The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-04
City Auditorium Filled Yes
terday Afternoon by Persons
Lager to Aid
FIGHT, FARM OR
FINANCE" IS SLOGAN
Duty Of Every Man and Wom-
an Is Clearly Pointed Out
and Crowd Cheers Assent
to War Talk

Ia Rejecting the sentiment Of the peo-
thousand persons who filed the City
Auditorium yesterday afternoon at the
patriotic mass injecting held under
the auspices OF the commission OF re-
hx1ous forces affiliated with the state
council Of defense. evidenced their
Willingness to fight, la Dor and sacri-
ice in order that the country may
emerge victorious from the war which
1t has entered for the maintenance or
! Its high ideals of freedom. Demon
atrations Of approval mel each declar=
Afton of the eloquent speakers that
the war meant work, death TO many
or the valiant soldiers OF the nation,
eacrifee for those ~ ho1ac who must
contribute their share to the sum
tora, that would ensure triumph Of
the country's principles,
That men must volunteer for the
military units now organized. that
here, while the armies are fighting
HNreati. siao-e-w.t Cannot take aP
military training must do their part
IN RANGING the war, feeding the sol
diers. and eqaipping them, that
Americas participation IN the war ~
right and Just. worthy OF the utmost
effort on the part % every individual.
vas brought out by the powerful and
eloquent utterances of the speakers.
The moral obligation OF every man
To register tomorrow in order that
they may be selected TO carry the ban
neF Of liberty to ultimate triumph, was
pointed 0iit TO the vast audience, and
the necessity of surrounding with
wholesome Influences the camps IN
which the sailors and soldiers. who
will fight the countrys battles. will
yecrsyg their training
Governor stuart referred 10 hSs the
Rev " AsNury Christian In his In
1rnduct on az the matchless governcr
of Virginia who, like the heroic eN-
ecutives OF other American wars, wifi
watch over the destinies Of the s.ase
as they did. presided at the meeting
He expressed the appreciation of the
state Tor the mobilization OF Christian
influences and forces brought together
by the meeting, when ministers Of all
creeds joined together TO exercise the
most POW erf1l ~ alt ifIfluenres i
OF thristtanity--~over Nirginias par
ticipatfon in the MAR The governor
declared that no people would he
stronger when emerging from war
than were their moral purposes on en-
tering IL.
n
General F. w Nichols Of the Viz
rfn.a Military institute and CHAPMAN
Of the state council OF defense. was
the frsf speaker OF the afternoon. his
subject being The National Guard
It's Worth and Needs" He told OF the
great work done by earlier Virginians
IN shaping this great country, point
ing out their valorous deeds, their
triumphant craftsmanship, and their
,.tn
,udSing from the patriotism shown in
other DAYS by noble NirEfnians. this
should be the most patriotic state of
the union
General Nichols made an appeal to
the young men to respond to tho call
Of the country for volunteers. To TINS
time. he said, Virginia had been found
wanting in this respect. and that the
rsnuts tons made by the forefathers
ofthe state for the national guard will
suffer unless the cid spiFit-.ha' was
prevalent during the Civil war re-
Hdves and they volunteer for free
donl's cause
swell your volunteer organizations
to the war requirements. he said.
Let this generation OF young men.
emuiating the traditions Of their state.
Virginia. mother of states and states
men. hand down to the coming gen
erations record of faithfulness iE
keeping and in accord with the ira
dfttons of their progenitors.
Byrd Tells Of Councils Work.
1.-THE state council of defense was
amounted by the governor to uphold
The traditions of Virginia in the pres
emit emergency declared Richard
EVELYN Byrd, IN opening hts address
an the object of the Council OF De-
> Tense and Affiliated Bodies" He told
| of the work Of the council in mohiliz-
ing all the resources of the state to
The support of the government, point
ing out that in this war every man
must do his duty, whether 1t he fight
Ing. farming, working in munition
nIants or other worthwhile occupation
Mr.. Byrd pointed out that in a
short time thousands of American
hoys would he sent to the battlefields
~ France, and that we must realize
ROW what the duty of the pAnple Is.
Ehose who stay at home BET use of
age disability or other reason. must
do their duty 10 aid the soldiers in
.aphting the country's battles. Those
\ who will do the lighting. he said. have
! right to demand that they be not
sent 10 slaughter without the proper
nnuipment with which to fight. From
thc registrations made tomorrow. he
said boys would be selected who,
ike the soldiers of Gideon, would he
cent TO the hattlehelds on the west
front. The duty OF those here is to
work in order that these soldiers
might fght with the best advantages.
Parasites Must> Work.
Parasites must also he made to
audience. by these mean the loaf
ers which infest our Broad street.
tConti;,ued on Second Page.)