The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-05-31
BIC AUDIENCE
GREETS EDWARDS
Commander of 26th Divi-
sion Memorial Day
Speaker
RENDERED BANQUET
LAST EVENING
Gov. James Hartness and Bert s. Hy-
land, American Legion Department
Commander, Also Guests of Honor -
Military Organizations Parade.

Commander, Also Guests of Honor -
Military Organizations Parade.
Maj Gen Clarence r. Edwards Of
Boston, commander of the Yankee divi-
sion in the World war and now in
charge of the First corps area, was
Brattleboro's guest of honor yesterday
afternoon and last evening, and uncon-
sciously he made it easy for strangers to
see why the men of the famous 26th divi-
sion would go to hell for him." as has
| been stated 50 often He is a military
officer with big heart, man whose
words ring true as expressions of his con-
victions whether one agrees with him
or not, an every day type of New Eng
| lander who mingles freely with both
| men and women and makes them feel
that he is one of them. When through
some inadyertence there did not seem to
be sufficient automobiles at the close of
the Memorial day observance in the
Auditorium TO meet the requirements
Gen. Edwards Immediately filed his
car with members Of the Grand Army
and went on foot in the parade to the
soldiers monument on the common, ac-
companied by Maj. Linn ID. Taylor, who
| had accompanied him here from Long
meadow, Mass, where he spoke in the
forenoon at the dedication of a family
monument.
Six automobiles filed with members
of the American Legion post met Gen.
| Edwards at the Massachusetts line and
escorted him to BrattlebOro.
Through the instrumentality of Maj.
| Taylor and others Gen. Edwards was Sc
cured for the Memorial day speaker for
I SpIuygriqk a. which H9P-
land =. Hunter is commander, and while
here he was entertained at Maj. 1ay-
| lor's home. In the evening Gen. Ed
wards was a guest of BrattleborO post,
No. ,. American Legion, of which Der
| win H. Smith Is commander. at a ban
quet in the Brooks House, as were
Gov. James HaFtness of Springfield,
| American Legion Department Com
Emander Bert s. Hyland of Rutland and
the members Of Sedgwick post.
The Auditorium exercises were at
tended by the largest Memorial day audi
ence that has assembled there in several
years in spite of the ideal weather for
motoring. The floor and first balcony
were filled and there was an overflow in
the second balcony. Members of Sedg-
wick post the Woman's Relief corps and
allied organizations occupied seats re-
served in the front part of the house.
The front of the stage was beautifully
decorated with flowers and the national
colorS.
Two o'clock was the hour set for the
program to start, and promptly at that
hour q selection was rendered by the
112d Infantry band of Brattleboro,
Alison ]. Dugan leader, The speaker had
not arrived then, but the band PLAYED
until he came, which was within 10 min
utes, and the audience applauded as he
walked down the side aisle to the stage.
On reaching the stage the general gave
pronounced military salute and the loud
applause of the audience expressed the
towns welcome.
Commander Hunter was officer of the
day and announced the program. Prayer
was offered by Rev. DIR. Clark 7.
Brownell, followed by the singing of To
Thee, @ Country, by male quartet con-
sisting of Walter \. Gilbert and Walter
). Stearns tenors, and Alfred ).
Thompson and Arthur l.. Clapp, basses.
Capt. w. L. Haigh of the Spanish war
veterans read Gen. John 4. Logan's or
der establishing Memorial day, and the
male quartet sang We Deck Their
Grave Alike Today. Lincoln's Gettys-
burg address was read by Chaplain Pearl
L. Clapp of Brattleboro post, American
Legion. and r.. Kenneth Wilson of the
high school faculty, a member of the
Legion, read a message written by Gen.
/ Ulysses ). Grant to an officer The male
quartet then sang Rest, Peacefully Rest.
Gen Edwards was presented by Com
mander Hunter. lie paid q high tribute
to the Vermont soldiers in the World
war, saying that the more they bled the
better they became. He referred in high
terms also to the men who fought in the
! Civil war and to the part they took in
the reconstruction of this country Then
he launched into a discussion Of com
/ pensatlon for the World war veterans,
and in reply to statement that has
been made that it was a mistake to capi-
| taiIze patriotism he declared that it was
more of a mistake to penalize it. He re-
/ ferred to the difficulty many ex-service
men have had III securing work. and as
| serted that as long as there was a dollar
| in the treasury for public improvements
| these lads were entitled to an oppor-
| lie emphatically urged all ex-service men
I to join the American Legion, as it is a
| force that the country needs.
| PaclfiSts next received attention from
the HD commander, who declared that
| postwar pacifism was worse than pre-
war pacifism. a general who has
fought through one war knows the nen-
| atty of unpreparedness, he asserted.
| lie cited the example of Switzerland.
which was so we'll prepared that it could
mobilize Its military forces in one day
| while it took Germany IT days and
France 2S days. Germany did not dare
/, set foot in Switzerland
I The speaker urged a large enrolment
| for the Citizens Military Training
camp at Camp Devens as means Of
developing sound bodies and sound minds
and OF teaching an appreciation of the
/ dignity of labor and the happiness of in
| dustry. The exercises closed with the
| singing of America by the audience
| In front of the building the procession
shal and Pearl L. Clapp and John NJ
| Tucker as aids II w Easou 1vos to