The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-04-19
STEPS TAKEN
TO ORGANIZE
COMPANY FOR
HOME DEFENSE
ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE GIVEN
CONSERVATION, PRODUCTION
AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD
sTuFFs BY ORGANIZATION
LARGELY ATTENDED MEETING
HELD SATURDAY NIGHT

MOIe NNO ohb AhitJ
patriotic men and women assembled
at the district court room at s o'clock
last Saturday evening for the pur
pose of discussing the war situation
and taking such steps as might b:
deemed necessary to mobilize the
resources of the community for the
government and home defense.
The large gathering of representa-
tive citizens from ali parts of the
Canon City district TO consider war
measures" was indicative of public
interest in the conflict in which the
United States has engaged and of
their desire to help President Wilson
and congress meet the situation with
that determination which can only re-
suit in the success of our national
cause. The women, no less than the
men, were deeply concerned in the
proceedings of the meeting and hear
tily concurred in all that was said
and done.
The gathering was presided over
by Mayor ID. N Cooper, who outlined
its purpose and introduced ID. w.
Ross, who explained in detail what it
hoped to accomplish. Mr.. Ross said
that the government had been forced
by fragrant and repeated violations
of its rights on the high seas into
war with great European country
and that as loyal citizens of the re-
public the people of Canon City and
its surroundings should assist in ev-
cry way in emerging triumphantly
from the conflict. 1t is expected. con-
tinued Mr.. Ross. that the war will be
waged with great vigor by our gov
ernment and that every man, woman
and child in the nation should be
enlisted in its service. Mr.. Ross de-
elared that the people of the Canon
City district owed it to themselves
ton to do their part. Aside from fur
nishing recruits for the army and
navy he said, there were two things
that we should do here with as little
delay as possible. One OF them is.
he asserted. the organization of some
defensive body of men to act as home
guards to protect the community from
hostile intent by enemy aliens and
the other is to increase our garden
and agricultural produce for the use
of our own people and for the main
tainance and support of our allies in
the trenches of Belgium and France.
Mr.. Ross speech was heartily ap-
plauded and was followed by talks
in a similar strain by Judge Kent L.
Eldred. Jas. T. Locke. ]. p. Farmer.
Col. w. L. Spencer. Rev. Floyd Van
Keuren. Geo. E. Colgate, W. Boucher.
Gov. Jas. H. Peabody, A. H. McLain
and others. All of the speakers en-
dorsed the matter off the formation
of some patriotic league OF a semi
military character that would afford
protection of life and property here
from evil disposed persons who might
take advantage of Il e stressful con-
ditions growing out of a state of war
10 threaten the security and peace Of
the communiN. 1t was asserted by
one of the speakers that enemy
Spito hdd AtNthNiy Otth htit anu
obtained Information as to the amount
of money kept in the banks and had
made maps of our waterworks sys-
: TEN. electric power plant. and public
school buildings with possible view
OF their destruction. These suppos-
ed spies came here in the guise of re-
ligious missionaries left day or two
later. ostensibIy. for Cripple Creek.
1t will be one of the purposes of the
company of home guards. said the
speaker referred to, to guard these
institutions from danger.
The gathering having announced
itself in favor of immediate prepared
ness to meet any emergency that
might arise In this community in con.
nection with the war a motion was
adopted authorizing the chairman to
appoint three committees of ten mem.
bers each which should carry out the
wishes Of the meeting. Acting under
the Instructions of the resolution the
mayor designated the following com.
mittees: Permanent organization f:
Military. Conservation. and selected
their personnel from the people pres
ent at the meeting. These commit
tees and their members are:
Permanent organization: d. w.
Ross. chairman-R-v, Floyd Van Keu
rem, Col. W. r.. Sponcer. A. u. Nc
Lain. Dr. Hart Goodloe. Geo. r. Col.
gate. w. boucher Judge Kent L..