Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-05-03
PREPAREDNESS
MEETING HELD
Demonstration On Saturday
Night Drew a Couple
Thousand People.
LOCAL MEN MADE ADDRESSES
Rev. Jackson. Rev. Mason, Hon.
j.. 4. Sharp and Marcus
Pollasky Speakers.

With the streets crowded as on q
circus day, "A preparedness and enlist
ment demonstration was held on the
streets Saturday night, at which time
some Of the most patriotic addresses
ever heard in this city We're given by
various well-know Alma citizens and
pastors
In spite Of the cold, damp evening
couple thousand people lined the
streets fol the parade, consisting of
few of the local lodges, the veterans
OF 81, the boy scouts and others.
Following The parade the crowd aug
mented every minute from more and
more people, gathered at the corner
OF State Superior streets, where sev-
cral addrcsses were made. which held
the close attention of every one.
Postmaster Vincent p Cash arose
and told Of the purpose Of the meet
ing. it being to encourage cnlistments
IN Alma, which up to Saturday night
mad seen only two young men 20 TO
he army That the meeting was "a
success can be judged by the fact
that the next twenty-four hours saw
six young men 20 to the recruiting
Office and offer their services to the
government.
Following the explanation Of the
calling OF the demonstration, the Hon.
l. 4. Sharp was called upon for a
short address. which was fun of gilt
tcring sparks Of patriotism. He went
into the reasons for the war, as con
Germs this country. and said that it
was wal of democracy against
autocracy, and that the United
States had gone into the war as the
champion of democracy. and TO up
hold the national honor of the coun-
try which has been assailed by Ger
many " closing Mr.. Sharp stated
that he had rendered to the govern
ment his services. lie is now IN
charge OF the officers recruiting sta
tion which has been established in
this city. and which is examining for
the officers recruiting camp NJ Fort
sheridan
The Re, Frank Jackson said
that he was for peace. but that there
were things which must be had, and
which country must have even
though it could not have peace. ma
tional honor being only one Of those.
Ills address was full of vim. and held
The audience very closely.
The Rev William II. Mason was
he next speaker He also stated
that he believed in peace, but when
one came into his home. sullied his
hearth stone. and attacked his wife
nd family. he must expect to fight.
he also mentioned that the United
States had gone into the war without
hope Of gain 81 territorial aggrand
izement, but as champion OF hu-
manity lie mentioned the patriotism
0i the years gone by. and how he
believed that il WAS still present and
NJ ould rise to the occasion He also
told the large audience that he had
rendered his services to his country
The Hon Marcus Pollasky, the
next speaker. stated at the start that
ne was for war, and it was gathered
before his address was over that he
was for war, because congress and
President Wilson had degree that this
country had suffered enough. that il
must fight Marcus paid glowing
tribute to the Gratiot Of former days,
when more men went to the front in
the Civil war than there was left in
Did Gratiot TO feed and care for the
antilles left behind. He told how
hese boys and mon had faced the
enemy in the most Important battles
the war. la his plea for more en-
liatmeuts now. when the country was
rlhne fol hundreds OF thousand OF
young men to aid .n lphulding the
lationaI honor
Corpora Boston charge ot the
local recruiting Office. was the Iast
peake Ill asked 'tha the young
men come before the selectivc con
-ctiptior wa pu n force n clos
ing hc oaNcd=aoft ld#tilory which
was greeted hy cheer after cheer
from the hundreds Of people gather
ed for the demonstration
The Republic band rendered music
during the evening. patriotic strains
holding sway lor the greater part Of !
the night. The BAND proved to be one
of the big attractions at the meet
ing The band made il appearance
at the demonstration through the
kindness OF the Republic Motor Truck
Company, Inc