Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-01
THREE CANDIDATES
FOR GOVERNOR SPEAK
Messrs. Hardness. Rabbit and
Emery Assist Rev. James l..
Barton in Appeal for Near
East Relief Funds at Mass
Meeting in City Hall

IN the effort to relieve the perishtng
peoples of the Near East received fresh
impetus Yesterday afternoon and last
evening when the county chairman met
with state Chairman Roland Il. stevens
of White River Junction and prominent
men from all parts Of the state to con-
slider plans for the completion of the
work Vermont has thus far only raised
little more than $4,000 and the work
hes been tagging The meeting was
called by Mr. Stevens primarily for the
purpose of giving him an opportunity to
resign but under the urging of the chair
men OF tho different counties he decided
70 20 or with the work which has cost
him much time and money
Among tho speakers al the mass meet
Ing In the city Hall last evening were
throe of the four candidates for the re-
publican nomination for governor Fred
n Babbtt of Bellows Fails told Mr.
Stevens tha. he would be responsible for
Windham county in putting over its quota
nd Messrs. James Hardness and Curtis
s Emery spoke for Windsor and orleans
oountieh The three asptrants for the
gubernatoriai nomination also spoke
heartily in favor OF the project. Tho
principal speaker of the evening was Dr.
James l.. BARTON a former Nermonter.
who ie chairman Of the national commit
tee IN charge of the drive. Another who
lent his support to the movement was
Mason 2 stone, Acknowledgements
4 luncheon was served the committee
mon and their friends oil the roof garden
Of the Hotel Vermont AZ noon and fol-
lowing that Chairman Stevens made =
Iain statement Of the situation. The
people. he said. are driven sick follow
Ing tho many drives through which they
have passed and now there Is nothing to
spur them 20 enthusiasm. MIR stevens
realized that. he said but added that this
prosperous State could not ait .diy BY
Ind LET hundreds OF thousands perish,
Burlington has given In all more than
5000 and mas raised more than aly other
peace 10 tho State The HSoreys OF this
Ity raised $500 Of th!s White Vermont
stood first in the drive year ago, II
stands 22nd now. North Carolina stands
first. with Virginia second. In some
localities Vermont has shown its old-tlme
spirit, According 10 quota Williamstown
stands frst and Springfield second. while
ten towns have gone over their quota.
He believed that Vermont would show her
true colora and come TO the rescue. Rut-
land county was promised by Frank G;
Partridge Of Proctor and George F..
Chambers of Rutland and that made
four counties which were practically
assured The other county chairmen be =
lieved that their work could he accom-
pliehed In short time
MR. BABBITT'
In the evening the meeting was held
in the City Hall. Mr.. Stevens presided
and introduced as the first speaker Mr..
Rabbit. The speaker said that there
was no such suffering anywhere else on
earth as in the Near East. The stua-
ton is plain that there is no one else
to help but the United States and Yer
mont must do her share. We have the
resources and force. He appealed to the
audience on the grounds that the
Armenians are OF the same blood and
religion that we are and that they com =
pose the one race capable OF lifting the
East out of It's slough They have stood
the prosecutions of the Mohammedans
throughout the centuries and have stood
: for the morals Of Christendom against
tho polygamy Of the Turk He appealed
, to the people to keep faith with those
' who had given their lives IN The effort
TO honef1t mankind and to Keep up the
traditions Of Vermont
MR. EMERY
Mr.. Emery said that he would take NJ
no time in discussion of the predica-
iuent of the people Of the Near East The
predicament was taken for granted. If
there is one predominant word in use to-
day. it IS service" 1t is apparent in the
educa tiona and religious thought The
Eoar East is now the one great place in
which service can be given He was sure
that each county would take care of it.
self
MIR, HARTNESS
Mr., HARNESS felt confident that as soon
a. the people Of Vermont sensed the real
situation in the Near East there would
he no trouble in bringing the State to
The front-to its correct rank again. All
that was needed was TO get out and show
the people the truth.
MIR. STONE
Mason : Sono is familiar with the
Turk and his ways, and Turkey is the
first foreign country with which he be
came acquainted, He made an eloquent
appeal to Vernonters 10 hold up the honor
Of the state. Mr.. Stone favors the gov
erning of Constantinope by European
nations and thinks that the horrors of
that part of the world will continue as
long rs the irresponsible government OF
the Turk exists The history of tina,
admtnistra ton has been one of bloodshed
ana atrocities,
DIR BARTON
Or. Barton, who is a native of Yer
mont and who goes to- day to visit hi'
old home. gave the closing address
He said in part;
The Turks set out five years ago Il
end the VeXod Armenian question 10y
destroying the Armenians. They were
too absorbed in the war TO complete
the Job which now in the lull of GU
Senate's delay in ratifying the Leagu,
of Nations. they. in comparative secur
lty, proceed to finish. France ami Eng
land both having restless Mohamme
dan subjects in colonial possession.
and Influenced by holders Of Turkish
,onds and exploiters of Turkish re
sources. find 1t more convenient Il
sacrifice the unprotected remnant o
he Christian races in Turkey than t,
hazard their selfish interests, The oc
cupation of Constantinople is "a harm
less pastime for the allies and vii
mean nothing If ii leaves the Turk
in power over Christians
The United States is the only countr
that has the power to act az the sol
vent of affairs in the Near East 81
months ago all Europe, and no on
more eagerly than England with con
currence by France. would have wei
coined the entrance of America a
boiling the key to the situation. A
of the races of Turkey, including tn
Turks turned to the United States a
the only nation with adequate re
sources and possessing the confidenc
Of all England France, Italy an
Greece are distrusted by the races |