The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-02
MONTPELIER
Largely Attended Patriotic Meeting Held
Last Evening.

A patriotic meeting took place in city
hall Thursday evening, at which Louis
DeGroote, Belgian soldier, now in Y. Nj.
q A. work at Burlington, and d. +. Gull
len of the food administration spoke to
about 1900 persons. The success of the
meeting can best be explained in the
words OF one woman who, as she left the
nall, said, MY stomach trouble has all
gone since l. heard those two men talk
on food conditions" Apparently she had
thought the substitutes did not agree
with her. Mr.. DeGroote told of condi-
tons in Belgium at the beginning of the
war. There are now 100000 soldiers pro-
tectlng A square miles in their own
country. He said that if it had not
been Tor the Belgium relief commission,
OF which Herbert Hoover was the head
IN 1914, the country would have been UNI
able to survive the blow, because none
OF the other countries could furnish Bel
GUM with food. He told of the fines and
taxes imposed upon his people, but he
said every Belgian responded to his duty
to oppose Germany in order to save the
world from the dirty dog. He said the
women are not weeping when they work
in the shops; they are singing patriotic
songs. He said that the nation will new
er be able to pay its debt of gratitude
to this country There should be no
peace for the Stacker at home America
is the wonderment of the world, a nation
which the Germans claimed could do
nothing in this war but which in year
has supplied the allies and has 100000
soldiers in Europe fighting to-day. He
said there can be just as big slackers at
home as on the field of battle and that
it is the duty Of the folks at home to
write the boys over there.
Mr. Cullen, who is a New Highlander,
| told of his gratitude when he learned in
his work out west that Vermont was
the only state In which every town had
gone over the top in the sale of Liberty
bonds. He stepped back and holding
up Mr.. DeGrootes arm, he said that he
wished he could carry those badges Of
honor, one for being gassed and the other
for wounds, but he said it is his lot to
instruct the people at home in their pa
triotic duty. He explained that in spite
Of German propaganda the Kansas farm
ers have increased their wheat crop from
| 50,000000 bushels TO l50,000,000 this
year and that all wheat growing states
have done equally well; that instead Of
100000 four legged hogs, 70,000,000
are being raised this season, and he
cracked joke relative to some of the
two-legged hogs he has met. Other crops
are greatly increased over last year, but
to show that we must Hooverize this
year TO a certain extent he explained
that at one time last year, had it not
been for the supply stored here, Europe
could not have carried on the war.
Therefore, this country must conserve to
prevent disaster if anything goes
wrong with supplies from other nations.
Instead Of the 10 per cent we were send
ing to Europe we are sending so per cent
Of everything used, and the beauty Of
the great conservation here is that ii has
been done without the police regulations
used in other countries. He said some
complaint has been made about sugar.
We were eating 90 pounds a year per
person before the war. We have cut our.
selves to 80 pounds. England uses "a,
France is, Italy II, aud Germany II.
Therefore, we are placing ourselves on
the common level with our allies and
! will use the same amount as England
| per person, "a pounds. When the sugar
shortage occurred in New England last
winter, France allotted 10000 tons Of its
portion to supplying New Englanders,
| The cause of the sugar shortage is lack
of ships. He explained how Germany
sunk in six weeks "a of the 80 meat re.
| frigerator ships that had been carrying
meat from South America to England.
Therefore, the remaining II had to be
used between this country and England
to prevent shortage of meat for the sol.
diers. South America and Australia are
80 far away that the shipping at the
present time cannot bring their product,
but with the way the boats are inereas-
| ing we will soon be able to. He called
attention how, without regulation, sugar
| in 1865 went to IS cents a pound and
that only the rich had it. He explained
that the reason hotels are given more
wheat is because they conserved some
months since and by that process they
are now entitled, with the increased sup.
Iply, to the same portion as housekeepers,
but he has found since coming to YER
mont that some think the hotel change
means a general letting down TO every
body. This, he explained is not so. He
said the speeding up which Vermont and
the other states have done has placed
America three months ahead in its food
game and enough ahead so that the drive
that was planned for next year is now
taking place. He urged the people that
if they speed up enough more they will
shorten the war just that amount Every
day the war is shortened means great
reduction in the number Of persons killed,
and quicker bringing of Germany to
her knees The west is now with us in
the war, many Germans having gone to
Fort Leayenworth for German propagan-
da work. He said the worst slackers are
those who will not do their bit at home
in conservation or support of the war.
Russia broke down because Germany was
able to undermine the country and get
the food supply away from the people,
When he raised the question as ito
whether anyone thought Daniels, Baker
or Others are on their jobs he brought
applause Following the remarks, f. II.
Brooks explained for a short time the
work which Vermonters must do, which
was really in response to the demands
asked by Mr.. Cullen and were to the
point.
Politics is warming up little in Mont
Ipelier The names of Charles McKenna,
| who has been a member of the city COM
mittee a long time, is being considered