Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-10
M|DOLEBURY HOLDS
PATRIOTIC RALLY
Over 800 Present-Governor
Graham and Other Distin.
guished Speakers.

Middlebury, May 3.-The greatest civic
meeting held indoors In Middlebury for
more than half a century took place In
the town hall tonight to give townspeo-
pie opportunity to listen to distinguished
speakers tell something about the war.
how 1t came about, and other matters OF
detail In regard to how It is being prose-
cuted. The hall was packed to the doors
nearly an hour before the meeting was
opened with people from Middlebury and
n%eighboring towns. the attendance from
outside being limited on account Of the
bad conditions Of the roads. There we're
fully 500 people gathered in the audito-
rum and balcony, the aisles were packed
and when the meeting opened there was
no standing room. AS many as 30 people
were turned away.
The stage and sidewalks were law
ishly draped with United sites fass
and bunting n hundreds OF hand flags
were waved by the people of the au-
/ dience. William P. Russell Post, g. A.
r.. Of Middlebury was escorted to the
hall by the band and at eight o'clock
took seats on the stage led by Com.
mander Charles e. Youtt- The members
were greeted by hearty applause. Col
J. IT.. Lafeur. chairman Of arrangements.
called the meeting to order n In a
brief speech emphasized the three
| prime necessities of the situation.
namely, money. men and food.
Willis N. Cady of Middlobury. mas
ter of the State Grange. who recently
returned from Washington as a dele
gate to the federal food and fuel con
ference. stated that the gathering had
been attended by delegates from forty
-four States and included two governors
and many other distinguished people
Mr.. Cady. speaking on the food supply
| question, said hat II things continued
as they are now we should have to
supply food for our allied nations In
Europe. for ourselves and for the fishes
of the sea. by which he meant the large
amount Of foodstuf which had gone to
the bottom through the operations oil
the submarines
President John NJ. Thomas Of Middle
bury College made the principal address
Of the evening as the Rev. Fraser Metzger
Of Randolph and Col. Ira L.. Reeves OF
Norwich University. who had been ex'
pected to address the meeting. were un'
able to be here, Colonel Reeves having
been hastily summoned to Washington
President Thomas expressed his regret
at the absence of Col. Reeves, his
comrade-in-arms last year on the Mexican
border, and said that he was proud OF
this splendid meeting, the greatest. ne
thought. that had ever been seen In
Middlebury. He explained that the ISSUE
to be fought out in this war was be-
tween democracy and monarchy and he
rave a vivid pen picture of the dangers
and hardships confronting the American
people,. He described the welding OF tht
German p~rincipalities into the great Ger
man empire and rave an account of theil
rapid and wonderful ogress in arts
sciences and industries and development
of the military system.
The Hon. John e. Weeks introduced 6
resolution that Mr.. LaFleur and Mr.
Cady. the M~iddlebury members of thu
State public safety committee. shoult
form a committee to appoint % othel
members Of a Middlebury public safet!
committee, the first seven named to &C
with Messrs LaFleur and Cady as an ex
~ecutive committee.
Gov. Horace F. Graham gave the ina
address of the evening and was re
ceived with tremendous applause and tn
footing of whistles. The whole audi
ence of men. women and boys arose
waving their hand flags and the ovation
was continued for several minutes. TIL
Governor told the audience the Stat
had don by way of preparedness AM
also indicated h was yet necessary
He placed strong stress on the food pro
duction question and was given a heart.
round of applause at the close Of hi
talk. The meeting was brought to
close shortly after ten o'clock with tn
playing of 1.-THE Star Spangied Banner
by the band. which had rendered patrioti
airs between speeches.