The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-10-31
BENNINGTON WILL
AID LITH UAN|AN
WAR SUFFERERS
Tag Day. Tomorrow to Assist
Sadly Stricken People
WILLIAM P. HOGAN TREASURER
Committee OF. Three viii Canvas Ar.
lington Village for Same Worthy
Purpose.

In accordance with President Will
sons proclamation appointing We'd
nesday, Nov l, as the day for the re-
reiving OF contributions for the relief
of the Lithuanian war sufferers, the
people of Bennington and vicinity are
going to be given an opportunity to
subscribe to this worthy cause through
the medium of tag day"
The matter has been brought to the
attention of Village President A. w
Braisted and the board of trustees and
has received their endorsement. Viii
lage Clerk W. p. Hogan is TO act as
treasure OF the fund and whatever
sum is contributed by residents OF Ben
nington will be forwarded to the Red
Cross society at Washington, d. c.
In Arlington a committee has been
selected composed of Felix Shlapels,
A. Kauniets and Peter Mikitas who
win on Wednesday go through the viii
lagos OF Arlington and East Arlington
TO collect funds. Prosper +. Desehen-
es of Arlington has been requested to
act as treasurer.
OF all the people of Europe the
Lithuanians are the last to be recon-
mended to the charity of Americans
And in accordance with an old axiom,
because they are last they are not
least If one race OF war sufferers,
innocent war sufferers, is to be chosen
as a special beneficiary of the good
deeds of the neutral world the Lithu-
anian, suffering long in silence and
therefore suffering greatly must come
forward with especially worthy recon-
mendations,
History has not dealt kindly with
this ancient people. Were the truth
fully told, no branch of the Caucasian
family could show better claim, and
few could show as good a claim to the
distinctions that attach to pure Aryan
descent In the centuries that found
Iithuania a power on the globe, civil
ization and its founding. liberty, were
the special wards of Lithuanian
achievement Patriots of that old land
worked nightly for the freedom that
was to be found in the new land OF
America
Across Lithuania in the two years
of European conflict has ragged the
bloody tide of unremitting battle. In
nocent of any part in the conflict this
ancient Aryan race has paid more
dearly than even Belgium for nothing
more than the unhappy fact that 1t lay
in the path of the conquerors, no mat
ter which side happened to be so dis
tinguished. Food supplies have been
lost. utterly. Desolation, worse than
Belgium's. has left no power of recu
peration to the old men, women and
children. all that are left from the war
drafts of the powers, war drafts that
took the yeomanry of Lithuania into
struggle in which they did not and
cannot have an in-LithGania
Starvation is the martyrdom of
Lithuania.
Our people should not and will not
forget the purposes of the presidents
proclamation, and there is no doubt
that substantial relief will be given
the people of devastated Lithuania.
President Wilson's Proclamation
Whereas, have received from the
house of representative of the United
States a resolution. passed July 21,
1916, reading as follows:
Whereas in the various countries
now engaged in war there are four
millions of Lithuanians, the greater
majority of whom are destitute of
food, shelter and clothing; and
Whereas millions of them have been
driven from their homes without warn
ing, deprived of an opportunity to
make provisions for their elementary
wants. causing starvation, disease and
untold suffering; and
Whereas the people of the United
States of America have learned with
sorrow of his plight of millions CT hui
man beings and have most generously
responded to the cry for help when
ever such an opportunity has reached
them;
Therefore be it
Resolved that in view OF the mis-
cry, wTetchedness, and hardships which
these four millions of Lithuanians are
suffering the president Of the United
States be respectfully asked to desig-
nate day on which the citizens OF this
country may give expression to their
sympathy by contributing to the
funds now being raised for the relief
of the Lithuanians in the war zone.
And Whereas, feel confident that
the people of the United States will
be moved to aid a people stricken by
war, famine and disease
Nov, therefore, /, Woodrow Will
son, President of the United States, in
compliance with the request of the
house of representatives thereof, do
appoint and proclaim Wednesday,