The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-11-13
COL PERFORMS
FINE WORK IN
QUELLINC "RIOT''
Legion Men Also Compli-
mented for Their Part
In the Fuss"

The probability, in fact the abso-
lutte necessity, Of having a well or
ganized military force, equipped for
any emergency, in a town the size Of
ST. Johnsbury, was we'll illustrated on
Thursday afternoon when the W. r.
Knapp Po&, No. 50, American Legion
staged a most realistic B~olSheVlk
"rlOL on Railroad street. With the
memory OF the CHASTITY deeds OF the
Reds committed in Centralia,
WASH, just Il year ago, when eX-
service men IN that city were cele-
Drating IN the first anniversary OF
me signing Of the armistlce, fresh
in the minds of local c~itizns, the
active members of the St. J%ohsbuTy
Post decided it was a most opportune
moment to impress upon the minds
of the people the seriousness OF the
radical movement and the preCau-
tons that must be taken to prevent
a repetition OF such a performance as
"a carried out in the tar western
city Il ycar ago, and "a a result they
prepared hastily for the execution of
Il fake riot in order to drive home
10 the people the Importance of the
question.
In publishing their program of the
day, the American Legion mentioned
the fact that there would be a "mys-
;ery" stunt put over in the after
noon but failed to give the slightest
inkling of what they had in store.
Consequently the large majority of
nc citizens We're entirely in the dark
as to what vas coming Off. The cur
iosity of the townsfolk aroused to the
highest pitch. they awaited a%nXiously
the commencement of the "mystery'
proceedings. Few knew just where
it was going to start and as a result
Main street, Eastern avenue and
Railroad streets all were crowded
with spectators. OF urSe those who
had c~ongregated at the latter place
were able to secure the vantage points
from which to witness the riot.
But H. was not long before the Others
had made their way to the scene
Of the intense excitement and before
he radical meeting had got well UNI
d@r way several thousand people had
gathered in the immediate vicinity.
he larger portion OF the folks soon
realized that the whole thing was /;
farce but still there were many otntts
who were not so sure bat what h
Reds" had really sent some OF then
representatives 10 u fan town to
start something and get the lay o.
the Land here. The whole thing was
carried out by the leaders with such
recession and in such a serious man
ncr that clouds OF doubt were lett IN
the minds of several.
Travelling in an old ramshackled
roadster, the "Rcd" leaders, Leone
Baxteriski Leon II. BaXter), Ralph
Howesophsky, CRalpn Howes) and
Noel Noyesoki (Noei Noyes) wended
their way down Eastern avenue to-
ward the square whore they had
planned to hold a radical meeting and
preach their doctrines to the public.
They were followed by a score or
more of sym"athizers Qncluded
among them were Warren Esta-
brooks, Kenneth Kirk, B. H. Daniels,
+. f. Townsend, W. H. Clifford,
Albert w. Barney, "Buddie' McNa-
mara. Albert Garand, A. O. Heon,
Frank Courtney, ClydesC hcritte, Ray
Leonard, Dale Simpson, John Nelson,
Willard Ward, Paul Farnham, Mel
vim Ellis, Zenas jerks, George KEEL
logg, "Buddie" Burke and John As
sclin.
H~owesophsky, the accredited lead
err Of the band Of radicals, onened the
meeting with a fiery de%nunciation OF
the government and pleading for
sympathy for the Bolshevik cause.
After enumerating the various causes
the neople had for an uprising he re-
tired in favor Of B~axteriski. In h.
make UP and hi manner, Nj. Baxter
demonstrated that he is an actor OF
no mein ability. He was the perfect
picture of one Of The most danger
Gus "Reds."
The second radical had no more
than commenced his speech before
the meeting was interrupted by the
arrival of three policemen pearl
Griggs, Clyde McfTett and Charles
Ga"non) upon the scene. A wild
battle ensued but it was only Of a
few minutes duration as the radical