Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-05-03
Al. Ringing Theatre Is Packed to
Hear the Speakers Of the Even
ing and to Sing Stirring Songs

prayers should be that justice and
liberty shall prevail. He spoke kind
ly of the members of the G.. A. r., and
said that under the folds Of the flag
they fought the battles which made
this country what it is. They revere
the flag, and the speaker beseeched
all to emulate their example.
Speaker introduced
Attorney F. R. Bentley Introduced
the speaker of the evening, his
friend, Hon. Willett M. Spooner, Mil
waukee, a son of former United States
Senator John M. Spooner. In his in
PRODUCTION Mr.. Bentley Std this coun-
try had never failed to rise when peo-
pie are ground down by oppression.
He cited the days of '76, the war Of
'61, and the Spanish-American con-
fict. Mr. Bentley stated that we may
have no fear as to the outcome, and
said that at the present time all should
remember the words of Patrick Hen
ry when he said, 81 am not Virgin
ian, l am an American" He assured
those present this country had no
cause against the German people, but
against militarism.
BY Mr.. Spooner
Mr. Spooner said in part:
"The great, loyal hearted people Of
q n o. f..
ever with the citizens whose course Of
action and whose conduct is not in
harmony with America in this great
crisis. 1t surely must be an affront to
all self-respecting men, Of German de-
scent or otherwise, to have men in
public or private life even think that
conduct tending to hinder and embar-
rass America will gain their favor or
their votes.
Are not Representative
'It may gain the favor of few per-
sons who would like to see the war a
failure upon the part of the United
States, but these few are not repre-
sentative of the masses of the people.
[ want to say to you, and [ believe it
is representative Of the thought of the
people of the state, that the man,
whether he occupy the highest official
position or otherwise, who is afraid to
take an uncompromising and vigorous
stand for America, for her prestige,
her honor her glory and her success
should be, and will be crushed by the
overwhelming sentiment Of the people
of Wisconsin. It is we'll to let such
men know that if they are afraid there
are thousands of men in this state
who are not afraid-men whose only
platform is America, and on that plat
form they will stand and fight without
fear or favor.
"The case for compulsory universal
military training and service now be-
fore the people Of the United States
involves great principle.
Fair to All
each young man, not for some just
reason exempt from such service, will
ing under the guidance of skilled Off
GERS for a period of four to five months
during his nineteenth year. The indi-
vidual may select the branch of the
service in which he desires to serve
and may express his preference as to
the period of the year in which he
will undergo his training.
''The details of such system be-
come unimportant when dealing with
the great underlying principle involved,
because that principle embodies JUS
tice, equality, fraternity, uniication OF
thought and purpose, and patriotism
1t involves such an obviously square
deal to the country and to every man
and woman in it and it is so thor
oughly democratic in principle and IN
practice that it should commend it.
self to every thinking man and wom
an in the nation.
Incident to our mixed population
we lack that spirit of unity and alleg
lance which is great and vital es
sentia1 in the maintenance and per
petuity of the nation. There are
doubtless hundreds Of thousands OF
men in the United States today who
are good hearted, able bodied and in
telligent, but many who cannot speak
our language, and many others who
have no idea of the genius of our in
stitutions nor Of the ambitions OF
hopes of our people.
Heads Need Training