Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1920-01-14
RADICAL GETS
WARM RECEPTION
In ST. J0HNSBURY

While brotherhood classes were
discussing patriotic themes at their
Bible classes Sunday and one OF our
pastors had for hi. evening theme
the subject ellis Honor, an Amcli-
cam there was the livclicst discus
sion going on at the St. Johnsbury
House throughout the afternoon and
evening on Amclicanism that was
ever heard in this town. 1t all start
ed from the very untimely and i1i-
tating remarks of George NJ. Ross of
Quincy, Mass, who certainly started
something when he declared that he
did not believe in God of Jesus
Christ. There was quite bunch
OF traevling men in the hotel and
they not only resented his remarks,
hut more than one of the men told
him Just what they thought of such
a man in very vigorous language.
The Quincy asitator, for he was
all of that, had some very strong
or'sinas ot, the MesicaH aieaatiohi
Saying that he was personal friend
Of Villas and had interests in oil
properties in the Mexican Republic.
Asked il he was Bolshevik he start
ed. in on his definition Of Russian
Bolshcvikism, which he said was ms
jolity rule, and declared that he
had heard Emma Goldman, but she
said nothing in her speech against
the government The discussion
continued throughout the evening
with more or less Interruptions, but
at no time did Mr.. Ross say anything
that would warrant his arrest for
reasonable utterances, according to
the testimony of the men who weic
interviewed Monday morning.
One of the travelling men, ID. 3.
Coburn has been doing volunteer
work with the Department Of Justice
and when he ascertaincd that Mr..
Ross planned to leave town on the
night train he found Officer Wallace
and just before midnight they went
to the home of States Attorney
Campbell and had long conference
with him. Mr.. Campbell questioned
Mr.. Coburn about how for Mr.. Ross
went in his uttcranccs. Mr.. Cobu.n
said he said nothing against the
United States government, though he
boastcd that he was an atheist. Mr..
Campbell advised MI. Coburn to get
ir touch with the Federal authorities
either at Newport or Burlington, as
neither the states attorney or the
local police had any legal right to de-
tain a man or arrest him because he
preached atheism.
Mr.. Coburn followed the man to
the midnight train and saw him leave
st. Johnsbury. While the men believe
he was "parlor" Bolshevik and had
come here for the purpose of disscm-
mating his views, they all declare
that he never went beyond the line
in his talk, though he was perfectly
familiar with all the teachings Of the
radicals of this and other countries.
Asked what his business was in st.
Johnsbury he said he was here for
his health. He came in on the early
Sunday morning train and left on the
night train, and travelling men be-
lieve he found it a most unhealthy
neighborhood both for him and his
| dangerous propaganda. Further dc.
velopments in the case are expected
at any hour.
There is a woman in the case
which is one of the mysteries in his
visit yet to be explained. About 3
o'clock Sunday afternoon Mr.. Ross
telephoned a party and a woman
came to the Hotel and met him. A
closed car was secured and they were
absect from the hotel about an hour
The travelling men paid little atten-
ton to this episode at the ime and
this was not called to the attention oi
tho states attorney, though why
he should make an appointment with
a woman is one of the strange things
in a strange case.