The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-24
BENNINGTON TOLD
TO PRtPARE FOR
GREAT CRISIS
Commissioner HiIIegas Warns of
Increasing Food Shortage
MEETING At HIGH SCHOOL HALL
Speaker Says Country is Facing at
Least Two Years of Serious.
Frivation.


it would make no difference with the
food situation in this country said
Commissioner of Education NJ. r.
Hillegas at the mass meeting in high
school hall Monday evening as he
strove to draw word picture of the
serious situation that comforts the ma
ton. II was the evident purpose OF
the commissioner to bring home to
the people of Bennington the great
necessity for preparedness in the
crisis that has already come upon the
United States and that must become
more critical with every passing day.
In the commissioners opinion, and
he admitted that the authority for 1t
is not all his own, there are at least
two years of stringency coming to the
people of the United States and he
urged upon his listeners to exert every
effort that the hardships might be
lightened in every possible way
IL is evident from Commissioner
Hillegas remarks Monday night that
he is fearful OF Russia, fearful that
the new republic may break from the
agreement with the other allied ma
tions and in that event, he said, all
that would stand between America and
German invasion would be the Brit
ish feet.
OF Vermont's own necessities the
commissioner cites the taking out OF
the state of 1000 young men and OF
the vacancies that must be filed in
the agricultural and other industries.
Even without man sent into the
ranks it is almost impossible to Sc
cure help on the farms to produce the
crops that must be had TO feed the
army and the nation. 1t is to fill
these vacancies that the department
of education is enlisting the aid of
the boys and girls of the state,
Commissioner Hillegas' topic was
Preparedness" and in calm, force
full and convincing way he brought
its necessities before the members OF
his audience. He told them that it
was not only their duty to help to the
limit of the abilities but he also told
them that each and every one should
see to it that he or she was not in any
TGSptOl d uPOh tiC
ty. Individual health should be guard |
ed to the end that the efficiency of the
people might be impaired to the least
possible degree.
That the commissioner made a |
marked impression upon his audience
was plainly evident If it was his pur-
pose to awaken the people of Benning- |
ton to a realization of what is ahead, |
it was apparent that he succeeded and
in a large measure. The earnestness |
of the applause that followed the close |
Of his remarks told that his words had
gone home.
There were seated on the platform
when the meeting opened the mem
bers of the local committee, Rev. q.
w. Towart, pastor of the Baptist
church who presided, superintendent
A. w. Varney F. Clifford Shaw, the
farm agent, Miss Hilda Pratt,
A. C. Lamarre. William H. Wills OF
the Bennington County Improvement
association and H. II. Webster
Music, under the direction of Miss
Ilinne, was provided by the high
school orchestra and the pupils sang
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
The Star Spangled Banner" and
America"
Mr.. Shaw made an urgent plea for
the production of the more concen'
trated foods by the home gardeners
Turing the coming season, such vege-
tables as peas and beans which Will
take place of meat. He laid special
emphasis upon the necessity for in
.ensive cultivation and the destruc-
ton of weeds.
Mr.. varney reported for the com
nittee and admitted that he had be-
come so absorbed in the potato proD
em that he talked spuds uncon'
sciously. He stated that the land
problem for the organized school gar
lens had been solved by the generosi-
" of Edward H. Everett of Old Ben
lington.
Mr.. Wills conveyed the cooperation
If the Bennington County improve
ment association in the work OF in
creased production.