New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-10-09
M'ELROY INSPIRES
FOUR minute men
Princeton Professor Speaks at
Meeting in State Capitol

have enlisted as speakers in the cam
| paigns conducted by the publicity
| committee OF the Connecticut State
! Council of Defense and the -Four
Minute Men" received inspiration and
ammunition for future addresses when
: they met late yesterday afternoon at
the state capitol to hear Professor
Robert M. McElroy of Princeton Uni
versity, educational director Of the
| National Security league. Professor
| McElroy's address to Connecticut war
| speakers had been arranged by the
publicity committee of the State Coun-
Gil of Defence in cooperation with the
National Security league. AS a result
or the meeting increased activity in
war speaking campaigns in Connecti-
cut is assured.
George B. Chandler, chairman OF
the publicity committee presided. He
pointed out that the war'will be won
by the will power of the people.
Inc development of this will power
In Connecticut is the task of the de-
tense councils speakers. he said.
PROFESSOR McElroy he explained has
been loaned by Princeton university
to the National Security league as
its educational director
A~opASoCAAlfauVo government on lT1al.
This war is most vitality and most
fundamentally the concern of the
American people," he said. 1T be-
longs to America in a very special
sense. It is our war because it Is a
war for the preservation of free gov
eminent. for the right of representa-
tive government to develop, not only
in America but throughout the world.
Autocracy has failed. Representative
government Is on trial and the day
OF Its test is now. This war began
with the deliberate intention of Ger
many to conquer the world by arms"
The dream Of greater Germany
SAID the Kaiser in addressing his
troops In June, 1916, is the dream
that some day greater Germany must
dominate all Europe and is the single
end for which we are f1ght4ng.'"
Think of the idealistic expression
IN Washlngton's farewell speech; in
L1ncoln's first inaugural; and in the
myriad other utterances of our pub
lie men. Compare them with the ideals
of which Frederick, the Second, the
greatest of the Hohenzollerns, wrote
by way Of advice to his successor to
the Prussian throne, deals of ruthless
ness beyond description, one of which
was, No ministers at home but
clerks; no ministers abroad but
spies America knows what this last
phrase means. We have had spies un-
der the gulse of special representatives
of the Imperial German government.
We would greatly prefer any other
kind of vermin.'
Vandals of the Soul.
Representative government was
in,
These Prussians who have blotted out
the soul of Teutonic government
should be called the vandals of the
soul. This is our war because that
ideal of representative government,
having vanished from the home OF
its birth, having lived a precarious
existence in the British Isles, whittier
it was borne by the Saxon conquerors,
has it's full development in the peace
full seclusion of the American col
onies. The old Wing regencies and
the Hanovarian despots, by the man
ipulation of the Rotten Burroughs. de-
stroyed the representative idea In
England. America developed and
saved to the world the idea of rep
resentative government, which is now !
again. Professor McElroy
quoted from speeches of the Kaiser
and Of German philosophers and
teachers. He spoke of the activities
of German spies in this country and
referred to Won Bernstorff, the privi-
legged host of this country. who con-
spired against the United States He
showed in his clear and forceful ad-
dress that Germany is prepared for
any ruthlessness which may appear to
Kaiser necessary or desirable to gain
his aims. The war will never be
over, he made plain, If Germany Is
not conquered"
Professor McElroy then spoke of
what every man not clad in khaki
can do to save the world for democ-
racy There is no escape from re-
sponsibility for any one. If Germany
wins this war it means a reign of ter
rorism and broken treaties" he said,
and future generations of Americans
will have to fight Germany. eff we
make peace with Germany without
victory, give her twenty years and she
will win the world by default" he de-
clared. IF you do not organize every
state and get the whole power of the
American people behind your army,
we will meet disaster"
Pressing the Thought Home.
A number of minute speeches
on how the message can best be car
ried to every man, woman and child in
Connecticut were called for by Mr..
Chandler.
Rev. DR.. H. j. White of Hartford
suggested the use of the schoolhouses
as the key to the situation.
Professor Henry w. Farnam of
New Haven said that by thorough or
ganization, sending men of national
into every town, the con- !
science and will power of the peo-
pie can be awakened and strengthened. |
DR. Flaye] s. Luther president Of !