The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-05-31

the lending Of a helping hand to aid
Those struggling towards freedom and
|Iight to aid them to democracy that
has to do with the health and bappi-
ness of men and the equalization of
things material to the welfare of ma
lions. '|You cannot have the power
that brushes and the service that helps
lin the world at the same time. - he de-
cleared
The conflict now raging was planned
in advance and found the United
States unprepared. The small army
could not be quickly expanded because
of lack Of equipment. The trouble
with the country is that il has been
pioneering, getting established, devel-
oping as needs required the strength,
courage and ability to meet emergen-
cies.
The great failings have been and arc
that We have done everything in q
great hurry. We have not been thorough.
but superficial, the vice Of American
education but educators are working
against the inherent tendency to hurry
everything.
We are up against a new job. he de
clared. We are pioneers no longer
Our job is to hold our homes that have
been built in our own established terri
tory but one which no longer is rich
with easy money We have drifted into
prosperity
Turning again to a discussion of Ger
many, he asked if his audience realized
that Santa Claus is German and ex-
claimed: Men who can turn such a
people into the kind who sink the I.usi-
tania deserve all kinds of doom that
can possibly be visited upon them, = a
statement that met with hearty an
plause. We are in for it. Our watch
word is that immortal utterancc of our
President, ito make the world safe for
democracy / choose to believe that
when he said that he had not in mind
the political democracy but the dcmoc
racy of social service. -
DR.. Thomas turned then to the record
Of Brattleboro in the Civil war, and re-
ferred specifically to the companies Of
men that were raised here. principally
composed OF residents of this town. for
service in that struggle He asked for
members OF the First Vermont Brigade
TO arise and four veterans proudly stood
IN their places amid applause The
same was true when two responded to
the call for veterans of the First Reoi-
ment of Vermont cavalry that "cau-
tured more prisoners than there were
members OF the regiment and took more
eol0rS of the enemy than any other
regiment. Other veterans stood 10 the
call for veterans OF the second Vermont
brigade, and DIR. Thomas said that he
had had experience man to man with
the members of the Vermont regiment
OF today and that while we all honored
those who had fought and bled in the
tlvIl war he felt assured that the pres
ent generation will not suffer in the
hands of the present defenders. He
warned that the end is not near and
that many another company must be
raised and urged all to stand by the
flag.
At the conclusion Of the Auditorium
program the procession formed with
Officers Wilson and Wordcn in advance
and marched 10 the common. where Rev.
J. Fredril1 Virgin offered PRAYER at the
soldiers monument. The procession re-
turned to the Auditorium. where chill
dren of the public schools bearing flowers
that had been used i'm the decorations
and others joined in the march to Pros
pect Hin cemetery. Veterans incapaci-
tated for marching were conveyed in
automobiles. The procession halted in
front Of the government burial lot.
where prayer was offered bT Rev. +. Q.
5. Osgood. Details Of the Sons oil
Veterans, Boy Scouts and others deco
rated the graves in the cemeteries. taps
were sounded the voleys fired and the
procession returned to Main street.
where il disbanded.