The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-03-21

Z
tary Houston, who made a short bu
very interesting and pleasant talk
The Secretary said that there wa,
much news" emanating from Wash
iHgton that might well be discounted
that from reading it one would con.
clude that the country is on the verge
OF starvation, but that this hysteria
is not justified. He declared that
The American farmer had always ris,
en- to any emergency and that he could
De depended upon to do so now; tina,
last year the alarm had gone out that
the farmers were not planting
much as heretofore, but that the fig
ures showed that they had plante,
-thirty-two million acres more than in
times of peace. He said that our
Farmers are doing great things: that
the" are more alert, use better ma
chtnery and more progressive meth,
DDS than those Of any nation in the
world; and If properly helped and
encouraged they will during the com
ing season beat last years great rec
ord He urged the people of the
towns. the business men, to give every
aid and cooperation to the farmer. in
solving his problems so that he would
effect the maximum production. He
referred to the fact that his depart,
ment had taken much interest i'll Flor
ida'c agricultural and horticultural
problems, notably in furnishing aid in
stamping out citrus canker, in tick
eradication, and in cooperating with
our State Agricultural Department l..
the employment of county demorstra-
ton agents, and in Federal aid for
good roads. The Secretary paid fine
tribute to the spirit and the work of
Rotary, with which he said he was
familiar
Lieutenant PerigOrd's Talk
The next speaker was Lieutenant
Perigord, of the French army, wh1
made one Of the most effective ad-
dresses ever delivered to Lakeland
audience. He told of the devastation
that Germany had wrought in por-
lions of his country, where they had
left nothing but the sky" the fair
anG fertile land having been convert
ed into a desert. He said he was con-
tinually being asked if the stories of
German astrocities were true, and de-
clared that in view OF the solemn and
official statements so frequently made,
these statements should not be fur
thei questioned, but set down as abb
solutely true. His words expressed a
beautiful spirit, free from hatre 4
of the German people as a whole
whom he declared had been poisoned
and intoxicated by false doctrines of
The German autocracy,
he said, were guilty of the sin of pride
and contempt for all other nations.
German prisoners tell the ridiculous
Impressions which they have been
educated to hold concerning America:
that the people have been taught to
believe that America is merely a Gel.
man colony, which cannot even elect
D president without the Kaiser's con-
sent He spoke in kindliest terms of
The German people who have become
citizens OF our country, and who are
our brothers, because in joining the
Americans in this war sney are fight
ng the same despotism and autocracy
hey came to this country to leave be.
hind them. He paid a glowing tri-
butte to President Wilson, and ex-
pressed the wish that German prison
RS could be brought to this country
md see the things he has seen that |
hey might report to their people the
conditions that really exist, and to the |
<aiser the strength of the nation with
which he has to contend. He assured
lis hearers that they need have no
ear for the western front-that he
'omes from there, and had been in
Command of company there-that
lot one foot of that company's ground
lad been yielded, and that the western
ront would be held. Lieut.. PERI
,ord's remarks were enthusiastically
heered.
Interrupted by a Scandal
Mr.. W. G.. Brorein was next intro
uced, and had just started on an in
cresting address relative to the de-
elopment of South Florida, when a
version was created by lady who
insisted on entering the dining room,
cspite the vigorous protests of the
oorkeeper. This obstreperous person
aused a profound sensation by BURST
ng into the room, and making for the
peaker's table to the amazement of
II the spectators. II must see him.
must see him!" she shrieked, ana
lade direct for Mr.. C. NJ Clayton,