davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
More Cune Needed.

That this country is to have some
benefit from the visit of American
congressman to France is shown by
the statement of Congressman Me-
Cormiek of Illinois contradictory OF
the testimony of Gen. Crozier before
he senate investigating committee.
Congressman Mccormick states that
The French are giving the American
forcer in France guns simply because
the Americans are sadly in need of
The guns The English have more
Guns than any other Allied army hut
heir guns will not last them until
spring Italy with a front nearly as
long a front to defend. as the British
and French combined has only i
quarter as many guns as these two
nations Gen. Petin, the great
French general, said send us guns
and ammunition rather than steel
bullets He also warned the A1neri-
can congressman of the difficulty of
supplying larger army than that
already in France.
This American congressman has
Brought to the American people 4
message that cannot be discredited
by Gen. Crozier who admits that the
model of some arms and munitions
was not decided until months after
war had been declared. 1t should
convince the Americans Of the urgent
necessity of sending more guns and
supplies to the men we are sending
to France. The lack of guns and
ammunition threatens not only the
Americans sent to the front but the
whole Allied armies. America must
not neglect to get more of its own
Guns on the battle line and to aid in
winning the war.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
Shocking Incompefency,

Initiative taken by makers of
War Department.
Navy going ahead and doing
things and Army bound by red tape.
At least two months delay to rife
and four months to machine gun
program due to uncertainty in the
War Department. as to types.
Only one company making rifles
when all might have been busy ex-
cept for distrust of War Department
methods.
No evidence of preparedness be-
fore the United States actually ent-
cred the war.
Riff4 programme of ordance bur
eau carried out of expense of Allies
and the troops at home.
Thousands of machine guns offered
Army and ample time to equip all
training units and rejected"
The above is a summary Of the
evidence at Wednesdays session OF
the senate committee investigating
the war department and shows a
criminal negligence on the part of
the department officials. These Of
ficers knew war was coming but
failed to do anything to prepare for
it. They did not have appropriations
for arms and ammunition but they
should have had models all decided
before congress had acted. Had
they done this the country could
make a. much better showing than al
present.
Charles A. Prouty, director of the
Bureau of Valuation of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, is con-
sidered one of the best authorities
ron railroads in this country. His
/ statement regarding the government
! operation of our railroads VII have
| special interest to all who know hi:
ability in this line. Speaking before
Kthe Railroad Mems Improvement So
ciety at New York, he said 'tTht
actual operation of our railroads o.
any considerable portion of them b,
the government would be a hazard
| Gus experiment at any time. 1t Ger
tainly should not be resorted to il
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
Russia 4 Menace.

Russia, instead of being strength
to the cause of democracy, has be-
come a serious menace to It. There
is no correct idea OF democratic
government in that country at pres
ent, in fact of government at all
Lenine and the Bolsheviki have no
desire to grant individual liberty to
the people. They are simply trying
10 set up an autocracy of force.
There is no liberty of thought Poo
pie are executed if they do not sub
NIT to the will of these. dictators.
There is no guaranty of property
lights in Russia. Property is con-
iscated whenever it serves the de-
sires of outlaws. No representative
government is possible as the Boil
sheviki propose to hang anyone OPP
posing them.
What a contrast Russia presents
today to the patriots who made the
United States Independent and es-
tablished representative governm ent
in this land. The Americans were
controlled by principles of patriot
ism, the Russians by the spirit of
greed. The Americans labored for
the welfare of the whole, the Rus
slams for the benefit of a class. The
Americans sought the permanency of
justice, the Russians the instability
Of the outlaw. Americans strength
ened democracy, the Russians seek
TO destroy it.
Russia today is a graver menace
20 democracy than the German kai-
SER He can maintain order, con-
| 1uct war and negotiate treaties. The
Russians can do none of these things
| Unless there is q radical change
Russian nationality will be lost and
| n it's place there will be an un-
| known number of weak governments
| which will be easy prey for any OF
| he stronger nations There will br
10 guaranty of peace but sim ply
| .inder for the fires of war.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

temperature. We do not need to9heat,
day. There are many chances for5
econamy in public places, most of
which might be closed for part OR all
of the time, under severe need, with
out great loss. Even careful atten-|
ton to fires would result in much saw
ing Probably half of the fuel conf
monty used would keep us far fromI
freezing.
. AS to sugar, the shortage is conf
sidered temporary and while it rel
suits in much annoyance and discom-|
fort yet we could do without sugar forj
considerable period if we had to.I
The German people have lacked forI
years foodstuffs more essential than
sugar. We may, even, before the war;
ends.-Herald and News.
Coal Hoarders.
There are always those who cam
not put before their own petty in-
terests and comfort the welfare of
others or Of the nation as a whole
even when the very foundation of
the country itself is threatened with
destruction
1t takes time for democracy to-
set up and get into running order
the machinery with which to carry
out the necessities of price control
and to assure an equitable distrlbu-
j ton of those supplies in which
shortage is present or threatened.
There are families in Burlington
today as elsewhere, who have stored
! in their cellars sufficient supply
! of coal for the winter and yet grasp
| every opportunity to obtain an adj
ditional ton intending to have their
| cellar full for noxt winter. The
same situation is true as to sugar.
| Each individual who offends in
| this way not only makes it more diff
| ficult for others to obtain their or
! binary supply, but also creates an
artificial shortage which forces up
iprices when this is unnecessary
! He is q traitor to the country and
' giving direct aid to the Kaiser by
increasing war hardships here.
If the government at some future
time finds it necessary to raid the
cellars of these offenders they will
stand public pilloried, for what they
are And stranger things have hap
pened.
Fortunately there are other fam
lilies in Burlington as in every
other community in the country,
who buy from time to time only the
supplies they require in ordinary
course. And this not because they
are not just as able, financially, it
| is a matter of few dollars only,
but because they have serious OBJ
iections to taking a course which
will deprive some other family,
make them suffer with cold or go
without sugar. Their patriotism
sprinc,; from the heart not from the
| lips alone.-Burlingto Daily News.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
Next Congressional Campaign.

We arc in receipt of a letter from
Thomas j. lioyells of Pittsburg. Pa.
urging that party strife be suspended
in the election of congressman in the
campaign of next year because the
defeat of these men who voted for
war would be hailed by enemy coun-
tries aa defeat of the war. party in
this country There is some merit
to the suggestion but it does not seem
TO Us entirely valid.
There Is every reason to expect
this country will still be at war when
the congressional contests are in
progress next year. 1t will be the
duty of this country to send to con-
gress its strongest men. of ability,
courage, and breadth of vision. The
tirely of men of that class but of mon
chosen by local conditions Or politics
Many of them would not have been
elected on national issues. There
Will be a national crisis at that tine
and the people of every congressional
district should be at liberty to select
the man it. believes is best fitted to
deal with the national conditions.
While the vote for war was strict
~ 'nonpartisan there are reasons why
a change should be made in the
parties in control of the government
The raising of revenues to pay for
the war will be one of the important
matters for the next congress to deal
The question whether we shall ap-
prove of the democratic policy of
imposing taxes upon domestic indi-
viduals and concerns or the reubli-
can policy Of imposing taxation so far
as possible on foreign persons and
business will be an important one.
For these reasons we think there
should be q real campaign waged
next year.
needs some thing done he is on the
spot. He is in Washington now try
ing to get sufficient supplies of coal
for Vermonters.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
DO NOT WISH TO UNITE.
Montpelier Clergy Adopt Resolution
CriticizinG Fuel Methods

: Montpelier, Dec. .1s.-The resolution
which the Prctestantsc clergy of Mont
pelier adopted at their meeting yester-
day were made public this morning
by the secretary OF the meeting, the
Rev f. Barnby Leach having waited
waited "a hours for meeting of the
laymen of the six Protestant churches
in the city which did not take place.
The resolutions criticise the effort to
close the schools and churches, and
add that the state and federal fuel
administrators, according to recent
published information, have showed
no intention of closing the schools.
The clergy urge that private residences
and places of amusement be closed
before the churches are asked to COM
bine into one edifice. The resolutions
express the conviction that the fuel
conservation move has been approach
ed from the wrong end.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26


The proposed secession of Quebec
from the Federation Pact Of Canada
is the worst manifestation of disloy
atty and cowardice the people of that
province have yet shown. The only
purpose OF secession is escape from
military support of England France
and the United States in the present
war crisis and would be rank traitor
ism. 1t would be the rankest folly
because Quebec would sacrifice much
more blood and treasure attempting
to esta bIish its independence than it
will in supporting the rest of the Do
minion. 1t could not hope to effect
any alliance with any other nation
because no nation would care to
make any alliance with a people so
unworthy-and disloyal as the French
Canadians of Quebec are showing
themselves to be. Fortunately this is
only proposal and we do not believe
the people as a whole will support
such an Infamous act
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
IrOaKlnT

The cost of war goes by leaps and
% that today we talk gibly of spend
ng billions of dollars, for, let it al
ways be emphasized, the honor and
oessimists today as there We're in our
,ivil war, ''copperheads" they were
,alled, and those pessimists contend
rs far as they dare that the country,
because of the cost of war, is going
% the dogs and national bankruptcy.
Disloyalty is behind all this criticism.
out may be a tonic to our loyal citi-
ems everywhere if we briefly note
he nations wealth.
We have larger wheat crop, ten
ines as much corn as any country.
Twice as many live stock. Half the
worlds cotton comes from America.
We mine twice as much coal as Eng
and, and more copper than anywhere
n the whole world. No nation pro-
luces half our oil, and the same ratio
true of our iron and steel products.
Dur bank vaults contain one-third of
Ill the gold of the world. Our ex-
,orts exceed our imports by three bill
ion dollars. And our aggregate
wealth exceeds that of Great Britain
Trance and Germany combined by
ONE % billion dollars.
Those facts should be generally
'snown, and should be wholesome
Medicine to all croakers and pessi-
nists OF course they are known te
Sermany And it does not require
any gift of prophesy to tell what Ger.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

1T seems that England has been
selling titles very freely to men who
had the money to pay for them, but
it is likely to be stopped. The House
of Lords has recently passed a reso-
luton requiring 1.-The Prime Minister
before recommending any person for
such honor or dignity, should sat
isfy himself that no payment or eX-
pectation of payment to any party
or political fund is directly Or indi-
rectly associated with the grant or
promise of such honor or dignity
He is also required to make a public
statement of the reasons for which
any such honor or dignity has been
conferred This should protect the
House of Lords from any further
contamination of dollar statesmen.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
Plain Talk About Coal.

Gov. Mccall of Massachusetts, ha
given some very plain talk on thu
coal situation in New England. Her
s what he says about the Navy De
)artment:
The demands of the navy have
been less great but the navy has
done much injury to the trans
portation of coal in taking tugs
for towing. 1t took one-fourth
of the towage capacity of the
Reading road used in the New
England trade. II took ten tugs
on the lines between Hampton
Roads and New England which
meant a towage capacity of
many hundreds of thousands of
tons a year. The secretary of the
Navy is said to have proudly de-
clared before committee of
Congress the other day that we
have q thousand ships in the
navy, but if these thousand ships
according to tonnage, could be-
gin to inhict damage on the
Germans that the withdrawal of
the coal tugs, according to their
tonnage, has inflicted on the
north eastern part of our own
country it is doubtful if the Ger
mans would last a week. 1t is
beginning to dawn on some of
the bureau chiefs and other gen
tlemen responsible that We are
Waging war on the Central En-
pires and not on the American
people.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

King Alcohol received a bad bloz
when the House of Representatives
voted On the national prohibition
amendment Monday. The use OF
liquor has been condemned by the
government, by the medical profess
sion, by business, by good society and
soon will be condemned by the peo-
pie. Congressman Dale probably
represented the majority of his con-
stituents in voting in favor of the
amendment Congressman Green
voted against it and has made public
a statement that he believes he was
correctly representing his constitu-
ency. Possibly he was, but unless
there is q radical change in senti-
ment we shall have nationwide pro-
hibion.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

We believe the country generally
will approve of the plan of Congress
to abolish the shipping board and
place the work of ship construction
in the hands Of one man. Thus far
the Shipping Board has been very
prolific in chickering's and very bar
rem in ships. First Gen. Goethals
had to go, then Admiral Capps, then
Admiral Harris and now Charles A.
Piez is at the head Of the board.
Each time change was made the
country has been told what a fine
man has been placed in charge, but
every time this fine man has had to
give up in disgust because he could
not give the country ships. We want
no more of this and if Congress will
put a stop to it the country will be
greatly benefited.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26


Great Britain is Winning.
Admiral Won Tirpitz's declaration III
his Hamburg speech that up to the
present in this war Great Britain has
won, rather than lost, may sound star
Ting as coming from a German source
but it is nevertheless true. Great
Tsritian has swept German commerce
from the seas, has kept the German
navy cooped a1p in the Kiel canal and
rendered it a negligible factor in the
war, has captured all the German
colonies in Africa, has blocked the
German attempt to reach Calais, has
delivered smashing blows at the Ger
man line in France and Flanders, has
dealt powerful blows at Germany's
ally, Turkey. in Mesopotamia and
Palestine. and has SO thoroughly
alockaded Germany as to reduce her
almost to the verge Of starvation. On
the other hand, no British territory
anywhere has been invaded Or cap
tured by Germany or her allies, and
the British losses in men killed,
wounded and captured are vastly
less than those inflicted on the Ger
mans and the Turks by the British
forces. Won Tirpitz cannot shut his
eyes to it; he knows that as between
Germany and Great Bitian there is
no question but that Great Britain
has had very much the best of the
war so far, and for reasons of his
own he is frank enough to admit it.
-Brattleboro Reformer.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

it's praise of people walking to their
work No doubt the millions Of peo-
pie who have sedentary employment
would be greatly benefited by walk
ing a reasonable distance to and
from their work, but any person who
IS on his feet all day would miss the
opportunity of riding home after his
days work is done. But few people
walk.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

the present crisis unless ii is abso-
geney exists and IL no other effective
way of meeting it can be found. then
the government should not hesiiate.
Many students Of this situation feel
that the time has come when that ex-
pertinent must be made" We fully
concur in his statement that opera
ton of the railroads at any time
would be hazardous experiment. =
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

y IT wasn't very Merry Christmas
in Washington for the executive de-
partment of the government The
administration was busy trying to de
wise means to cover up the startling
revelations made regarding the wa,
department but it will be difficult tt
do it. The investigating committee
have already shown too much for tn.
country to remain longer in the dark
The war department which PROMISE
to have 6ss.776 men in military camp
'by the 18th of October have only
437,414 men in camp to date. These
men are not properly equipped an6
many are suffering for clothing ane
hardly any of them are armed. Our
army in France hasn't guns that hav'
been tested and proved efficient. Il,
fact we stand eight months after wa
has been declared woefully unprepar-
ed TO perform our part in the grea'
struggle. The effort to conduct wal
with a peace government made up te
serve political ends is responsible TO-
this disgraceful condition and the ad-
fr1inistration should realize this an6
give us war government at once.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
OLD SOLDIER GIVES RECOMMSy-


Gustav Wangelin, Commander of g.
a. r. Post. Pinckneyville. Ill, writes:
81 highly recommend Foley Kidne,.
Pills. which / prefer to all others /
have used and consider them Johnny
on the spot'" Foley Kidney Pills give
quick relief from ba ckache. rheumatic
pains, stiff. swollen joints. languidness.
pains in groin and muscles, all other
disturbing bladder ailments. They as
sist nature in restoring strength and
vitality
CHARLES A. sEARLES & co.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
TIC children OF snmmerville van

The children of Summertime want
, skating rink. There are nearly 4
Is well as the children living On the
Till. The village has the water and
the good Lord has given rs the
Weather and All that is lacking is
the orders of the school commission
e.s to give the Summervilla young
sters q square deal.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

many would do in the shape of indem-
nity, should she conquer in this war,
America would be rich picking for
sier impoverished treasury And the
f'ranco-Gernan war tells US that
she knows how to pick" on a most
generous scale.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26
Presents School With Flag.

Thursday morning Chamberlin Re-
lief Corps presented the Junior High
school with a silk flag and standard.
appropriate exercises We're held. Mrs.
Waite made the presentation speech
and Mr.. Merrill accepted the flag in
behalf of the school, after which all
pledged allegiance to the flag.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

Congressman Porter II. Dale evil
IDENTIFY is impressed with the idea that
this is not to be a short or easy war.
This is what The Caledonian has
said from the very first and we are
confident most people in Vermont
realize the truth of this. Congress
seems quite convinced of the truth
of this. The only thing necessary is
greatly increased output of guns and
equipment for the soldiers and this
must come through the executive de-
partment of the government. Any
thing Congressman Dale and his fell
low members can do to speed up the
executive department will help in
bringing early and decisive peace.
The people of Vermont do not need
waking up but the. various bureaus
hamstrung by red tape need to be
unshackled and set to work.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

States is not the only country that
has speeded up production. Our vii
lage gardeners should prepare to do
their bit another season TO Keep the
country Of the world.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

Some papers are saying there is no
danger of a green Christmas this
,.oar. We do not know what the
weather is going to be but it would
rot surprise us to see the sleighing
gone before Christmas gets here.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

Passenger traffic from Philadelphia
cent and from New York to Wash
ington SO per cent during the present
year. Still there are many people
who would like to Ego to Washing
ton that the voters intend shall
stay at home"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

With 26 carloads Of coal en- route
for this village the coal situation in
st. Johnsbury looks much warmer
than it did week ago.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

County Agricultural Agent Sweet
en- of Windham county says that
many difficulties will confront the
farmers the coming year. We do not
doubt it but they are not the only
cnes
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

John Wanamaker's advertising
manager has just decided to double
the amount of advertising that store
will do in the next year. Mr.. Wan
namaker has been one of the most
successful advertisers in this country
and no doubt understands just what
this important step. Other business
men could we'll afford to study Mr.
Wannamaker's action and govern
themselves accordingly. One of the
reasons this country has SO few Wan
namakers is there are few men as
good advertisers as he.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

The food administration advises
the farmers we'll when it tells them
to hold back their hogs from the
avercrowded market of the present.
The supply of hogs is limited and it
viii pay the farmers we'll to keep on
feeding their hogs by the usual
marketing period between Thanks
giving and New Years. Hogs viii
bring hog prices as soon as the rush
is over.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-12-26

Mayor Curley's show of violent
temper before. the office of the Bos-
ton Post showed also knowledge that
he will be whipped at the polls today.