The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1917-10-12
VROOMAN PRAISES
TOWNS PATRIOTISM

"When ] leave here to speak in 9TH
er Ohio cities, shall tell the people Of
the high spirit of patriotism found
in Medina" said Assistant Secretary
of Agriculture Carl Vrooman, in clos
ing forty-five minute address We'd
nesday noon in front of the A. |. Root
Co.'s buildings, to crowd of more
than thousand, made up of employees
of the various industries and business
houses of the village, pupils from the
high and graded schools, and citizens
generally.
The meeting was one Of many SINH
lar ones throughout the state that
have been and are being held, with
Mr.. Vrooman as the principal speaker
in the interest of the Liberty Bond
sale.
Preceding the opening of the meet
ing the crowd joined in the singing Of
America, heads being barred at sound
of the first tones. Stanza after STAN
"a pealed from the throats of young
and old, engendering thrill that per-
vaded the meeting from first to last.
In announcing the speaker, Chair
man L. F. Carver explained the pur-
pose of the meeting, and appropriately
and with intense feeling dwelt upon
the great world conflict as being the
occasion for this and similar patriotic
gatherings.
Mr.. Vrooman traced briefly the
causes that forced this country into
the war, but made one declaration that
is probably not generally known, but
which, he said. is fact that had been
known in>Washington from the start.
That is, that financial and food condi-
tions with the allies were in such a
critical condition at the time of this
country's advent in the struggle, that
the allies could not have withstood the
German arms to exceed three or four
months longer, when Germany flushed
and emboldened by the complete sub
jugation of the allied nations, would
have girded her loins for the subjuga-
tion of this country, the success Of
which might have been achieved. That
such result has been the dream of
the Kaiser for years, is evidenced by
his repeated declarations to that effect
and by many recent diplomatic dis
closures. 4
Vrooman did not spare those who
are unwilling to make any sacrifice for
their country in its present extremity.
ss.i'he man who is able and refuses TO
do his bit. at least by loaning his gov
ernment his money for one or more Of
its bonds," said Vrooman, "is dis
graced, and will live to be ashamed of
himself, and his children will be
ashamed of him." He declared he had
been appraised of one such man in Me-
dina.
Many Austrians and Hungarian
foundrymen were in the crowd when.
Vro0man said:
eve are fighting simply to break
down the autocracy from which Carl
Schurz and other great Germans and
Austrians fled. We are investing in
bonds to make it possible for the Ger
man and Austrian people to enjoy the
liberty we enjoy.
"Now is the time when every pa
triot must be counted, either for or
against his country. This is rough,
but it must be said that any man who
has the money and won't devote it to
the welfare Of the land of his adop-
ton, we do not want him in this coun-
try"
The address was unostentatious, but
clear cut, and withal forceful. The
speaker was roundly applauded at
frequent intervals, and his message
found responsive chord in the hearts
of the large crowd who gathered in
ihn cold tn hnar II