The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-15
S. OF Y. LEADER
warns AGAINST
UNPREPAREDNESS
Commander w. T. Church
Urges Extension of Ser
vice Training.

Another West Point on the MlsSlS-
sippi and still another on the Column
bia an Annapolis on the Great Lakes
and one ON the Pacific coast are need
ed, declared Hon. William T. Church
of Chicago, speaking at the Lincoln
BANQUET of Franklin Bartlett camp
No. IL, Sons of Veterans, at The STRAIT
field hotel. Attorney Church, COM
mander-in-chief of the Sons Of .Veter-
ans, said the organization is pledged
to mold public sentiment to bring these
plans to an issue and that such es-
Establishments are of vital necessity IN
order that the nation may be prepared
to protect Itself in time of need.
Prefacing an eu1ogy Of the martyr,
President Lincoln, with an eloquent
plea for preparedness, Commander
Church held the close attention OF his
auditors with a speech that lasted
nearly half an hour. He said during
his address,:
s"These are stupendous times in
which we live What the morrow
may bring forth no man knows. Six
great powers of the earth with all the
modern enginery of warfare are en-
gagged in the death grapple abroad.
What may happen if a decisive victory
rests on the arms of any one OF these
powers?
'The United States lies within easy
reach of any of them, a wonderful
rich storehouse filed to Overfow1ng,
practically helpless and unprepared
for defense. Why may not some OF
the great military chieftains flushed
with victory turn his eyes here? Why
may not some of these nations who
make war without cause, turn their
attention here after the war and
from the spoils of America liquidate
their war debt?''
Turning to the small group OF
Grand Army men who occupied q
table before the guest table, he said:
What say you and your sons at this
time as to your supreme duty? Are
you not advocating that we be ready
and willing no matter what the odds
to uphold the glory Of our country
and our f1ag?"
Commander Church said he was not
preaching militarism but the people
of the United States are entitled to
an adequate army and navy for their
He said If it takes one year to trair
soldier and ten years to train prop
erly an officer, the need for prepared.
ness showed greater than ever. He
urged the retirement to private life
Of all legislators who through self in.
terest are trying to block the at.
tempts for national defense. In con.
clusion, with an eloquent eulogy, he
briefly recounted the life an6
achievements of Abraham Lincoln.
Edward L. Graves of this city, Sc.
nior Accommodating was
confined to his h ONE in North avenue
with a sprained ankle Mayor VIII:
son urged that everyone present pu
aside thoughts or desires for his owr
material welfare and consider hi.
duty as citizen in the present time
He said a national awakening wa:
needed and that Americans have toe
long been going in ann easy way sat
isfied to let things take their course
Each owes a duty to the republic
and each should perform the duty.
Judge Carl Foster was POSTMASTER
In his opening remarks he sketche6
the history Of the wars this country
has been engaged in since the declar.
alton of independence. Recalling the
deeds of the Union veterans of the
Civil war, he said:
"And we, your sons, say to you, thai
come what may we will stand by the
President and stand by flag i'm this
present crisis as you stood by Lincoln
and the flag during the dark days OF
1851 to 'e5."
Charles Munich, commander of Bart.
lett camp, led the assemblage in the
pledge to the flag as the colors Of the
camp were carried in by the color
bearers.
During intervals the Lotus quarte
of Bosom sang 1.-THE Little Bronze
Button" when the Boys In Blue Are
Cone" 1.-THE Passing Regiment ant
other selections.
AT the speakers table were:
Robert T. Alcorn, division comman.
der, Connecticut division, S. of ".
Frank Miller, commander, Elias Howe
Jr., post, No. 8, of the G.. A. R.! Henry
J. Seeley, department commander
Connecticut department, G. A. r.
Mrs. Katherine Carrier, department
president Of the Woman's Relief
corps; Mrs. Maud S. Ford, depart
ment president of the Daughters o.
Veterans; Mrs. Katherine Gregory, de-
partment president of the Ladies' G.
A. R.: Mrs Minna Oldershaw, division
president of the S. Of V. auxiliary
The committee of arrangements
Frederic A. Bartlett, chairman; Forls
L. Chapman, Walter c. Hall. Thomas
M. Webb, Charles Munich, William H
aHafrt, EdwaridcL. tGraves, Leonard H
Woodward, Leonard w. Lord, Andrew
r. Holbrook, Patrick. Kane, Walter G
Moore, Thomas A. McCool, Howard r
Kost, George c. Wright, Albert E
Burnes, Robert H. Hart.
Rafe1 H. Elizalde presented to Sec
rotary of State Lansing his creden-
tails as minister from Ecuador.
. Two unknown men who made their