The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-05-03
STRATFORD'S CELEBRATION
 MOST FITTING TRIBUTE

Bowe, accompanied by the Wheeler 6 Wilson band. James Scofield of the Nichols avenue school, made a big hit when he sang 'In the Garden. Mrs. A. McNamara sang Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean, being follow ed by most inspiring addHess by the Rev. John Cotter of Hartford, who left deep and lasting impression on the minds of all who heard him. Rev. Cotter opened his address with story of a co1ored man whom he met on train as he was coming into Strat- ford when he asked the man what had been gained by the recent World War. Well, says the man, England got territory; France, Alsace-Loraine; Ireland, military law, and when I re- turned to the United States I found
 my country had only gotten Spanish
 influenza and prohibition Rev. Cot ter said that this was not his first time in Stratford, but it was the first
 time he had ever had the opportunity of addressing the Stratford people
 and that he nonored the opportunity
 of speaking to the people of the old
 town. Patriotism, said Rev. Cotter,
 is 9 noble spirit and the shrine of a
 nations love making our hearts thrill
 with enthusiasm and causing the
 blood to boil when in danger. He
 told of the many unpleasant events leading up to the recent war and
 how the country had entered into it
 finally to save the nation.
 It was on July 23, 1914, said Rev:
 Cotter that his train left Rome for
 the front, and he thanked God that
 he had lived to see the destruction of
 world militarism such as was design
 ed by the rulers of the German Elm
 pire.
 He told how we hesitated on going
 into the war and that we entered in self defense protecting our homes which were in danger and for the cause of humanity and justice. He pictured the men from the various walks in life who defended the coun- try and make it a safe place to live
 in and how many of the boys some from Stratford were now lying in
 grave in foreign fields sleeping in
 uniform envied by all nations of the world. These men. said Mir COtter, gave their lives for democracy at a time when Germany was about to [ crush all Europe as it did France in 1870. He pictured the soldiers of ! France defending the country against big odds and how the soldiers of l France fought and died for a most worthy cause when suddenly, an American general General John J. Pershing) appeared on the battle | fields, crying Lafayette, we are here." Continuing, Rev. Cotter told his hearers who continually inter- rupted in his address with deafening applause how the great American soldiers thrilled the war-hardened veterans of France, England and Italy with an inspiration of democ. l racy and how the American soldiers, | great heroes, as they turned the tide l of the greatest war at all times and l made the world a world worth living l in. MT. Cotter then turned to the problems confronting the n~tion to- day claiming that at the very present time the country faced a more serious condition than during the war. Long before the war he said an element was striving to ruin the government and this element had now caused such strain on national affairs that l at the present time conditions were | most serious Too iong has America 1 been associating with socialist and an | archist, said MT. Cotter, who want to | run the government any old way and l put down to stay if the country is to l accomplish anything.
 1 He said the socialists are destroy 1 ing the nation and are our worst 1 enemy, and how they, if in power, l would take away individual wealth l and rights. He told how they would l compensate the workers, the hod car
 rier, the factory employee. Thomas 1 Edison, who electrified the world i; 1 the presidents of our universities; | Mayor Wilson, who cleaned up the 1 city of Bridgeport; Geneal Pershing. l who handled over 100000 soldiers,
 and Marshal Foch, who had charge of ! over 100000 men on the battle
 fields, would all be called to account
 for their doings and after explaining | what they had done for the past week, would be paid alike. $1.50 a
 day for all. Rev. Cotter warned his | hearers not to be deceived by social
 ists; do not let them instiIl evil | thoughts in your minds and take away
 your rights. We know he said of | criminal profteering going on and of | the many other evils of the country l today but we can get no relief from the socialists. No League of Nations | or any other alliance can remedy the | evils as long as the world overthrows the will of God. My friends, he said, be loyal to the Stars and Stripes,
 uniting love of country and God with 1 honor to ourselves and the commun- ity we live in will make a, blessing to
 humanity
 Following Rev. MT. Cotter's great | address, P. F. Bowe sang America .
 which was followed by community
 singing, led by MT. Bowe, this being 1 followed by a solo by Mrs. Jerome May. who sang "Unfurling the Glori- our Banner" Then Selectman Rhein- | hold Person in a brief address, ir l which he said he was proud to be honored by being allowed to say z
 few words, stated the reasons for the
 days celebration. He appealed tc
 those who had not taken out theil first papers to do so at once anG
 later enjoy the benefits derived from
 being an American citizen. He told . his hearers that he believed that i
 there was a person of foreign birtt in the country who had not bene fitted their conditions by coming here
 it was their fault and advised those
 who are living in the country fol what they could get out of it that i