The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-10-16
AUDIENCE IS
THRILLED BY
PATRIOTISM
War Convention Last Night
a Success
BIG AUDIENCE PRESENT
BIG AUDIENCE PRESENT
Speakers Who Were Expected Did
Not Como But Those That Came
Were All Right.

Il luO war convention at the opera
house Monday evening was a success
in spite of the fact that the Wash
ington and New York headquarters
did not send even one OF the speak
ers that they promised.
The men that came were good
speakers and the audience enjoyed
hearing them and profited from their
| discourse, but there was sense OF
disappointment that the men of ma
] tional reputation who had been
| promised were not permitted to
come. This disappointment was
particularly acute among those who
! arranged the meeting and had
| promised the public the appearance
/ of the speakers.
The opera house was crowded and
practically every person present
stayed until the last speaker finished.
This in itself is proof that the speak
,ing was interesting to those who had
the privilege of hearing it.
The opera house was beautifully
decorated with the national colors.
The committee, which did the work,
was composed of l. p. Walker, H. z.
Woodman and Harry Warren Tho
best band in Vermont furnished
music that added greatly to the value
of the program, The members of
Company A, in charge of Capt Hol-
den and Lieutenants Cushman and
Nichols, acted as ushers.
A group Of young ladies, CARRIED as
/ Red Cross nurses occupied one box
and in the other we're local members
/ of the National League for Women's
Service. There were a few present
from out Of town but most Of the aud
fence were from Bennington and
North Bennington. On the platform
were the members OF the Bennington
War Service committee,
Hon. George b. Wellington pre-
sided and spoke briefly at the open
ing on American aims in the war.
He said that it is essential that the
| struggle go on until the kaiser de-
clares that he has had enough.
The first speaker was Prof. Robert
w. Moore of Colgate university. He
took up the subject Of the develop
ment of the German empire from the
days Of Frederick the Great down to
the present and showed how the lust
for the world domination has been
gradually encouraged among the Ger
man people until the national Ger
man sentiment is such that 1t cannot
be trusted in the family of nations.
In the meantime every effort and
tendency of the German people to-
ward liberty and democratic govern
ment has been crushed by an iron
hand Bismarck, through the public
schools, in term Of years educated
the masses of Germany to the idea
that the, Germans are the only peo-
pie fitted to manage the affairs of the
world and that other nations must
acknowledge German superiority.
Before permanent world peace can
be established the German people
fas we'll as the German rulers must
/ learn their error. Until this change
in German sentiment Is brought
about peace talk is premature and Ill
advised
The second speaker was Lieuten-
ant Eric Machell OF the Canadian
army who is home on a sick leave
and is a guest at the home OF Mr..
Wellington. Lieutenant Machell was
modest in his remarks and failed to
tell the audience that his own record
in the war is one of the most brill
liant among the many notable ones in
Canadian ranks
He told his hearers several inter
esting things about the service and
urged volunteer enlistment for the
young men of Bennington without
waiting to be drafted. He also told
of the great service being done by
the Red Cross in saving lives and re-
ducing suffering He urged the ladies
to knit sweaters with sleeves even if
it is more work. In winter work the
arms particularly need protection
from the cold.
Lieutenant MachelI said he didn't
claim to be a public speaker but
many of those present considered his
brief talk the most interesting part OF
the whole program
George Hornblower, Esq, spoke for
the National Security League and bit
terly arraigned the crimes charged
against German soldiers, German Of
ficers and the German nation. He
urged the Importance of buying the
Liberty bonds as the most direct aid
that most people can give the cause
of the allies.
The last speaker was Charles S.
Bigelow who has spent most of his