The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-05-18
GOV. HARRINGTON
HERE.
ADDRESSED LARGE MEETING In OPERA
HOUSE-TELLS FARMERS COUNTRY
FACES CRISIS.

w. steele, Esq, preSlQlnS. Governor
Harrington made an address, in which
he asserted his belief that it was only
necessary to tell the story of the need
OF the hour to awaken the patriotism
of the people Of Maryland to action.
He said:
This country has never drawn the
sword for conquest and has never
coveted the territory of other peoples.
The war into which we have been
drawn is a holy war. President Will
son did all that he could to keep us
at peace with the world. | followed
Ghe President with reluctance, when
saw Belgium ruthlessly invaded, her
territory ravished and her people kill
ed at despot's will. followed more
reluctantly when | saw the Lusitania
destroyed and American lives sacri-
feed. | can say today, with the blind
Congressman from Minnesota, i
Ghank God we had man at the head
of our Government with the cool fore
sight of Wilson, man who has dem
OnStrated to the civilized nations that
we did not want war, and have enter
ed into the conflict only when We
could not hold back without dishOnOr.
And now it is up TO us to do our
part for each to ask the question
N hat can | do individually for my
country in the hour of my cOuntry'S
peril?' | am not here to alarm you,
but to tell you that this is no boys
war, no idle contest. Germany had
Violated almost every principle of in
ternatiOnal aW,and we could no long
er stay our hand. We can now pay
our debt Of gratitude to France, that
sent her men and officers ana her
money to help us in the long ago;
France that followed our example and
framed a republic and now is fighting
for her birthright and ours.
II am of those who believe that We
ought to send her our soldiers, our
food and our money. ] am in favor,
if Roosevelt wants to go, to let him
go: for we must fight this war on the
other side now, or later fight it here.
We want men; we want food We
must have both.
When the President calls, we must
have organization in every precinct
of every county. The President will
soon issue his call. AS soon as Con-
gress gets together, the President will
sign the selective draft bill; he will
name a day after which, within 10
days, every ablebodied male between
the ages fixed must register, under
penalty ii he fails to do so. The day
named will be proclaimed by the
President a national holiday, and by
the Governors a state holiday,On which
every man will be required to go to
his polling place and register.
On that day the women will do
their part. 1t may be with sorrow in
their hearts, but let it be with a smile
upon their faces that they send their
brothers and sons to do their part.
Il believe in the selective draft. 1t
lis the fair thing, the proper thing. 1t
will put the rich mans son and the
poor mans son side by side in the
trenches and in the field. | believe
in the volunteer system, but to get the
100000 men needed Immediately
it is impossible to wait. The selective
draft will give the Government the
right to say Mr.. Farmer, you are en-
gagged in as patriotic service in rails
ing food as is the man who goes to
the front. You must work, work not
one day in the week. but six days in
the week. Any man or woman, re-
gardless of position, who remains idle
is to be counted unworthy, if not a
traitor to his country
The food situation is not eXagger-
ated. | hesitate to speak in this cOun-
ty on the subject, except to urge you
to continue as your beautiful farms
Indicate you are now doing. When |
rode among them and saw your fields,
| almost hesitate to urge in this cOun-
~ more intensive farming, for it looks
as if you are doing your part. Con-
tinue to do it, and do more if you can.
1T will take two years of bumper
crops to supply the worlds need. No
farmer need fear that larger crops
will mean loss to him. If the war
were to end tomorrow, he need not
fear. If the Legislature will stand by
me a strict law will be passed COM
pelling every man to work while our
soldiers are in the field. We are not
going to permit our soldiers to go and
fight for us, and have idle men stand
ing around at home.
In the past the speculatOr has con-
trolled the price of fOOdstuffs. The
day of the speculator has passed.
american farmers are entitled to
fair profit, the real profit, and the
consumer is entitled to procure his
products at reasonable cost. We hope
to see every one who can help in saw
ing food at work, producing or saving.
We hope to see canneries established,
possibly utilizing our school houses,
and our boys and girls engaged in
this work. We hope to call on manu-
facturers in large cities to suspend
operations temporarily in the harvest
season that their employees may help
gather the harvests. We hope to see
many who volunteered for military
service, and were rejected for physical
disability, volunteer now to help In
raising food and under military direc-
ton 60 to the country to work"
In response to the appeal Of farm
er present that the child labor laws
and compulsory education laws be
suspended, the Governor said:
81 favored compulsory education.
Every boy and girl is entitled to an
education, and the same principles
that govern I'm educational lines caus-
ed me to favor-the child labor laws.
The National Council OF Defense, rec
ognized by the Government, has ask
ed the State authorities not to inter
gere with child labor or compulsory
education laws, unless that body shall
recommend it. The Legislature, I'm
special session, will be asked to give
the Governor the power TO suspend
such laws temporarily, IL the crisis
shall demand it and the National