St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-06-27
NEWC0MB, FISH And CARY MAKE
STIRRING ADDRESSES AT ARMORY
Robert L. Newcomb of Boston Tells In Plain Words The
Need of Cooperation By The People of The
Country With Government In War Time v

Robert l.. Newcomb, of Boston,
member of the Publicity Committee of
the Boston and Maine Railroad, prin-
cIpal speaker of the patriotic meeting
held last evening at the Armory, in
closing his address stated that unless
the people wake to the fact that this
war is to be a real war, and act ac-
cordingly, government for the peo-
pie. by the people, and Of the people
will cease to be-" The speakers in
cluding George Cary, of ST. Johnsbury,
and Judge Frank L. Fish, of Vergen-
mes, pleaded in turn that the people
support the Red Cross, and the gov
ernment, and adjust themselves to the
conditions presented by the situation
as rapidly as possible.
The meeting, which was preceded
by a band concert at Court House
Square. was opened with the singing
of America" by the audience accom-
panied by the St Johnsbury Band.
James Cosgrove, president of the
Commercial Club, presided at the
meeting, introducing after a few re-
| marks George A. Cary as the first
speaker.
George A. Cary Speaks
his ideas of the Red Cross work. He
said that we in st. Johnsbury should
well oversubscribe the $4,000 asked of
US by the national committee, for the
benefit of the boys at the front. 1t is
| through the Red Cross, according to
the speaker, that we are enabled to
be of help TO our own and other peo-
/ pies sons and fathers. Mr.. Cary add
ed that we would be called upon for
subscriptions to different things as
long as the war lasts and that we
might as well begin giving now when
the money is most needed. He re-
ceived loud applause at the close Of
| his talk. The Honorable Frank l..
| Fish, of Vergennes, was introduced as
the next speaker.
Judge Frank L. Fish
! Judge Fish dealt for the most part
with the needs of the country at the
present time in assistance and coop
Grafton by the people with the govern
ment.
He began by congratulating the
town of ST. Johnsbury, in behalf OF
+ the First City in Vermont, on her
| splendid work in patriotic lines during
the present conflict The speaker said
that her endeavors were well known
everywhere and compared the work
! done here with that accomplished in
| Vergennes, town of 1900 people.
Judge Fish mentioned the ship
| building program of the United States
/ government, and the efforts of the
government to built as rapidly as pos
sible great numbers of wooden ships
/ Of about 5000 tons burden, with which
to transport supplies to our allies. A
| to argument that it was impossible tc
supply ships of that kind the speaker
gave the instance where in the state
of Vermont, when the emergency in
the early wars with England arose
| McDonough built a fleet of woouen
| ships near Otter Creek, getting his
supplies from the forests, in 40 days
time. And it was with these ships
| that many victories were won. The
Judge told of a case in the war Of the
i rebellion, when the government asked
for eight wooden ships; Immediately 8
man took the contract, and obtaining
his materials as best he could, hac
the ships floating in 100 days. Hon
Fish said that ships must be had. il
matters not whether they are of Wooe
or steel, only that they must be bull
and that rapidly, as the transportation
of materials of all kinds was becoming
q serious question.
Regarding war work Judge Fish tole