Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-15

larger than It was last year. The nation
is anxious for more doctors for military
service. Moreover some Of our rural com.
munities are Just beginning to realise
that the cutting down Of the medical
schools Of the country was beginning to
make It impossible for them to induce
physicians to locate within their borders.
THD MORAL wELvARN OF OUR SOL
DIERs.
The big drive this week throughout the
United States - raise $s5.o0o.ooo for the
Y. M. G. A. wa fund is conspicuously and
pronouncsdly move primarily to promote
the moral welfare Of the millions of young
soldiers we are to send to Europe. Incl
IDENTIFY and periodically the purpose is to
increase the physical welfare and military
efficiency Of our armies and thus ensure
victory for the cause Of humanity and
democracy and the right of our women
and children to travel on the seas despite
the Kaiser.
In the course Of a patriotic address Car
dinal Farley Of New York paid high trib-
ute to President Wilson and Secretary
Baker for their thought Of the moral well
fare Of the young soldiers. as shown by
their establishment Of hve-mile zones
about the contonments within which vice
might not exist.
II am prouder Of our government for
that than for any other thing It has done
since we entered the war;" he said. ION
the other side Of the world there Is no
such care: indeed. provision is made to
gratify evil tendencies. But we, the
youngest of nations. are setting an exam
pie to them. for which thank God.''
He told how. at the birth Of the ma
ton. little group Of Catholics had aided
with their lives; how they had fought in
the Mexican War. when the church here
was 100000 strong; again in the Civil
War. when the country's 100000 Cath
ohcs gave their full quota, and still later.
In the Spanish War. when 100000 Of the
: faithful rallied to the aid Of their land.
And tonight" he contoinued, I'VE
pledge the undying Catholics who love
America as their fathers did. and who are
ready to die in its defense as their
fathers diedv"
Those who heard Mr.. Charles A. White
hairs stirring appeal for the Y. M. c. A.
fund at Hotel Vermont gathering and saw
through his eyes the temptations beset-
ting the young soldiers as they arrive in
Eourope can appreciate the gigantic ef-
forts being made to guard our troops from
some Of the evils indicated by Cardinal
Farley.
Another phase Of this great movement
to conserve tho American soldiers and
weld them into a great and efYicient army
is thus depicted by a correspondent of the
Philadelphia Ledger writing from Camp
Meade. Maryland. with reference to the
new canteen system conducted by the Y.
M. c. A. as described by Mr.. Whitehair:
They are dragging John Barleycorn in
the dust Of Camp Meade, hitched to the
tailboard Of the army water wagon, SO the
soldiers. those in a position to know. de-
clare. Along with the other moaarchs
who have held sway for long time. Old
King Alcohol is riding to fall, and this
army OF democracy is helping to topple
the dynasty Of Bacchus.
I'm Meade the real foe of Demon Rum
IL the army canteen. The lads who dis. |
pense the soft drinks at these buildings
hold no brief for national prohibition. but |
they do declare that soldering and tenn.
perance mean one and the same thing. Ask |
any Of them and they will show you stat
istics to prove that a wave of temperance
has hit this camp. and they will even give
names to prove that fellows who drank to |
excess are off the stun for life' This is
usually the form that a warriors pledge |
takes"
Elmer Reedy and George sprecht ara
the two men. according to the Ledger cor |
respondent. who manipulate the cork
screws that open the bottles that line the |
Great Dry Way here.' They are attached |
to the regimental canteen Of the sl5th in
fantry. and they meet hundreds Of SOL
diers daily in their points Of vantage.
Let us hear from them both on the SUBJ |
3sct:
Il know hundreds Of fellows right In this |
regiment" said Resdy. 'who say that |
they are on the water wagon for life. They |
buy soft drinks now and then whom thirsty
and they all say that they feel 20 |
much better that they are going to stick |
to the soft stun when they 20 back to
civil iife.'
Rssdy was tho telegraph operator at |
Wayne Junction for the Reading railroad,
and he says he means exactly what he
lays when he asserts hundreds have sworn
of there and intend to tread the arid way
when they return home.
Hundreds quitting the booss. isn't high
enough" observed sprecht. who was man.
ager for hve and ten-cent store. II
would put It at thousands. Yes, thou.
sands. You would be surprised to hear
Them talk as they open bottle Of pop
rney all spill that never again stun, and
e sou don't believe II esk any Of the fell
ows who handle the soft drinks.