Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-17

We dIe tilSdScu III d war OIL uS-
fence he declared. We are fighting
to preserve our national honor, fight
ing to vindicate u national rights, to
preserve u business, our homes. our
wives, cur daughters and our sons
and you know it,"
The time has come when every man
u know the United States is in var
to protect herself"
Governor Cobb then outlined the rise
Of GermanE's military might and OF
her determination to dominate the
world; and how her people came to be-
lieve that h other people of the world
were ready to lay themselves at Ger
many's feet. Germany started after
the Franco-Prussian war" he declared,
ON a course that should end in her
domination Of the world. She was in
a fair way to do it. She would have it
if the United States had not gone into
the war"
The speaker then gave some start
ling facts of America present condi-
ton OF unprepareGneSS. What is the
condition Of this country today in the
war" he asked. Self glorincation is
a national Characteristic. We like to
ti,ilk we can conquer the world. We
are Il ,on way from ~conquering the
world"
Governor Cobb then save the true
facts Of Americas standing today: in
torpedo destroyerS, with plenty order
ed and only a few keels laid; with
plenty Of airplanes contracted for, and
the first real Liberty motor not Yet as
seinbled, OF the handful of cur men
10 in Europe and the relatively small
number III carhps here, only partly
equipped and only partly drilled.
Il want to make this point" he de
clarpd dramatically, 'Whoeyer thinks
this war is going to end in months is
blind to the facts. ] am sure we shall
win the War-we nus win the war,
it will he a long. long time before
We can win 1t. Unpreparedness is one
of the prices We pay for democracy"
This war must win for us univer-
sal peace but before we get there we
must wade through Hell itself"
Governor Cobb then disclaimed heart
lily any intention of criticizing the
administration declaring that the ad-
miniStration Had done its best. that
we were paying the price for being
a democracy. II have never been ac-
cused of being anything but a Repuh-
lican," he said. but whoever plays
politics at a time like this is false to
his country" and his hearers rocked
the walls with their applause.
In closing his address Governor Cobb
dwelt on the importance Of the Y. NJ.
c. A. work and Of our duty to sup
port it literally. lie told What the Y.
NJ. G. A. can do for the boys over
there and closed with these words,
We must not let our boys go over
alone, we must stand behind them.
we must say. You are the boys that
stand between us and everything we
hold dear in this world and well stand
behind YOU IL give to the last dol
lar till you have indicated American
homes and preserved the peace of the
world"
With the close of Governor Cobh's
great speech reports were read and adj
ditional pledges We're secured. Mama
ger Dunnack then introduced Judge
Stevens, With a stirring picture of the
judges services to his country at Get
tySburS.
Judge stevens speech was a ringing
endorsement Of the words of Governor
Cobb and ended With a dramatic in
dictment of the traitors in our own
country who are hampering Ameri-
cas- work in the great a These
people," he declared, are fighting
their very country, are tighti--g against
themselves When these traitors are
discovered YOU can not serve too Sc
we're a punishment on them"
Then came the closing address by
Mr.. Dunnack, ending with every man
standing While he proposed a toast TO
our Allies; which every mar drank,
silently, f~eelingly.