The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-06

send you respectful greeting at the
beginning of this your second term
we pledge to you and the government
loyal support for the most vigorous
action that may be necessary to pre-
vent the continued murder of Ameri
can citizens, and to protect and pre-
serve those ancient rights and liber
ties, for which the first people in this
place fought.
Rev. Thornton F. Turner brought a
number of charges against Germany
beginning with the invasion of Bel
gium and closing with the thinner
mann letter which had for its pur.
pose the lining up of Mexico and Jap
an against America in the event OF
war and said that too many people in
this country hailed from Missouri.
Emory S. Harris by resolution con
demned the senators who held up
action on the armed neutrality meas
ure last week.
Edward j. Hall read an original
poem. "
Mr.. Mills declared that the resolu
tion did not go far enough to suit
him. hut he believed that it was pre-
ferable for adoption by the meeting.
America he said was not arraigned
against the German people but
against the Prussian government.
The cause was the cause of democra-
cy. He would as soon his son should
die on the soil OF Belgium or Flanders
as In defence of America and If he
were young enough he would, as soon
give his life in a similar manner.
There was considerable discussion
in which Dr. c. S. Buchanan, Ray
White, w. B. Sheldon, George NJ.
Hawks and others took part relative
to the manner in which the resou-
tion was to be signed but 1t was final
ly agreed that the signatures OF the
presiding officer of the meeting and
the secretary together with the
minutes would be sufficient. The
resolution was then adopted by a ris-
ing vote.
Village President Braisted brought
before the meeting a number of ques-
tions regarding the attitude of the
community on universal military
training. The introduction of the
questions was followed by short
discussion in which c. l.. Holden and
DR. F. S. Pratt participated One of
the questions related to the two
terms of service, as proposed, six and
eleven months. and upon motion of
DR.. Pratt it was made the sense of
the meeting that Bennington favored
the 11-month term
William H. Nichols moved that a
committee Of three be appointed to
take immediate steps toward the or
ganization of a military company
Capt. j. B. Harmon was called upon
and stated that there was no present
vacancy in the national guard. Mr.
Nichols still insisted that the commit
tee be appointed and the chair named
Mr.. Harmon, Mr. Nichols and Collins
NJ. Graves. During the discussion OF
Mr.. Nichols proposal. Henry t. Cush
man, who while senator from Ben
nington county had taken an active
interest in the measure to establish
state aimories, was called upon tC
speak. Mr. Cushman who saw ser
VICE Ill IUb tlNlI wal lOuNutu
upon the armory matter and ther
brought up the patriotic meeting thai
was held in Bennington 56 years agC
following the firing upon Sumter. He
said that he was forcibly impressed
with the similarity of the sentimen
which existed at two gatherings o
Bennington people more than half {
century apart
Edward j. Hall introduced a resolu
| tion that the meeting commend tht
| action of the Vermont delegation il
congress in its stand on the armed
neutrality measure.
| Collins NJ. Graves moved that reso
lutions be sent to the delegation il
congress- expressing the meetings.
| approval of universal service. II
making his motion. Mr.. Graves per
petrated a lapsus lingue, substitutin!
the word suffrage" for service. 1t IL
needless to state that he brough
down the house. After Mr.. Graves
] had disentangled himself the meet
ing adjourned.