The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-08-29
COL. ROOSEVELT
IN BENN|NGTON N
THIS MORNING
Made Long Address at Morgan
Park To-Day
FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE
Heard Americas Only Living Elk
President Answer the Attacks Of
Penrose and Archbold

One of the biggest crowds, if not
the largest that has gathered in Ben
nington since the dedication of the
Bennington battle monument as
sembled here today to- hear Colonel
Roosevelt the former president and
candidate for the office of chief exec
utive on the progressive party ticket
The coming of the former president
was recognized by a general Closing
of the different industries and the
village was pervaded by real holiday
air.
Eearly this morning the people began
coming into town in every KIND OF
conveyance and on the two branches
of the Berkshire street railway sys-
TEN the incoming cars were packed
to the running boards.
At Morgan park the crowd that
gathered in the grandstand and about
the PLATFORM from which the speak
ers gave their addresses was gener-
ally estimated at fully 5000.
Colonel Roosevelt and party which
included dozen newspaper repres'
entatives was met at North Benning-
ton on the arrival of the train from
New York by an automobile delega-
ton of local progressives. Colonel
Roosevelt was taken directly to the
home OF Alexander j. Cooper for
breakfast and then to Morgan park.
The arrangements at the park were
excellent. A gusty wind blew across
the field and interfered somewhat
with the speaking Both Mr.. Metzger
and Colonel Roosevelt were in excel
lent voice. however, and 1t is prob
able that a large majority of the peo-
pie present were able TO follow the
arguments Colonel Roosevelt spoke
slowly and deliberately His remarks
perhaps lacked the passionate eli
makes that the people have been lead
to expect when the former rough rider
is on the platform, but the force OF
his argument plainly reached his au-
dience and there'were frequent bursts
of applause.
Rev. George s. Mills of Benning-
ton presided and introduced as the
first speaker Rev. Frazer Metzger Of
Randolph. candidate for the Vermont
governorship on the National Pro
gressive ticket Mr.. Mills said:
This is not political campaign. II
is a crusade " He said that presently
its leader would be present to speak
Mr. Metzger. he said, is man wur-
thy to be governor, of intellectual
force and executive ability.
MIR. Metzger, at the opening OF his
address. said that this Is pn appto-
pirate spot upon which to open q
crusade. spot remarkably hahowed
by associations The native hills Of
Vermont in some way bring into the
mind something of what the progress
sives are fighting for in their cam
paign. From these hills the farmers
came down to battle with a despot
and to make popular rule effective.
The progressive movement is coming
to the people in much the same way
We cannot afford to forget or ignore
the lessons which men have learned
in the past. We must keep an eye
on experience which can so effect
lively guide us.
The pople themselves must rule.
Delegated power in | nation means
that nations last day When Israel
asked for a king Israel began TO de-
cay. When Greece established an
aristocracy Greece began to fall.
When Rome gave power to Caesar. its
glory began to fade On the other
hand. when the people of England de-
manded the Magma Charta of King
John. England took foremost place
ha nh nr,,ttr.11
began his magnificent crusade. she
secured that place. The streets Of
Paris ran with blood 10 gain France
her freedom. America has similar
examples.
The present citizenship of America
is face to face with the same prob
lem. There is a real call to all. a
real crusade. II is the cause of the
people.
MIR. Metzger told how he was born
in New York. He told of his coming
to Vermont and the inspiration gain
ed from its hills. He said that he
could not understand how a man
could do a mean thing i'm Vermont.
He believes that Vermont boys who
go out from the old state are the
peers of all men through the inspira-
ton of the hills.
Mr.. Meetzger said he regretted
having been born in New York with
its political conditions. One word de-
fines New York Republicanism and
that word is Barnes" Barnes of
Albany is now at the head of the Re
publican Campaign. The conditions
that Barnes represents extend down
through to county committeeman. II
is a process to rob the voters Of his
ballot.
The Democratic party on the other
hand is not a refuge To define New
York democracy needs but one word:
Murphy. Mr.. Metzger cited the Ros-
enihal murder case az an nrarnnln OF