Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-13
JUDGE MAHER TALKS TO HUGE
CROWD OUT IN OBSERVANCE
OF NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY

While more than 1000 citizens of
Waterville and Winslow marched in
the National Defense Day parade here
zens lined the streets and applauded
as the parade passed by. Judge
Benedict F. Maher of Augusta de-
liyered a patriotic address in which
he declared that liberty is the soul
OF this nation, liberty is to be found
fiourishing where there is peace and
peace is opposed only to those forces
such as war, strife and disorder, but
the time may come as it has in the
past when there Is challenge to
those ideals Of liberty and justice and
then 1t Is the bounden duty of the
! government to oppose any such chal-
lenge.
Shortly after o'clock groups OF
citizens began to assemble on Main
street near the EImwood hotel pre-
paratory to marching the parade. At
AIS assembly was sounded by five
blasts OF the fire whistle. The order
of march was as follows: Platoon of
police; Major Irving z. Thomas.
marshal; aides. Major William j.
Young. Captain r. r. Hill and Cap
tain Il. T. Turcotte; detachment from
Company G. 103rd Maine Infantry,
Company G serving as color guard
and escort; George N. Bourque Post.
American Legion. Commander Cyril
M. Jolly. commanding: representa-
tives of the Hollingsworth & Whit
ney Co., recruited for Company /,
3S6th Infantry. in command of Lieu
tenant Otto TOtman, and Lieut.. Will
liam Mansfield: Company f., 322nd
Engineers, made up of citizens re-
cruited for the occasion. Major f. G..
Wilson commanding. with Lieut..
Harold D. Hersum; Rotary, Kiwanis
and Lions clubs; students Of Coburn
Classical Institute under the leader
ship of Principal Drew T. Harthorn;
group of citizens.
At 4.32 the fire whistle sounded two
blasts and the parade started. With
the band playing the parade proceed
ed down Main street, down Common
street and up Front street into the
space In front of the City hall.
where the groups formed about the
steps of the City hall.
Mayor Leon O. Tebbetts as presid
ing officer. called the citizens to or
der. John +. Choat led the singing
of America. Rev. Arthur Buckner,
pastor of the First Unitarian church
offered prayer. He thanked God for
the day so crowded with memories
and so rich in enthusiasm. He prayed
that the great dream Of the nation
that permanent peace should come to
be realized and that every citizn will
he ready to make the supreme sacri-
fee IL necessary.
Mayor Tebbetts spoke briefly. tell
ing the citizens that this day had
been designated by thk war depart
ment and sanctioned by the presi-
No, 4
that similar exercises were being
held all over the United States. He
, introduced Judge Benedict r. Maher
Of Augusta rs the speaker of the af-
ternoon.
ut is no idle boast said Judge
Maher. when | say sou and L are
gathered here as common citizens OF
n group of governing citizens of the
greatest nation in the world. Lib
erty is the soul of this nation; liberty
is to be found tiourishing where
there is the attainment of peace.
Peace is only opposed to those forces
such as war. strif and disorder.
The speaker decla.ed that there
are many men of many minds. There
are those men and there may be ma
lions that differ with those ideals Of
liberty and justice and the time may
come. as 1t has in the past. when
there is n challenge to those ideals.
Then" affirmed Judge Maher. lit
Is the bounden duty of our COVER
ment to oppose any such challenge
for 1t Is a constitutional mandate.
He stated that the preamble to the
constitution provides for the general
welfare and general defense OF the
nation.
He said that the citizens Of Water
tn |,
gathered in common with other citi-
zens not as n movement toward war,
rot as n mock assembly for MOCK
patriotism but to offer d new alleS'-
ance to the government and to show
that the nation believes in the true
tenets of liberty and bclives in the
peace that is necessary for liberty.
I'VE are gathering to serve notice
on the national man and money power.
said the judge. Just as in previous
times, for II has always been that eter-
nal vigilance is the price or iloerty'
:. The speaker avcrred that 1t is nat
ural for man to cherish that which he
hopes to he the truth, that the lessons
are forgotten more readily If one
wants to forget. In 1917 came the
challenge which eclpsed the desire
for liberty and peace. In years OF
plenty and prosperity the nation had
forgotten its true genius Ii TOOK
blow to shock America into the 1uii
sense of her danger.
There are men and women VINO
would caval and protest against Ihis
day. against this government lot IAN
ing a forehanded step" SAID judge
Maher. .'There is not man OF woI'i'"
In Waterville who saw the prepared
ness dav paradcs who never caught the
spirit of freedom.
He said that in 1917 the country hao
good luck and great men ana one
shou,d not forget the valor and sacri-
Acc of France. Great Britain and itaiE
that helped carry on the loren OF 'iue
" for all the world. Even thoue"
there are now no great armies ot ~"
,yies the spirit of liberty lives III .nuu
sands and thousands or loyai Hn.
cans who. when the real car, tha
,,.;,i he ready to offer their all on the
s,.ar ~ sacrifice in order that TINS
fav that has never known defeat may
stand.
I'VE remember how the American
,.n and women shoulder to shoulder
nm.wered the arrogant insolence Oh
th.t European power" declared ene
SNEAKER. I'm April 1917. we had TO uo
the work of 10 years in 10 months No.
mill September IL. 1918. was the mrs.
Amar,can engagement by distiu.u.
Am,oric.n army. On September l.
Z n,c,oal, in the morning Genera FeI
sh;ry raye the word Let's go ana .he
Ar,ar,can hoys broke the German iines
hack Of verdun after 1t naa ne'u 80
four wears. Think OF the pioou .a.
and the treasure wasted. 1hi"N y,
light have been saved by prepa.eu.
1T