Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-16

hau ar the State House, both the moor
and the gallery icing well filled. Promptly
at 8 o'clock the NATIONAL Home orchestra
started in playing patriotic music anu
the big hall r~esounded with applause az
the khaki-clad boys Of Co. NJ leo oy
First Lieut.. Thomas Enright, hleo III anu
took their places at the left of the speak
ers, nlatform. The G. A. r. was well
-enrasented in the crowd, and the mem
hers of Henry G. Staples Camp 5. OF w.
,aa tho auxiliary were also in attend
ance.
Prominent on the platform were eN-
covernor Frederick Plaisted, the presid-
inc officers Of the evening; Mayor Wits
su,if+ Senator Charles F. Johnson. Com
mander-in-Chief Of the S. OF V. "lllali
G. Church of Illinois, and senior VIZ
Commander S. of ", Z. l.. Graves Oh
Connecticut. Division Commander 'ohi'
r uowes of Maine was also present.
Tho hall was decorated with a NUMBER
10 largo American flags and the maruai
,ouch lent by the uniforms OF khakl vi
ono side and blue on the other maue "
60 getting for the speakers of the eve
ming. .bs
rho entire crowd rose to its feet as the
,,,d str,,ck up The star Spangled Bali
-... ard as the last. strains died away
cha;rrnan Plaisted stepped forward anu
cav. the crowd greetings from the ioc"
carn of Sons of Veterans. He sta'eu ln"'
met &c wears ago this month the n
shot was fired which heralded Tue -
rin,;ny Of the Civil War, and that d.
t,o+ time there we're less than lWo sol-
diers available in this state. Less '
two short months later there were Tvs
regiments. and four more were oeins
trained and organized
"Durine the period Of the war there
u,ere CT 800 men from Maine who enlisted
,na bore arms. or rather more than a
tenth of the total population of the
State" said the chairman. and he add d
that the average age of the soldiers In
that splendid army was % years.
He paid a glowing tribute to the
women of the State, saying that they
did their full share in he Civil War
and We're ready to do the same today
if it became necessary. w have grid
ed on the arms of Righteousness and
will have peace if we have to fight for
it," he said, and after a burst Of APP
plause had dwindled down somewhat
he added, land what are we fighting
for? Not for gain, not to impose our
might upon other nations, but in or
der to assert our right as a great SOW
ereign nation of the world to live and
do business"
Gen. William G.. Church, command
er-in-chief of the Sons of Veterans of
America, was the second speaker of
the evening, and he stated in opening
, that he was glad to have had an oppor-
tunity of visiting the historic spots in
our beautiful city. and alludod in
glowing terms to tie splendid historic
record which Maine owns.
He stated that he would speak on
but two subjects, the s.. O. v. and Ma
tional Defense. He went on to give a
brief resume of the forming of the
Sons of Veterans in Philadelphia, Pa,
the early organization of the Post sys-
tenn, which was started in New York,
and the work done by Major Davis,
who started the S. O. ", L. S. A., in
Pittsburgh.
He then wen on to speak of the
final consolidation of the various bod-
les, anu VI THEIR IecoSn lllOn' ny the VI.
r. r.. as an auxiliary body at the N
vention held at Denver He stated that
the first commander-in-chief of the or
ganization was Frank II. Merrill of
Maine. and the next few moments of
his address were devoted to a most
eloquent tribute to the G.. A. r., which
he referred to as being " a great army
of boys, all burning with patriotic ar
dor, many of them misrepresenting
their ages in order to get into the
army, and many of them veterans be-
fore they attained the years of major
ity." Most of them from the middle
walks of life. for true patriotism is not
born in palaces nor in hovels," said the
speaker. "At one extreme of society
patriotism is crowded out, and at the
other there is no room for it to en-
ter"
He gave a graphic resume of the
Civ Wal period, and of the years de-
voted to the reconstruction, and he
said. 1.-The best blood of a republic is
that which possesses both civic and
military virtues, and the Grand Army
Of the Republic vas supremely endow-
ed with both"
Europe is torn and shattered, not
because of any inherent iniquity OF her
people, but because of the vicious con-
duct of her rulers" he said.
In closing he said: War is no longer a
matter of the mere campaigning of SOL
diers. They must know that back of
them, when they are on the firing line.
there are ample reserves. plenty of equip
ment and supplies-in short, a prepared
nation" and he urged everyone present
to do his bit" in every way possible. At
the close of his address the band played
Hail Columbia" and Chairman Plaisted
announced that Governor Milliken was
unable to be present owing to the fact
that he had been suddenly and unavoid-
| ably called from the city.
| He then introduced Senator Charles F.
Johnson. who stated in opening that it
was a fine thing to be able to listen to
| speakers from other states. He then went
on to impress upon his hearers the fact
that in times Of war there is work for ev-
eryone. There is no room for the slug
gard; each man must do his bit" he said.
He added that the United States will not
commit the blunder which has been evil
dent in the nations already at war. that
Of sending her skilled artisans to the
trenches, but that each man would be