Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Lest We Forget that many of our fellow students with- drew from school to offer their lives for their beliefs. Lest We Forget that more than 50 of these Kansas State men died for our country in World War I. Lest We Forget. Let Us Remember the Students Who Died A tribute to those K-Staters who died for their country, the memorial plaque of World War I now stands in Anderson Hall. The 16-foot plaque was completed just before Memorial Day, 1923. The following quotations vividly express the feel- ings of the great leaders during this war the great- est of all wars up to that time. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people to war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. Woodrow Wilson. War! that mad game the world so loves to play. Swift. It is a shallow victory which leaves a prostrate people. Charles A. Lindbergh. The following is the dedication of the 1918 Royal Purple: Sixty-five khaki clad men, some in France, some in Hawaii, and others scattered throughout the United States, training, waiting, and waiting im- patiently at that, These are the men of the senior class who have answered the call of the flag. These men we honor and love, and to them, for their sacrifice, their patriotism, and their devotion, we dedicate this tenth volume of the Royal Purple. 26

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Manhattan joins in celebrating K-S rate ' s Semi-centennial in 1913. Poyntz Avenue stands destitute of cars with only trolley car lines and tracks filling the streets between the fashionable lightposts. Three-inch collars, tasseled lamps, school pennants, and the singing of songs around a piano denote a day gone by. Students of the early 1900 ' s required little in outside enter tainment or proper conditions to aid them in studying III II Illl I II II II II II III II M M II II II II MM 25

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Call to War Obtains Eager Student Reply Entrance of the United States into World War I on April 6, 1917, stimulated interest and effort of K-State ' s students and faculty. Many members of the faculty obtained leaves of absence and a number of students withdrew at once to enlist in the national armed services. The crisis also called for the organiza- tion of the Kansas State Council of Defense. Declaration of war caused an immediate response by students. Kansas State, as did many colleges, gave a bonus in academic credit to each man who with- drew. Seniors were graduated if they had completed seven-eighths of their required work. In the summer of 1918, the War Department erected several wooden barracks on campus for the men in the Stu- dent ' s Army Training Corps. The progress of the war indirectly affected Kansas State to some extent through increase in prices. Fi- nancial support was given directly by purchase of liberty bonds, war savings bonds and thrift stamps. A large service flag was prepared to commemorate the service of K-State men in the war. A white star represented each man in service, and a gold star for each life that was lost. At least 52 men died. Training in simulated combat action replaced much of the formal drill on the parade field after the United States Advance cadets, officers-to-be, took their training most seriously, knowing they might soon be called upon to serve. became committed to the war in Europe. Special provisions were made to encourage participation in advanced training. 27