Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-22
PATRIOTIC MEETING
AT THE COLISEUM

~ I'LL OO6IO6UW
1t was a large audience that gath
cred on Sunday afternoon at the Col
iseum to attend the patriotic meet
ing. 1t had other characteristics to
mark it beside it's size. 1t was ap-
preciative and though somewhat dis
appointed at the beginning of the
meeting, when Judge Harold f. Cook,
who presided, stated that Capt Ell
lott, who was slated to speak, had
been lost in the shuttle and 1t was
very doubtful if he were present,
quickly regained it's interest when
Rev. Frank l.. Phalen of Waterville
began his address. 1t had still an
other characteristic. fervid patriot
ism. and was quick to appreciate a
telling truth.
The singing was led by Prof. w.
/. Guild and music was rendered by
an orchestra. Jerry Desmond sang
Keep the Home Fires Burning" Mrs.
A. A. Walsh and daughter Grace sang
a duet with violin Obligato by Mas
ter Calvin Hutchings Mrs. Guy Holt
gave patriotic reading. Upon the
flag bedecked stage were seated nu-
merous of Gardeners citizens, repre-
senting the various professions and
business interests.
In presenting Rev. Mr. Phalen
Judge Cook called attention to the
TACT that Germany had just raised
their Sth loan, amounting to about
'hree billion of dollars of our money
and this he considered a challenge
which Americans should accept and
rally heartily in their third Liberty
Loan.
With the first strains of The Star
Spangied Banner the audience arose
as man. four American flags were
unfurled from the balconies and way
ed during the singing of the national
anthem
Rev. Mr.. Phalen had expected to
speak about Is minutes so that a por-
ton Of his address was somewhat
hastily prepared. The whole address
suited the audience to the last word.
as their frequent applause and re-
ception of the reverend gentleman's
climaXes attested. The speaker stat
ed that he had vet to find a town
in Maine that seemed to have en-
tered more heartily in the spirit of
the times than Gardiner. The thing
we need most is education in regard
to the war. A dense ignorance re-
garding it and actual conditions pre-
walls all over the country. Many peo-
pie are not yet awake and it may
take one Of those long range guns and
a sGerman shell to penetrate the
minds Of the rank and file of Am
orleans. If our eyes were only SEN
sitive enough we might hear the
groans of some of the boys from
Maine. who lie bleeding on the bat
tlehelds Of France. He characterized
the hour as the most awful in all
history and called attention, to the
fact that it is, our war, yours and
mine. and that each and all of us
must do our bit. He believed that
the American people would do it and
repeated the words of Gen. Foch:
They shall not pass" amid tempest
of applause.
The speaker, after calling for three
cheers for Gov. Milliken, which were
given with a will, read his Patriots
Day proclamation, and then calling
attention to the conservation of food.
stated tina more people have starved
to death since August 1914, than have
been killed, wounded or drowned
They must have food and more food
Three things we need" said the
speaker. Food, Funds and Fighters.
and we will go to the finish" He
said that he believed that the reason
that the people failed to grasp the
exact situation was because we failed
to visualize and then gave of pic
ture of the German armies along the
kennebec. a picture that told as he
told it brought a shudder to the
stouteSt heart present. The papers
tell us that the Germans didn't break
the line. but they did and they did it
at the first crack and the fifth Brit
ish army was nearly exterminated,
All of the first British army now lie
on the battle field with their faces
toward the front" Here he was in
terrupted by the statement from a
man in the audience. Not yet. Re
suming he said. Il tell you this not on
my own authority but upon that of
Major Bedford, made last night in
Waterville." In investing in the
bonds of the Liberty Loan one makes
the best possible investment. Moth
ing can be more sure and beside this
we are doing just what our fathers
and crandfathers have done when
they fought for life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness Our fathers
pledged all they had. their lives.
their fortunes and their sacred honor