The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-01
MASS MEETING FOR
PRESERVATION OF KENT
Queen AnIres County Residents As
semble And Adopt Resolutions
Against Taking Island For Prov
ING Ground.

Centreville, Md, July 31-Gather-
ed here from every section of Queen
AnneS county, residents assembled
in mass meeting this afternoon on
the Court House green and entered
an urgent protest against the taking
over of Kent Island by the govern
ment. As result, the following
resolution was adopted unanimously:
Resolved, That we. the people Of
Queen Annes county, in mass meet
ing assembled, urgently request
Maryland members of Congress to
use their best efforts to prevent the
taking over of Kent Island by the
War Department for military pur-
poses"
The meeting was opened by Dr.
John r. Benton, chairman of the
Kent Island Home Preservation
Committee. He introduced State
Senator j. H. C. Legg as chairman.
Rev. G.. j. Hill, pastor of Grace NJ. f.
Church, delivered an Invocation. Sen
ator Legg made an imprisoned
speech for the preservation of their
homes to the 5000 inhabitants of
the island, declaring that none in
America surpassed them in patriot
ism, but emphasizing their love for
their fireside hearths.
Rev. W. H. Darble, rector of
Christ p. Z. Church, Stevensville, de
clared that his brother, d leading
Connecticut lawyer. had written the
TWO Senators and representative
from that State. urging them to use
their influence in Congress TO defeat
the government proving ground
projects as it affects Kent Island. J.
Fletcher Rolph, cashier of the Cen
treville National Bank, discussed the
financial and economic questions in
volved should Queen Annes county
lose Kent Island, one of its richest
and most populous districts.
Rev. ". 5. Hanks, pastor of Stew
ensville NJ. p. Church, also made an
enthusiastic speech opposing the War
Departments aims. 1t was an
nounced that the entire Maryland
ngresSional delegation would visit
Kent Island one day this week and
personally view the ground and go
over the situation.
K. w. Thomas, OF the county
State Central Committee, spoke
against the taking over of Kent Is
land, where he formerly lived. as al
so did W. J, Price, Jr., managing
editor of the Centreville Observer,
VINO declared he did not believe Kent
Island essential 10 plans for winning
the war, if so, no. Kent Islander
would protest. He insisted the
strongest kind OF protest should be
entered against the despoiation of
paradise of which Queen Annes coun-
ty has been proud. Mr.. Price said
1T would be shame TO do this for
the benefit of few army officers, who
sought Il summer resort, and that
Kent Islands loss would reduce the
county to simply nothing
Former State Senator j. Frank
Harper maintained that American
free men are entitled to the right OF
protest, and averred that there is
nothing unpatriotic in the stand ia
ken by the Kent Islanders to save
their homes. He upheld the protest
made. and said that every free man
is entitled to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, of which the is
ianders would be deprived if the
War Departments plans were car
rled out to the disadvantage of
Queen Annes county. i
Rev. Joel Brown, of Goyans, pro
tested against the erection of a prov
ing ground on that great highway of |
travel to Baltimore, the Chesapeake