The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-12-29
AMERICA MUST SHARE
INSISTS JOHN SPARGO
Can Not AVOID Participation in World
Affairs and Reconstruction of
Europe.

EeiOHNs
Nearly q hundred men were present
at the meeting of the Methodist
Brotherhood last evening when Jchn
Spargo of Old Bennington spoke on
conditions in Europe. BY request.
Mr.. Spargo incorporated in his ad-
dress much Of the information con.
talned in his recent talk to members
OF the Bennington club, and which
made such a favorable impression up.
on all who were fortunate to hear It,
Mr. Spargo visited Russia in his re-
cent trip to Europe, and had access
personally to the opinions Of many
representative people Of that country.
There were among them conserva.
tiyes. radicals, aristocrats. democrats.
socialists, bolshev SITS, peasants. mer
chants. etc They all agree that the
eond tions are almost intolerab'e The
currency system has broken down so
that Russian money virtually stands
for nothing. a waiter I'M hctel told
Mr. Spargo Of tip Of 100000 ruples
Manufacturing is at stand stir, and
agriculture is not more than fifty per-
cent OF normal production. Mining.
exchange, and administration of gov
crrment from the Soviet government
at the top, to the smallest hamlet s.
with rare exception. frightfully cor
runt and honelessly inefficient
Disease and pestilence are preya'en
everywhere. Petrograd with It's FORM.
er 2,50000 population has through re.
mova' slaughter. and disease. been re-
duced to 100000.
II IS the Judgment Of Mr. Spargo
that Germany will be able TO pay her
war debt IN full and that with COM
parative east n the Allies deal with
her IN the wav a sensible creditor
would deal with a debtor who Is try
me to nav hts debts. Furthermore a
little delav which would give them
I me for the young catte to mature,
aud time to get a lite credit estab-
lished with witch TO purchase machin-
erv would greatly allav the terrible
'o0iirg of h'ttorvess which pervades
the whcle country of Germany, Rural
Germany Is IN a tolerably prosperous
condition with build nes in gond re.
na'r and the farms well stocked with
cattle even as many CT more than be.
fore the war.
INT Germany with her 40 100000 Of
highly cultured and industrious peo.
pc must not he allowed to 70, or be
driven into. the camu of bolshev'sm.
- 10, cgc,a,,,fo e,rctar, apd hov gov
ermental structure collanse, she viii
drag down with her Austr a. CheckO.
S'cvaRia italy endanger reat Brit
ain, md damage our own internal
situation
France is carving an enormous load
in each hand First. she Is in con
stant fear that the Germans will soon
he able to reopen hostilit es, an idle
fear according to Mr. Spargo, but one
which induces the nation to spend I'M
reasonable sums Of money on military
preparedness. Secondly, she has as
yet been able to nut back in normal
conditions ony about one fourth OF
her devastated territory, while at the
same time having reached the lin OF
her taxing capacity. Attempt to levy
higher taxes would probably bring
about a revolution
Re'gium Holland. Sweden, and Dem
mark are fast coming to state OF
prosperity BELGIUM. Mr. spargo oh
served. was IN the best state OF pros
nertv for thirty wears not having been
damaged so fr ghtfully as was her
neiehbor France. The other three
nations are getting back in the neces
slty channels of commerce and trade
as well as production in very satisfac
tcrv manner
The United States must, Mr. SnarbC
believes. take her part in the worC
game with sincerity and sacrifice
World conditions. either political Of
economic, will not be restored to nor
nal till this country assumes her re
sponslblitv All talk Of keeping Gu
Of European or world affairs IS sheer
est nonsense said the speaker TIL,
, United states will, and ought to be, II
the League Of Nations with reserva
, tions. or some other kind Of n com
pact to prevent selfish ambition of
nation from so nearly destroying tn,
civilization Tn g will be done. Tht
situation IS stll perilous but with
= steady eye, willing work, readiness q
7 endure The stress of readiustment II
| this country. we and the world vii
como out Of the troubled water safely