Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-10-24

eS OF the war. In other words these
men were turned from pursuits of
production" to pursuits of "destruc-
tion," and that these men while en-
gagged IN the rigorous outdoor life of
the soldier, sailor, truck driver, air.
plane pilot, and hundred other war
callings, consumed nearly twice the
food value consumed in civil life Add
to this increased consumption of food
and the decreased production the fact
that hundreds of thousands of acres
of land was desert battlefield today,
instead of producing food, and we
readily see why there is a food short
age, and conservation has become
necessity. He said one reason why
we were asked to have two wheatless
days a week was the fact that wheat
could best be sent across to our SOL
diers there and to the allied peoples.
If whole corn were sent there we're
no mills there in which to grind it
and if sent in the meal is spoiled on
the ocean voyage. So he urges US to
eat corn and other cereal products
which would release wheat to be sent
to our army on the other side.
The next speaker was Joseph E.
O'Toole, assistant secretary of the
United States senate Mr. O'Toole
! referred to Vermont scenery and
HSIHlOHC HlSCOIy. ne Sdlu Llle DdCClo
of Bennington, Ethan Allen and 9TH
err Vermonters figured in all the early
cause of freedom so prominently that
our history in all the years which in
tervene had been SO glorious, that
Vermont could not fail to lead in the
final struggle for world democracy.
The orator went on to say that it
was not his purpose to tell the audi
ence the causes Of the war. 1t was
sufficient, he said, that we were in the
war, and it must be supported. When
our representatives and senators vo-
ted to sustain the war did they rep
resent the will of the people, asked
Mr.. O'Toole, if they did the peoples
duty is to support their country in
the great conflict. The way to help,
he said, is to arouse your neighbors
from their apathy and slumber that
is apparent all over the county.
The last speaker was Norton W.
Gilbert, ex-governor general Of the
Philippines. Mr.. Gilbert said he came
of Vermont stock and was glad to
visit the state, in which he had never
been before. He said the reception
rendered him here had been cordial
and enthusiastic. Mr.. Gilbert spoke
of the discouraging moments for
democracy and told of his years of
labor in the Philippine islands when
most nations rather laughed at the
democracize those 100000 natives.
He emphasized what the flag meant.
He said that for years while in Man
liza he scarcely saw the stars and
stripes except as it was flown on the
islands. Ships that came and went
flew every flag under the sun, but
scarcely an American vessel sailed
the seas. Then Roosevelt sent the
fleet around the world, one of the
greatest things ever done for this
country said Mr.. Gilbert and Manila
raised 100000 with which to enter
tain the sailors of that fleet. At last
the great day of the arrival of the
American vessels came and so eager
were all that they hired boats and
steamed down the harbor to meet
them. Finally there came in sight the
smoke of a vessel, then the vessel it
self and the sight of the flag. And
then came another, and another, until
16 huge battle ships flying the stars
and stripes, came in sight. Someone
asked him why he and the other
Americans did not cheer, and he
looked about to see tears in the eyes
Of all, and found himself crying. ooh!
That flag meant so much," said the
speaker. And it means so much to-
day, more than ever before, for the
government which it represents must
win this war or the flag of freedom
will perish. Mr.. Gilbert closed with
the words, "May we all be able to
shed tears of joy when we see the
flag" Mr.. Gilbert was warmly ap-
plauded.
Following the meeting the speak
ers left for ST. Johnsbury in automo-
biles and food card campaign COM
mittees from the various towns of
the county to the number of nearly
100 conferred on plans and work, be-
ing addressed by c. S. Emery, county
director of this work.
Previous to the meeting the direc-
tors of the various Red Cross branch
es of the county met in the Goodrich
Memorial library for a conference
and were served luncheon by Mrs
John Young, director of the Newport
Red Cross, at the Red Cross tea room
in Newport.