Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-18

Stirred as they have not been stirred
for years. Burlington rose en- masse at
the close of the powerfully intensive
appeal from the allied nations to their
brother Americans delivered by George
ADAM a native Of Scotland, who was the
final speaker at the war meeting of Chit
tenden county held in The Strong theatre
last evening. Few people in this vicin
ity can remember when any speaker has
held Burlington audience Of the magni-
tude of that which deluged The Strong
theatre last night. filling every seat In
the house and examining the standing
room clear to the street, in so mastery
a fashion as did this eloquent son of the
Scottish highlands. And 1t was not his
eloquence that did 1t. either. but rather
the intensity of the message which he
brought to the American people from
suffering England bleeding France and
heroic but starving Belgium. IT the
people Of Burlington were not awake to
the fact that America is at war when
George Adam began to speak. they were
given a thorough awakening which left
them grave and thoughtful, and which
they will not soon forget.
Details of the meeting last evening are
superfiuous. All that is necessary Is to
say that Burlington thronged to the war
meeting and that the inhabitants OF the
city were Joined by many from nearby
towns. Music by the 18th Cavalry band
at Fort Ethan Allen helped along the
spirit of the occasion, marching the
length Of Church street just previous to
: the opening Of the meeting and giving
short concert in connection with the
meeting.
A great deal of work was put into the
decorations at the theatre, and the COM
mittee can feel justly proud Of the appear
ance of the whole interior Of the build
ing. American flags were draped about
the boxes, the balcony and the stage,
while flags of the allied countries were
also in evidence. On each side OF the
stage were hung mammoth American
flags Just after the curtain went up,
while the band played THE Star Spangled
Banner" another huge emblem of the
Stars and Stripes was slowly raised at
the back of the stage, forming a. back
ground for the entire proceedings.
On the stage were seated the speakers.
including George Adam, Prof. William
B. Guthrie Of the College Of the City OF
New York, the Hon. Newton W. Gilbert.
former encouragement Of the Philip
pine islands, and Col. Charles S. Bige-
low, representing the food adminstra-
ton: the master Of ceremonies. James
} p. Taylor Of this city. members Of the
". "A. H. anu w. ~. -, IllIlStcIo VI ZIG
city. the State merchant representative.
F. D. Abernethy; Mayor J. Holmes
, jackson. members of the board of alder
{ men and other city officials; representa-.
4 tives from the woman's clubs and the
food conservation committee.
= THE SPEAKERS.
\ James P. Taylor, master Of ceremonies
opened the meeting with the reading OF
E telegram from the food administration
r at Washington congratulating Vermont
, upon the work already done for the good
of the country in the present war and
emphasizing the great necessity Of food
conservation.
In the absence of Professor McElroy
, of Princeton University, who. 1t was ex-
: pected, would be one of the speakers
!, Professor Guthrie of the College Of the
, City Of New York, who came as sub
stitute for Professor McElroy. was intro
duced as the first speaker. Professor
i, Guthrie's grafton. II such it might be
, called. verged on the hot shot" variety
, and If brilliant invectives against the
German government were fatal, neither
: the Kaiser nor any of his ministers would
, he alive at this moment to tell the story
He drew many examples from certain
! incidents In the Civil War and quoted
, history to show the present situation
balm. cremate and bury the German gov.
eminent. to finish the job up complete
and that we are going to do II. II
tyranny in Germany must die in order
that democracy in the world may live
then tyranny is doomed. He ended with
a strong plea for the second Liberty
Loan.
Governor-General Gilbert was the
, second speaker. He characterized thu
3 meeting as "a gathering of Americana
for America" He touched upon thu
protection which we have been receiv
ing from "the soldiers of France ant
the sailors Of England" He said tha
" there are only two kinds Of govern
= ment In the world and that when thi.
war is over there will be but one.
rests with which that shall be
h. democracy or tyranny. He maintained
that the American people would be
stronger and nobler people at tn,
g end Of this war than they were at tn,
3 beginning.
The speaker maintained that tn
e American people are for peace, but no
o for peace at any price, but peace onl,
It as 1t allows the honor of the American
y people to be maintained. He affirme,
z most decidedly that we do not deserv
: victory and the benefits of this war un
# less we do our part In 1t. We are go
e ing TO win the war, out II makes
j. great difference whether we deliver
decisive blow and win the war quickly
= or whether 1t drags out until thousand
d Of ours boys are killed. The least tina
J. we can do in these days, said tn
D.. speaker. is to take out Liberty bonds
IT This is no gift to the country, but rath
,e err splendid investment for anyon
IF with little money to spare, and W
ID must even give until II hurts"
Colonel Charles S. Bgelow. repre-
sentative of Herbert Hoover. food ad
inInistrator. said In opening his ad
dress Uncle Sans in trouble; Uncl
oil Sam has got his coat Off. and he Is so
a ing to fght--to fight for you and 70
t. me-for your children and my children
n and for your children's children.
Colonel Bigelow was supplied with
good line of stories. many OF them q
/. his own expense, and he told them 1
:, way which soon had the big audienc
with him to a person.
=. Having travelled widely In tho coun
"a tries at war. and In the neutral coun
40 tries as well, the speaker had vas
"a store OF knowledge Of conditions owe
Nv there from which to draw for the i'm
~ pressive facts which he brought to hi
=, audience. He described the feeling
the neutral countries. and told wha
they thought of America before che en-
tered the war. He paid high tribNt
to Belgium, saying that Belgium dig
Mined the world when she held on
against the Germans" and that Pres