The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-10-24
MASS MEETING IN
CAUSE Of LIBERTY
Auditorium Crowded This
Afternoon in Spite of
DOwnpOur
GOVERNOR UNABLE
TO BE PRESENT
Enthusiasm Aroused as Band PLAYS and
School Children Sing and Speakers
Urge Subscription to Liberty Loan in
Defense of Country.

Urge Subscription to Liberty Loan in
Defense of Country.
Brattleboros response to the proclama
tlon issued by President Wilson and
backed up by Governor Graham setting
aside this as Liberty day was handsome
demonstration of patriotism on the part
OF her townspeople. Pouring rain did not
III any way dampen the enthusiasm nor
keep enough people away so but that the
Auditorium was filled almost to over
flowing when the mass meeting was
called to order soon after l30 this after
noon and the exercises were entered into
the music appreciated and the addresses
urging the great necessity for everyone
who possibly can to loan their money
ito the government in this great crisis
listened to with a spirit bcfitting the
occasion.
! Owing to pressure of other business
/ 1t was impossible for COY Graham to be
present as had been announced. There
was one outstanding feature while the
program was being carried ont and that
was the great seriousness and soIcmnity
which prevailed. Everyone. from the
youngest to the oldest in the large audi
ence, plainly showed that deep impress
ision was being made
! All OF the stores, schools and some of
the factories in the town closed their
doors at noon SO that employees might Get
then dinner and have ample time to re
! turn to the Auditorium. Throughout the
/ iforenoor there was a heavy rainfall and
/ gust at the hour when all paths began
/ to lead III the direction OF the meeting
Iplace II poured the hardest, but people
turned out in full force and long before
the speaking hour arrived every seat in
the house was occupied and all of the
available standing space taken.
! Handiwork of the decorator was first
| to attract attention as all Of the boxes
/ at either side of the stage were draped
with large star spangled banners, the
'front.' of the stage was banked with flags
and two large silk emblems of the free
adorned each end of the proscenium arch
These were set off with palms and at the
center of the stage. directly i'm front of
the speakers table was huge bouquet
OF chrysanthemums.
While people were gathering The Brat
tleboro military band which was seated
at the rear OF the stage, rendered a pro
gram of patriotic airs. each one seeming
to leave deep impression upon the lis
teners. Then the chorus from the high
school took a position in front OF the
band and under leadership of Musical Di
rector Frank NJ. Cram contributed several
selections, which were greatly appreciat
| ed
This demonstration shows lust what
Brattleboro can do when people are once
aroused and what can be done practically
on the spur of the moment as the entire
arrangements We're completed within IS
hours. On the stage were seated many
OF the men who participated in the pre-
liminafy work and it might be added that
! II was due to the entrance of the board
/ OF trade into the proposition that il was
hurried to such successful conclusion
Members OF the clergy seated on the stage
included Rcverend- I. i. Mcmahon
| Douglas G.. Guest, +. Q. s Osgood. ID. 4.
Trout K. II. Clapp. J. Fredrik Virgin.
A. \. Woodwork, {. T. Brownell, Z. s
Hewitt Business men represented be-
sides the speakers were George L. Dun
ham, Postmaster NJ. J. Moran, a b.
Clapp, t, \. Barrows. Judge j. NJ Tyler
and Harry p. Webster There were many
present III the audience who came from
adjoining towns.
| Horton ID. Walker president of the
board Of trade and chairman of Windham
county pledge card campaign committee
called the gathering to order formally
and III few choice words in which he
referred to the vast Importance of the
occasion which prompted the meeting in
troduced as the first speaker of the after
noon Charles G. Staples
At the outset Mr.. Staples expressed
the firm belief which the people of Brat
| tleboro and the United States hold in the
great war which has been entered into
but brought out the fact that there are
! still many who do not actually realize
the serious situation which confronts the
government. I'VE are at war" he said
and the war must be won. But to win
TINS war requires men and to maintain
men demands money. millions of dollars
That Is why Uncle Sam asks YOU to loan
/ HIM your dollars. You will not lose
anything, but will, on the other hand. be
a gamer. Fifty dollars in government
bonds is better than the same amount of
money in your home as it will draw 1
!per cent annually"
| The speaker entered denial that
there was a profit in handling the bonds
and emphasized the fact that bankers
throughout the country are doing it out
OF spirit of patriotism for the land of
the free and the home of the brave as he
believed all men or nations are entitled
to progress.
In conclusion he recited the figures
showing how Brattleboro stands on sub