
the best.
Senator Wilfley 'e career does not
begin with himself. He is not an an
cestor. He has ancestors. The Wil
fleys are Tennesseeans; before that,
Virginians; before that, Midshire Eng
lish. But the Wilfleys do not go be
yond Senator Wilfley's grandfather.
They have always been Southern
Methodists, planters and stockmen.
That, is all they know or care to know
sbout themselves.
But if Wilfley is short on pedigree
on the sire's side, he is long on pedi
gree on the mother's side. Mrs. Wil
fley, fresh and fair and full of -the
promise of the future as the average
woman is at 20, was a Pindall. The
Pindalls came from England in 1G41
with Lord Baltimore and settled Mary-j
land. They intermarried with the j
Shelbys, who also came over with the
Irish nobleman to seek civil and re
ligious liberty in the new Utopia. The
Pindalls and Shelbys and Pritcheits
and Bonds, all cavaliers, early Mary
landers and Virginians, intermarried.
SENATOR'S ANCESTORS
FOUGHT UNDER WASHINGTON
They fought in every war waged by
the colonies and by the United Static.
Philip Pindall, a many times grant-
grandfather of Mrs. Sarah Pindall Wil
fley, was a devoted follower and trie id
of George Washington. Whither the
Father of His Country went Philip Pin.
dall followed him. Pindall was with
Washington in the so-called Continen
tal war of the English and coloni. ts
against the French and served in the
fatal campaign of Braddock, against
which Washington so strongly pro
tested. Some years later, when Wash-
lngton felt impelled to take up arms
for bis country against the land and
people of his fathers, Pindall was at
bis side. The Shelbys, Pritcbetts, Mor
ganti, Pierponts and Bonds chipped in
So Mrs. Sarah Pindall Wilfley Is a
four times Daughter of the American
Revolution, traces four lines of bloo 1
direct to that spilt at Saratoga, York
town and Long Island. No doubt somo
of the Pindalls, Shelbys, Pritchetts and
Bonds crossed the Delaware. There ta
a "crossing the Delaware" look about
Mrs. Wilfley. a bold, upstanding, out
looking look, and about ber senator
son. They are always looking forward
to the other shore.
The Pindalls ar.d Sh.rbya w-r?
Btalesmen and politicians in V!.:: .; i. Hniiorl Wfl Will WjHirl
Maryland and Kentucky. There wi s a UllllCU 110 WW III OldllUi
Gen ivins Shelby pindaii, who served The fact is becoming every day
In the Revolutionary War and In th . . . ' n
war of 1812. and who became first more 8,'d more aPParenl 1 "at Ger-
Govr-rnor of Kentucky. Mrs. Wlltley's many is finding a united foe tor-
n'fJ?1 6,n wa3 Ivan Shr,by p,ndn" 8tro4 for " er boasted efficiency.
Wilfley. Her grandson Is Ivans She!bv T. . . . ... , , .
Pindall Wilfley, 19 years old, a sla .- The a,lied Dattle 1,r,eS Hfe. "dlD4'.
ing young stockman on the old Wilfley firm, and the Prussian objective of
place In Monroe County. ; parj9 or tne Channel ports seems a
mSltVSX! bein aainedas at an
during the Civil War. Gov. Pierpont time since the German hordes were
"was Union." To balance that M -m. , turned back at the Marne.
Wilfley had two brothers In the Con-j o... whp p...:,.,, firrns fn:i
federate amy. with Gen. Sterling l . WIlen U8SMn arms ,al1.
Price in Missouri. When the waf w.s 1 Prussian strategy gets ou the job.
over and everyone in Missouri had to : And Prussian strategy is on the job
take an oath that they had not borne these day8 88 ,arg ,if Th b.
and would not bear arras against tho ' . , . 8 - V.
United States the Plndalls had to ,ct of tnat Strategy IS to effect de
leave the state and go to Arkansas, j affection and division in the rank
They were willing to swear that they 0f 1S enemies. Well the Hohenzol
would not bear arms against the Unit- ,,, . ... ....
ed States, but they could not truthfully ,ernS kD0W that w,tn the All,e
swear that they had not done so. Rath- thoroughly united in aims and
er than attest to a falsehood they methods, the Prussian ambition i
moved to Arkansas. That did not seem Hnnmprl
to Injure them, for both attained emi- uu"ulcu
nence at the Arkansas bar. German propaganda humbled
senator named for j Russia not German arms. German
uncle, confederate officer j intrigue was the one cause of the
The original wiifieys settled in that j disastrous Austrian drive into Italy,
famous part of Missouri which is 1 . . .
known as "the Kingdom of Callaway." German propaganda is now aimed
The Shelbys came from Kentucky a i l j at driving a wedge between the
settled in Monroe County. Then s i allied nations. Nr. nnnnrfnniMr
Sarah Pindall married James F. Wil
fley and became a prairie wife, "Hie
happiest wife that ever lived," as she
puts it herself.
Wilfley could not trace his pedigree
beyond his grandfather, nor his re
ligion beyond John Wesley, but his
widow of 35 years says of him, "H e
was the dearest, sweetest, kindest h'ls
band and the most honorable, upright
man that ever lived." Which proves
that a man may be quite a man with
out knowing who or what his great
grandfather was.
"Mr. Wilfley was a perfect hus
band," says his widow. "I hate to say
that he was a perfect man, it seems
too sappy, but he never lost his tem
per, never said an unkind word and
never swore. He was so gentle and so
dignified that if a man casually swore
in his presence he was sure to apolo
gize. He was of the nature that mean
ness no sooner came into his presence
than It became ashamed of itself and
moved away."
Mr. Wilfley, the Senator's father,
had been a lieutenant in the Confed
erate army, and was a friend of his
wife's brothers, Xenephon and Leb
beus Pindall, who cor.imandd Pin
dall's Sharpshooters, the advance
guard of Gen. Sterling Price's army.
The Senator is named after one of
these uncles.
Life on the prairie was ideal for her.
Mrs. Wilfley says. There were four
boys and a girl. When the girl was 14
years old she died.
The gentle and affectionate father
died, too. He loved his little daughter
so that when she went he had to go
after her. He lived three year3, dying
all the while. His daughter's death
broke his heart, deadened his soul,
crushed his bones and dried the mar
row therein.
At 42 Mrs. Wilfley, four times
Daughter of the American Revolution,
was left alone on the prairie to rear
four sons.
Xenophon, the third of the four, was
a strong baby until he was 3 years old.
Then rheumatism seized him. That
was bad enough. But the rheumatism
developed into necrosis of the bone,
one of the most serious and painful af
flictions known to surgery. Necrosis
means that the bones dry and decay
like a bad tooth.
WILFLEY DISCLAIMS POLITICS
IN OLD SENSE OF TERM.
In speech and in manner Wilfley is
extraordinarily clear and direct. He
never seems to see or to recognize a
side issue, but sails direct to the rear
point. This is true of his private con
versation as of his public utterances.
If you ask Wilfley a question be
wastes no time "stalling." He answers
that be knows or mat he does not
know, that be has studied the ques
tion, but has not bad time to give it
sufficient consideration, that be does
not thoroughly understand it. He ia
like the' original Xenophon of the An
abasis, who did much to set the beau
tiful Greek style of economy of words.
Wilfley is not verbose. When he uses
words tbey mean something.
Wilfley disclaims politics. He has
never figured as a politician. He has
held office aa election commissioner
of St, Louis for a few months. It is
unlikely that be ever will be a politi
cian in the old sense..
Hia early 111 health cost Senator
Wilfley many inches in stature. All
the other members of his family are
large men and women. He bas the
bead, neck, shoulders and chest of
large man, but bla legs were seriously
affected by bis early sicknesses. He
weara an immense bat, 7, about the
largest bat worn in St. Louis Blnce the
late Isaac Taylor died. His forehead I
la high and clear, hia mouth atrong
but humorous. For all bla 47 yeara
and hia terrible suffering there ia al-
ways the suggestion of the Joyoua boy
ways the suggestion
about bia face.
will be neglected, it matters not
how small it may be, of sowing dis
sensions between the nation?
leagued against her.
So, if you even think that we
have a grievance against any of our
allies, lock that thought up careful
ly in your heart and never let it see
the light of day till this gigantie
conflict is fought to a finish.
And when that result shall have
been achieved, you will doubtless
find that you can thank Prussian
strategy for having ever entertained
a doubt of those who are dying by
the side of our sons.
Latest records of the War Depart
ment show that a total of 135
American soldiers have been locat
ed at German prison camps. There
also are 216 American civilians, in
cluding sailors, who are interned in
Germany.
About 5,000 Germans are intern
ed in this country. This includes:
1,310 prisoners of war ar Fort
McPherson, Ga most of whom were
seamen on German ships: 839 alien
enemies at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.;
432 alien enemies at Fort Douglas,
Utah; and between 2,000 and 2.500'
prisoners taken from German mer
chantmen, at Hot Springs, N. C
at present under the Department of
Labor.
Five hundred Germans interned
in this country are being sent to
Army camps to aid in cultivating
gardens. One hundred of them go
to Camp Devens, 100 to Camp Grant
100 to Camp Sevier, 100 to Camp
Wadsworth, and 100 to Camp Sher
man. From the viewpoint of the rail
way conductor, brakeman, or en
ginemen Secretary McAdoo occupies
the most enviable position in this
or any other country. The railroad
trainmaster, superintendent or presi
dent have no terrors for him, for
be can fire them whenever the
spirit moves him.
A gipsy fortune teller once told
the emperor of Germany that he
would die by bis own hand, but it
is not improbable that when the
kaiser finds time to sit calmly down
and sum up bis many blunders,
such as the U-boat warfare, for in
stance, he will feel like kicking him
self to death, and thus dying by his
own foot.
The up-to-date farmer will see
that bis mower and reaper is ia
perfect order before harvest time
A little overhauling - and the pur
chase of Deceseary repairs now, may
mean a great saving later on. "Do
it now."
Ship riveters are getting $50 a
week, which 6eems like big wages to
L those who are unaware of the fact
' that almost every riveter, if he
Btfly8 on ,he job ,QIg fa ,
, . .... 6
, sure to become totally deaf.
