The Farmington times., 1917-05-18

big event in the history of Farming
ton. About 1000 people gathered on
the public square to witness the
christening or dedication of the Elec-
trio Flag, which had been erected ov-
er the Post Office by the Loyalty Club
of Pennington, and to give enthusi-
astic expression Of their loyalty to
and love of our country. The flag
cost $128.00, and Pennington is the
only town in the State outside the
large cites to display the stars and
stripes by this means.
The idea was suggested by one Of
our loyal women, who recently re-
turned home from New Orleans, where
she had seen one of these flashing
electric flags, to a couple of young
women. They were inspired by the
idea and at once said, why not have an
electric flag in Pennington, the Mon
day Club having broached the organ
izing of a Loyalty Club. But why
withhold their names? The deserve
the credit of initiation Mrs. Gene
We've Fisher Logan and Miss Lavinia
Rozier, younger daughter of Hon.
Edward A. Rozier. With them to
tllllh was W dCl, anu IhCy db OiiSS
started out to solicit subscriptions to
pay for the flag, and every man and
woman who placed his or her name
on the list became a member of the
Loyalty Club. They worked indus
triously and successfully and soon
had enough money raised to order
the flag. ..
Last Monday night was the cul-
mination of their patriotic zeal when
the vast crowd gathered on the pub
lie square TO dedicate this beautiful
symbol of our land, which will now
flash the colors and stars and stripes
of "Old Glory" every night from 8
to 10 o'clock, the city generously fur
nishing the power.
The program of the evening con-
sisted of music by the Cover Band,
q dedicatory speech by Hon. Edward
A. Rozief, the pressing of the button
that started the flag flashing and the
Star Spangled Banner played by the
band. At point in Mr.. Rozier's ad-
dress where he started to pay tri-
butte to the national emblem, little
Miss Cecilia Giessing, daughter of
Mayor and Mrs. Charles H. Guessing,
who was daintily gowned for the oc-
casion and draped with the American
flag, looking a veritable little Goddess
of Liberty, pressed the button that
started the electric flag to flashing
out its colors, giving the stars and
stripes the effect of waving and
swaying in the breeze. The big
crowd cheered and automobile horns
honked in loyal appreciation of the
beautiful spectacle.
The Dedication Speech
Theo. D. Fisher introduced the
speaker of the evening in few words,
as follows:
"Fellow Americans (and that in
cludes men, women and children,
whether to the manor born or natu-
ralized): / have been reading ac-
counts of flag raisings and notices of
flags to be raised in a number of
towns, but Pennington is the only
town in the State outside of the big
cities that has expressed its loyalty
and love Of country by the hosting
of an electric flag, that the stars and
stripes might not only wave in the
sunlight, but might flash out their
bright colors in the darkness of night
by the aid of electricity.
81 have been asked by the President
of the Loyalty Club of Pennington to
conform to general and universal
custom on such occasions by introduc-
ing the speaker who will deliver the
address dedicating this flag to our
town. 1t is my pleasure to introduce
one of Farmington's most distin-
guished citizens and eloquent speak
ers-Hon Edward A. RoZier."
AS Mr.. Rozier stepped upon the
platform a wave of applause greeted
him. We had hoped that he had pre-
yiously prepared his speech in manu-
script, so that we could publish it in |
full, but he spoke extemporaneously |
from a few notes that he had jotted
down, and we can only give an out
line of some of the principal points.
He said we had met for patriotic
purpose, to show our devotion to our
country and its flag. "For nearly |
three years we have been the specta-
tors of the most tremendous war the
world has ever known, war that has |
cost millions of lives and involved the |
welfare of the whole world" He
passed in review some of the preg- |
nant acts of Germany, which, in spite |
of our efforts to remain neutral, fore
ed the United States to take up arms
for democracy and human rights.
eve have witnessed in the short
space of two and one-half years."
said Mr.. Rozier, "the German En-
peror and his military autocracy vio-
late a solemn treaty; invade and de-
stroy a peaceful nation, burn and
recklessly devastate its cities and its
homes by the murder of thousands of
it's men and carrying many of the re-
mainder into servitude. This autoc-
racy has earned the appellation "Bar-
barian" by acts of vandalism not
used in war in the last thousand
years. 1t sought to carry fear and
terror into the ranks of those oppos-
ing its unrecognized modes of war
fare by Zeppelin raids into peaceful
towns, killing and terrorizing nom
combatant men, women and children,
- L.. Al ,,eo nf Y,nscounatc paaa and L