The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-30
Events of Unusual Interest In Madison

A mass meeting was held on Main
street. last Saturday night under the
auspices of organized labor of Madi
son for the purpose of bidding a public
farewell to some of the boys who are
leaving for the cantonments. Judge
c. o. Small acted as chairman and his
remarks in introducing the different
numbers on the program were always
appropriate and to the point. The
meeting opened with the National
Anthem by the Boys Band; prayer by
the Rev. VIM. Clements and selec-
tion by II. & W. Italian Band, the Sc
lection "Miserere" from Faust was
we'll rendered and we'll received. Other
numbers on the evenings program
were addresses by Rev. FIR. c. F. Shea
and Rev. VIM. Wood; a reading by
Miss Laura Carpenter; distribution of
comfort bags and benediction by Rev.
J. S. Clark. The principal address of
the evening by the Rev. H. E. Dunnack
of Augusta, was full of interest and
created sensation N so far as it
was a surprise to most of his hearers,
his Reverence told his hearers of the
Importance of labor in winning the
war. He deplored the fact that ma
chimes were allowed to stand ide while
our country was at war. he pleaded
with his hearers not to betray the boys
we were sending over, by impeding
production here, he pointed out the
futility of the sacrifice the boys would
make If we could not back them in all
the little things at home. by buying
bonds, contributing to the Red Cross
and mainly by doing all in our power
to increase production, even where
wages or conditions were not all that
could be wished for he pleaded that
1t was up to our industrial army to
stay on the jobs, as these were not
times to go on strikes, we had too much
to lose by it. The address was we'll
received though here and there one
heard murmurs of disapproval as this
rather touched local conditions more
than some thought necessary. The
program was followed by a dance at
Union Hall.
The Madison Patriotic Social Club
had a very active and successful
week At their movie night last
Tuesday, Sergt LeBlois of the British
Canadian Recruiting mission address,
ed the Club. He told of some very
interesting incidents in the life Of our
boys over there. The Sergeant spoke
some five minutes in English and
some ten minutes in French in which
language the Sergeant finds himself
more at home. collection was TAX
en- up and though the members of the
club had already given all they could,
they rallied to the call of "give till 1t
hurts" and few more dollars were
added to the funds OF the Red Cross.
On Saturday night at their weekly So
cial a large crowd was in attendance,
the feature of the evening being
short talk by Madison's soldier-hero
Charlie Weiner, who has returned
home after being discharged from a
convalescent camp in Canada where
he was recovering from bomb wounds
received after fourteen months ser
vice in the trenches OF Europe. Our
returned soldier-hero spoke lightly Of
Of own escapades over there. but did
his best to impress upon his hearers
the importance of production in win
ming the war. For every fighting
man in the trenches of Europe we
must have nine workers in this coun
try" said he, "and If one of these nine
workers slows up on his work. the
fighting man is betrayed and loses his
life in vain-because unless we can
secure the utmost of production, un-
less our mills, shops and factories, are
run at capacity, we are not giving our
boys a square deal. Weiner spoke of
some of the privation he had gone thru
going for days without water or food
yet it was not so bad when the boys
knew that those at home were doing
all they could to back them up. He
had no doubt that Kaiser Bill would
be licked, but victory depended more
on this industrial army OF America
than the fighting armies of Europe. AS
soon as our industrial army stood be-
side their machines as our fighting
army stands beside their guns so soon
would we see the dawn of peace, the
boys over there, were daily making sa-
crifices, and it was expected that we
would be prepared to do the same.
Winer is not speaker, but his sub
ject was one that lies close to his
heart. His words carried conviction
and the applause that followed his
talk was but slight token Of the
friendship the club feels to this 20
year-old Great War Veteran. Other
numbers of interest on the evenings
program were vocal solos by Miss
Scott, whose rendition of Joan OF
Arc" was a gratifying surprise to
everybody. Miss McKenney carried
her hearers by storm and her singing
of annie Laurie" will long linger in
the memory of those who were present
Mr.. T. C. Carr sang the club song
Speed up on Production this song
was especially written for the occa-
sion by a friend, the song was well re-
ceived and will probably become the
official club song; duet by the Misses
Garland and Mclaughlin was much
appreciated. The club has arranged
a movie night for next Wednesday, an
outing to Lakewood on Thursday,
when a ball team, foot races and other
sports have been arranged for. Sew
eral prominent speakers from out OF
town are expected. On Friday even
ing another movie night and on Sat
urday the regular social evening will
make this week one of the busiest in
the history OF the Club.
Madison is proud OF its record OF
going over the top three times in the
recent Red Cross drive-thanks to
& 0O0 con MI hutton Pror, thu Nodioon