Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-10-26
MASS MEETING IN
CAUSE OF LIBERTY
Auditorium Crowded Wednesday
in Spite Of Rain
Enthusiasm Aroused as Band Plays and
School Children Sing and Speakers
Urge Subscription to Liberty Loan.

Brattlcboro $ response to the proc
lamation issued by President Wilson
and backed up by Governor Graham
naming Wednesday as Liberty day
was q handsome demonstration of
patriotism on the part of her towns
people. Pouring rain did not in any
way dampen the enthusiasm nor
keep enough people away so but that the
Auditorium was filled almost to over
flowing when the mass meeting was
called to order soon after | 80 that after
noon and the exercises were entered into,
the music appreciated and the addresses
urging the great necessity for everyone
who possibly can to loan their money
to the government in this great crisis
listened to with u spirit BETTING the
occasion.
Owing to a pressure of other business
it was impossible for Gov. Graham to be
present as had been announced. There
was one outstanding feature while the
program was being carried out and that
was the great seriousness and solemnity
which prevailed. Everyone, from the
youngest to the oldest in the large audi
ence, plainly showed that deep impress
sion was being made.
All of the stores. schools and some of
the factories in the town closed their
doors at noon so that employees might get
their dinner and have ample time to re-
turn to the Auditorium. Throughout the
forenoon there was a heavy rainfall and
just at the hour when all paths began
to lead in the direction of the meeting
place it poured the hardest but people
turned out in full force and long before
the speaking hour arrived every seat in
the house was occupied and all of the
available standing space taken.
Handiwork of the decorator was first
to attract attention as all of the boxes
at either side of the stage were draped
with large star spangled banners, the
front of the stage was banked with flags
and two large silk embems of the free
adorned each end of the proscenum arch.
These were set off with palms and at the
center of the stage, directly in front of
the speakers table, was huge bouquet
of chrysanthemums.
While people were gathering the Brat %
tleboro military band, which was seated
at the rear of the stage, rendered pro.
gram of patriotic airs each one seeming
TO leave deep impression upon the lis
teners. Then the chorus from the high
school took Il position in front of the
band and under leadership of Musical Di-
rector Frank NJ. Cram contributed several
selections, which were greatly appreciat
ed.
This demonstration shows Just what
Brattleboro can do when people are once
aroused and what can be done practically
on the spur of the moment as the entire
arrangements were completed within 4S
hours. On the stage We're seated many
of the men who participated in the pre-
liminary work and it might be added that
IT was due to the entrance of the board
of trade into the proposition that it was
hurried to such a successful conclusion.
Members of the clergy seated on the stage
included Revercnds r. f. Mcmahon,
Douglas G. Guest, f. q, 5. Osgood ID. T..
Trout, h. II. Clapp, J. Fredrik Virgin,
A. Y. Woodwork, {. Y, Brownell, r. $.
Hewitt, Business men represented be-
sides the speakers were George l.. Dun
ham, Postmaster NJ j. Moran, A. b.
Capp, f. X. Barrows, Judge j. NJ. Tyler
and Harry p. Webster. There were many
present in the audience who came from
adjoining towns.
Horton ID. Walker, president of the
board of trade and chairman of Windham
county pledge card campaign committee
called the gathering to order formally
and in few choice words in which he
referred to the vast Importance of the
occasion which prompted the meeting in
PRODUCED as the first speaker of the after
noon Charles G. Staples.
AT the outset Mr.. Staples expressed
the firm belief which the people OF Brat
tlcborO and the United States hold in the
great war which has been entered into
but brought out the fact that there are
still many who do not actually realize
the serious situation which confronts the
government. 1--WE are at war; he said
and the war must be won. But to win
this war requires men and to maintain
men demands money, millions of dollars
That is why Uncle Sam asks YOU to loan
him your dollars You will not lose
anything, but will, on the other hand, be
Il gamer Fifty dollars in government
bonds is better than the same amount OF
money in your home as it will draw
per cent annually"
The speaker entered denial that
there was profit in handling the bond,
and emphasized the fact that bankers
throughout the country are doing it out
of spirit OF patriotism for the land OF