Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-10
RELIEF WORK FOR SOLDIERS
Y. M. c. A. Worker Says Three
Million Dollars Are Needed.
Governor and Mayor the other speak
crs At Patriotic Dinner which
Comea a. Climax to Pre-
paredness Day.

vermont last evening, which was attend
ed by 1850 guests. the speakers being Gov
ernor Horace +. Graham, Mayor j.
Holmes jackson and +. II Nichols Of
New York. a Y. NJ. G. A. worker, was a
splendid climax TO Burlingtons Prepared
ness day. In the absence OF w. T. SEQ
fiel3 president of the Merchants associa.
ton. Vice. President Frank c. Lyon pre-
sided, and seated at the speakers table
were Col. Fred B. Thomas of the ist
Vermont infantry. DR.. Guy r. Pentor,
president of the University of Vermont.
Judge j. E. Weeks of Midd!ebury, direc-
tor of State institutions. Dean G. n. Per-
kins OF the University of Vermont, Eu-
gene A. Luck. president Of the board Of
aldermen, W. ]. Van Pattcn and Byron
N. Clark. Browns orchestra furnished
rrusic throughout the dinner.
RELIEF WORK FOR SOLDIERS.
A graphic word picture Of the drab side
OF the soldiers life. both in the concentra-
ton camps and at the front. was given
by F. H. Nichols OF New York, who told
OF what the war work council Of the
Young Mems Christian association" was
doing for the soldiers This included the
work which the association is also doing
for the six million men who are in the
prison camps of Europe.
! We do not realize here In America what
war really means. said Mr. Nichols. The
warning countries didn't realize 1t either
when they assembled to cheer their boys
on the way to the front. But they real.
lied 1t when the broken men began to
come back home. just as the people of this
country will have to do some day. In the
midst OF parades, and the waving of flags
and the beating Of drums we should pa use
and try to think what war really means
| he t1o
war council Of the Young Mems Christian
association. since 1t entered this field of
endeavor at the time of the Spanish.
American War. 1t continued to aid the
soldier boys through the Russian ia pa
nese war. during the summer on the Mex
lean border, and is doing wonderful
work throughout the warning countries
OF Europe at the present time.
| There are ~ millions Of men now in
arms throughout tfe world There
are more than six millions of men in
prison camps. 1t Is to these unfortu-
mates as we'll as the boys just away
from home, training in the concentra-
tion camps. that the 7. NJ. c. A.. through
its trained secretaries. stretches OFT its
helping hand.
Mr.. Nichols told how a worker in a
prison camp found 20 out Of 30 officers
hoplessly insane because of conditions
there. and the camp doctors prophesied
that the entire personnel of the camp
would be in the same condition within
six months. BY bringing supplies to
the prisoners. by providing them with
occupation and recreation, the Y. NJ.
C. A. has proved the life-saver Of many
Of these men. Conditions in the train
ing camps. the base camps and directly
back Of the firing lines were also de-
| scribed by the speaker.
1t will require three millions of dol
lars for the Y. NJ. c. A. to perform
similar services for the million and a
quarter Of men who will probably he
under arms in this country within the
year. The share Of New England is
$500 900. vermonts share Is $4,000.
The speaker referred to the two gifts
aggregating $4,000 which have already
been received towards Vermont's
| share.
BURLINGTON CAN DO IT."
That is what Mayor Jackson said
when ne responded to the toast our
city" His exact words We're, II am
| convinced that after to-day's splendid
parade Burlington can do almost any
thing it sets out to do" He then
| enumerated some Of the things which
had been done by Burlington since the
mass meeting at The Strong theatre
on April s.
Food conservation and Red Cross
work were given prominent place by
the mayor. He also mentioned certain
| city improvements, such as the con-
templated ornamental lighting on low
| err Main street. and a convention hall.
Fairgrounds for the children were very
much to be desired he said. but they
| might have to wait until the land was
not needed for unitarian purposes
1.-THE LEGISLATURE AND THE WAR.
Governor Graham could have no doubt
as to the esteem in which he is held by
Burlington's business men, in common
with all other citizens of the State, after
the ovation he received. when he respond
ed to the toast. vermont" even il it
was the first time in his public career
that ne had been referred to as 'cli-
max" as ne modestly averred.
The board OF control bill. the placing Of
the department of weights and measures
under the office of State treasurer. and
the court reforms were the legislative
measures to which His Excellency re-
ferred. He explained the workings of the
first measure. and said that he thought
II would prove advantageous to the State
The State treasurer was the proper per-
son to supervise the work of the weights
and measures department. which PEI form
ed almost wholly through Inspectors. Tha
courts, said tho Governor, are like the
poor. We nave them always with us, while
most Of those who have much business
with the courts are likely to be poor
His only reform idea he stated was 10
have minor court where small cases
could be disposed OF promptly ard at a
reasonable cost. While he did not expect
to have anything to do with the next
General Assembly, the Governor added
that IL ne should have. he hadn't given
up the fight. Tho appropriation for the
building of a public barge terminal at
Burlington was Inadequate and had to be
abandoned because sufficient money could
not be appropriated because Of the war
expenses this year. This entire matter
will bc thoroughly considered by COM
mission which the Governor will appoint.
Governor Graham refuted the state
ment that Vcrnonters are slaclSers by
stating that il the number NJ enlstments
in the National Guard ard the navy as
we'll as those in the regular army, were
onsdered. II would he found that YER
mont had. as always. done her share He
then explained the workings Of the Sc
lectivc draft bill and the method of Sc
! lection.
production. Governor Graham urged those
who were starting off so bravely not to let
their enthusiasm ooze on the tips
of their fingers Turing summers heat.
This war will be fought not by speeches,