Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-19

The Committee on Public Safety and
Defense met at the City Council
rooms Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock
with a good attendance. The chair
man. Dr. + G.. Thayer, first asked all
present to enroll as members of the
committee. He then called the meet
ing to order and stated that the meet
ing had been called to perfect the or
garization and to make some changes
in the bylaws as adopted in a previous
meeting.
The constitution and bylaws were
then read by the secretary, Edward
Heath and a few minor changes made.
The meeting h adjourned as an
entire committee and went into exec
utive session. although all were well
come to stay. The chairman of the cit
liens committee, which had made the
request TO the Committee Of Public
Safety and Defense as above stated.
then addressed the meeting and said
"A committee was appointed at a
meeting just prior to the last Dime
held Saturday 10 request taht this
body take up the consideration of the
question which was then presented
and Which some of the people propos
ed to have brought forward then and
there. The question of the standing of
q citizen of Watcrville and his at
titudc toward the war question.
"1ou all know that there has been
at least, and there still is some feel
ing relative to the STAN that some cit.
liens have taken at this time, during
cur eountry's time of trial and stress.
We are now in a position, where we
are defending ourselves, and there is
but one side; that loyal citizens must
2ssume. We must be with our country
in all it's purposes. There can be no
half way measure if a man be a loyal
citizen.
Il presume it is the province of this
body to deal with any man who NAV
assume a mental attitude or physical
attitude or take form of expression of
his beliefs that does not coincide with
the laws Of the land in it's present
state. BY the will Of the people then,
we ask his body to AXE up the ques-
ton of where DR.. Phelps stands and
his position really is. This is a
serious matter, and it is for this body
70 decide whether this question shall
be brought before this body or not
\. II. Barrows. who was one of the
foremost in desiring to have such a
statement secured. rose and asked if
DR.. Phelps had a statement before the
committee. DR.. Thayer then answered
that he had been to sec DR.. Phelps and
suggested the propriety, under the cir
cumstances, of telling his attitude.
DR.. Thayer suggested that DR..
Phelps put his views in writing and
SAID that a letter would be read at the
meeting if il came into his hands. He
said to DR.. Phelps: We're all in the
same boat. struggling to get ashore
and every fellow has got to pull or
tail DR.. Phelps answer was: I'm
willing to do either"
Mr.. Barrows then thanked DR.. Thay-
eI for his kind efforts and said: LAS far
as | am concerned, I'm through
DR.. Thayer then said: Il think the
letter Will be forthcoming. l think he
meant what he said. 1t seems best to
let the executive committee take care
of the matter" Fred w. Clair remarked
that it seemed hat DR.. Phelps state
ment of what he would do was suffi-
cient and moved hat the matter be
left in the hands of the committee.
The vote was passed and the incident
closed. Later in the evening the above
letter was placed in DR.. Thayer's
hands.
1t was then voted that the executive
committee, which is an unwieldy body
TO handle on account of its numbers,
appoint a committee of Is with a quo-
rum of five members to take initial
action on matters brought before the
body and that the committee be ap-
pointed by the chair. This was done
and the committee is as follows: The
president, DR.. +. c. Thayer: vice presi-
dent, H.. II. Barrows; secretary. E. W.
Heath: treasurer. Hon. Frank Reding-
ton; members ex-officio, George X.
Boutelle, Rev. Frank L. Phalen, Fred