The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-03-11
MONTPELIER
About 1000 Persons Heard Major Gen
eral Edwards Last Night

Two thousand persons in Montpelier
city hall Monday evening listened to an
address given by General Clarence II.
Edwards, who commanded the 26th di-
vision most of the time during the war
lie was frequently cheered during the ad.
dress as he told of the good things that
the members OF the organization in the
regiment who were Vermonters did, He
paid a compliment to the I0lst ammuni-
ton train, which was mostly composed
of Vermont boys, likewise to the supply
train, also Vermonters in the most part
He scored to the limit the minister and
another person who came back to this
country telling of the pollution Of the
New England boys and told the girls to
wait for their boys to come back home
that their training would bring them
back the best of husbands. He said God
protect the l. W. w. who try to make
any soap box speeches after these boys
get back, for they viii not stand for 1t a
minute Beside the audience well to-
wards 100 persons who are members of
the Montpelier public safety committee
the Victory chorus and the Montpelier
city council sat in seats arranged on the
stage. The Montpelier Military band
played several selections, while the Vic
tory chorus led the singing in the pro
gram. Mayor Harry G. ShurtletT, in we'll
selected words, introduced the speaker
to his audience. The latter came to the
stage with Governor Clement, General
II. T. johnson and the staff Of officers
who are accompanying him through Yer
mont. At 10 o'clock this morning he
spoke to the school children and at II
0 clock to the joint assembly in the State
House. At O'Clock he was given ban
quet in the parish house on State street.
This was attended by 90 persons who
were selected by eight persons not mem
bers OF the committee on arrangements
and were selected because they had ac-
complished real things in the war game
from the civilian point of view. Follow
ing this General Edwards, properly es-
eorted, left for Barre.
Immediately following the conclusion
of his address at the city hail. Major
General Edwards, accompanied by Adju-
tant General johnson, Major George p.
Carpenter, and Captains Chandler, Shell
don and Gushing, went to the Elks' home
on Barre street, where he was enter
tanned in an impromptu manner and in
turn held the attention of the gathering
for more than an hour. During the
luncheon which was served, General Ed
wards held the close attention of all
present while he recounted many person
al experiences, relating at length the
splendid accomplishments of the 26th di-
vision, paying unlimited tribute to the
division which he commanded during
long months of strenuous fighting and
giving unmistakable evidence of his great
love for the boys from New England
Just how dear to his heart is the Yankee
division was evidenced when he asked
Major Carpenter what comment the lat
ter had heard in regard to his" division
and the major replied that he had heard
the belief expressed that the Goth is too
cocky, but the worst of it is they live up
to their reputation" Major Carpenters
reply brought a responsive glimmer of
pride in the generals eyes It was plain
ly evident from the informal remarks
that General Edwards heart is wrapped
up entirely with the New England di-
vision and he never left the subject dur
ing his talk.