St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-05-30
AWAKEN ST. J0HNSBURY
TO THE LIBERTY LOAN
Townspeople Listen to Many Speeches
on Bond Issue 80 A. L. Spring of
Boston Explains Full Details

military system He then turned to
the Allies need of money from us.
DO yOu know that the Allies need
money and need it quickly?'' Mr..
Spring questioned, DO you know that
only last week when the supplies ran
out in the French hospitals that the
soldiers wounds were bound with
newspaper?
According to Mr.. Springs view of
the question, the people of the coun-
try are asked to become stockholders
in the worlds greatest corporation, the
United States of America. The per-
son who holds a Liberty Loan Bond is
stakeholder. Are we behind other
countries % interrogated the speaker,
1.-The Germans, who still subscribe, and
the English?"
What are you waiting for?" he de-
manded, because you cannot hear the
guns of the enemy? The time to Get
is now. You hang a flag in your linn
CUISINE window and think you're in the
trenches! You say you're going to do
something. We're always going to do
things, but now's the time to do one"
And that one. according to Mr.. Spring,
is to buy a Liberty Bond.
The speaker turned to a different
phase Of the question. He drew pic
ture in words of the British fleet, a
faithful watchdog at the mouth of the
I<iel Canal, where the Germans fleet
is cooped up. There is always the
chance, he said, that this fleet might
get out and across the seas to Ameri-
ca. 1t was pointed out that we are at
present in no condition TO repel an
attack of this kind, and that we will
not be until the money to set the mill
tary of the country on it's feet is forth
! coming. Mr.. Spring ended his talk
/ with plea that all who possibly can
should buy a bond to Ensure the fu-
f-ture of Liberty and Democracy"
AS the speaker left the floor the Boy
! Choir of the Notre Dame church came
upon the stage, flying the American,
British and French flags. They were
received with storm of applause. In
manner which well bespoke their
fine training they sang two verses OF
the Star Spangled Banner" and as
they sang a large American flag was
! lowered at the rear of the stage, which
was already draped with the national
colors This, stirring scene brought q
| VI pau - YIN lily
audience, and not q person present
failed to thrill at the wonderfully
beautiful effect.
| The chairman introduced as the next
speaker James F. Eccles, of Boston
Mr.. Eccles spoke first of the fame St
Johnsbury's Liberty Loan slogan, 'If
you don't come across the Germans
WILL" had won in points far from the
! 1,1 1,o hnl
heard speakers refer to it, and also in
other parts Of Massachusetts. The
| speaker took up the question OF the
war and what we were fighting for.
Liberty" he said, lis being attacked.
| Not only national liberty but individu-
al liberty, Mr.. Eccles continued. ''We
are in the war and unprepared for it. y
On this subject he gave many instances
of the lack of supplies and of the gov
ernment's need of money to get on its
feet from a military standpoint. 1--WE
are fighting with the strongest and
most brutal nation in the world" he
added.
Mr. Eecles pointed out that ut takes
six men behind the lines to support
one at the 'front.'" and asked whether
! the audience as individuals were do
ing their part. If not they could do sc
| by putting their spare money into the
bond issue. He gave instances of the
way countries not so wealthy as the
United States had raised many times
the sums asked of the people of this
country. Mr.. Eccles proceeded to ex-
plain the bonds to the audience. He
| pointed out that there was not the
need of waiting thirty years as pro-
Vided by the rules of the issue. The
bonds may be sold at any bank in the
United States at 100 cents on the dol
lar at any time.
Mr.. Eccles explained many of the
privileges which went with the bonds
which could not be found in any other
bond agreement in the world In the
event that another bond issue is made
in the future at higher rate of in
terest than is paid for the present
loan, the privilege is extended that the
present issue may be exchanged for
the one of higher interest. ct is as
much of a good business proposition
as it is patriotic duty he explained.
The question of the possibility of get
ting four per cent for money was
brought up. Mr.. Eccles said that this
was possible but that Liberty was
pretty cheap at one half per cent?
! People do not realize the enormity
Of the sum the government is trying to
raise" the speaker continued. IF you
started the moment you were born and
counted one dollar a second every min
ute of the day and night, it would take
! 1876 years to count two billion" Mr..
Eccles also pointed out that the money
will be raised through taxation of it is
not forthcoming voluntarily.
| The Boy Choir at this point of the
proceedings again pleased the audience
with an impressive rendition of the
"Marseillaise," sung in French. After
much applause the chairman intro