The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-11

ing address on Americas Reasons
for Fighting at the State Armory
last evening Long before the
scheduled time for the patriotic rail-
ly to open the spacious auditorium
was filled to capacity, a crowd of
about 1000 could not gain en-
trance. The meeting was the larg-'
est patriotic gathering ever staged in
Bridgeport. Governor Samuel Nc
Call of Massachusetts also gave an
inspiring address. The arrangements
for the affair were in charge of the
Bridgeport War Bureau and the
members of that body are highly
elated over the success Of the meet
ing.
Justice Wheeler presided as chair
man of the meeting and when he in
troduced the attorney general It was
signal for loud outburst of cheer
ing which lasted several minutes. JUS
tice Wheeler then called for three
cheers for the speaker, leading the
audience himself in greeting the
guest.
The Liberty chorus which had part
in the musical part of the program
received personal address from the
attorney general. He said THE Lib
erty Chorus here is, as I understand
it is composed for the most part of
Germans and German descendants.
You have been here some of you
probably a short time but all those
of you who have taken out citizen
ship papers have exactly the same
rights in this country with one excep-
ton, that have. That exception is
that I won't and you can't be Presi-
dent Of the United States"
Laughter interviewed at this point,
continuing the attorney general said:
What did you people come here
for? If you're not satisfied for Gods
sake go back" Again the speaker
had to stop because of the laughter
from the audience. Resuming, he
told all the foreign born citizens VINO
were in the hall that although they
did not charge for citizenship in this
country, and that it was sometimes
made, too easy to become a citizen.
the time had come when every one in
the land had to pay 100 cents on the
dollar for his citizenship, when ev-
cry one had to choose between Pres
ident Wilson and the Emperor of
Germany, between Germany and what
1t represents and the United States
and what it represents.
In his address the attorney gen.
eral also showed what progress had
been made by this country since the
start Of the war and urged the peo-
pie OF the country not only to do their
bit but do their utmost,
Father P. ]. McGivney, who will
soon leave for France to do work in
the Knights of Columbus stations,
opened the meeting with a short
prayer at the conclusion of which the
audience recited with him the Lords
Prayer. Father Mckinney was in
troduced by James G. Ludlum. Fol-
! lowing the prayer the Liberty Chorus
sang America" after which Justice
Wheeler was introduced.
Justice Wheeler, in speaking in
| what he thought was for the people
of this city and Connecticut said that
at the present peace talk was not
wanted. In part he spoke:
{ when Germany is made to re-
| linquish Belgium, Serbia, Poland,
leave the parts of France, italy and
Russia that she now occupies, then
and only then, will it be time to talk
peace" declared the speaker. There
can be no talk of peace now; we want
no peace talk now; there can be no
talk of until it is brought on by a de-
cisive victory for us on the field of
battle"
In introducing Attorney General
Gregory, Justice Wheeler said that
| during the troubles Of the past three
years he had more than any other
one man to protect the United States
against the plots and intrigues of the
German agents in this country.
81 can truthfully characterize At
torney Gregory" said Justice
Wheeler, ''as a devoted public SER
want and an inf1exible and unfiinching
| American patriot"
Governor Samuel McCaIPs speech
was short but was filled with the same
| patriotic sentiment as that of the at
torney- general. Following Attorney
General Gregory's talk, Governor Nc
| Call said:
1--WE can't all go out to fight We
can't all go across the seas to fight,
but we can do what we can right here.
You and I can buy Liberty Bonds,
that will provide the funds so neces-
sary, not only to keep our own boys
supplied, but also for our allies. In
| putting our all in the breach to win
| the war, we are not only indicating
our own self-respect in righting the
violation against Belgium and Serbia,
but we are fighting for the preserva-
ton of democracy and liberty.
| War resulted from the passions of
older men," he continued, ''but it is
our boys who suffer. We want to in
troduce among the nations peacea-
BILE settlement of all differences, and
only by true victory over Germany
can we do this grand thing. France
was once in same position as Ger
many is now, when the nation went
out to conquer, was beset only by the
lust of conquest.
eve are fighting for system, fight
ing to make it possible for the birds
to be singing over the battlefields and
nesting in the cannons' mouths"
The Liberty Chorus did splendid
work IN their rendition of the several
patriotic songs they sang between the
talks of tie different speakers. At
torney General Gregory spoke in part
as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen: Before I
start I want to tell you that through
me President Woodrow Wilson sends
his greetings to Bridgeport-(at this
point cheers drowned the speaker
voice for some time). I was born
some years ago in the South where
my father also was born but I can
stand before this assemblage Of New