The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-14
vERMoNT's OPPORTUNITY.

Less than half dUz4n If the three
score papers published in this state have
thrown cold water in the bureau which
is giving Vermont it's present boom. As
specimen we quote the Clipper III
Commissioner Valentine hau used the
energy which he has directed to hunting
up deserted farms o the work OF get
ting Up a boom for Vermopt's mining
and manufacturing advantages the far
mers would at the present time have
some pro. poets for quick demand for
their farm produce in the near future
rather than the more unfavorable view
OF having herd OF Swedes to compete
with ut no future date. The Clipper
says as 1t has often said before, heIp our
present farmers by increasing the manu-
featuring and mining in our state and
the farmers sons will more than take
care Of the deserted farms.n
THIS Is on the plan of the "off OK"
when one thing is all the go, advocate
something tlse, because your neighbour
happens u be friendly to present move
ments. The blanks sent out were devot-
ed to both Agricultural and Manufact-
urers' schedules, equally divided, The
press OF the world seemed to catch up
the first, and so the latter is held in
allegiance for the time being, that il all.
Twenty-Five Swedts with their families,
coming FROM a country where the peo-
pie are educated in from one to five Ian.
guages English being one), are some
thing better than "herd" and any
agricultural State interest which can be
crippled by that number OF additional
farmers is very weak thing to foster.
The Herald has the right ring in these
excerpts
The discussion of the abandoned
farm question, aside from any imme-
date results in the way OF Swedish or
other colonization, can buthaye a most
heslthful influence upon the state, 1t
has brought home to every Vermonter
realization of the unfortunate condi-
tons that do exist-whether they be
Just what they have been represented or
nOt-ls perhaps nothing else could have
done 80 effectively. The inevitable re-
suit OF this realization is a study of the
causes that have contributed to the en-
barrassment of the state, and then of
methods TO remove them and to secure
greater prosperity 10 the future.
The key to the whole secret of YER
mOnts future is to be found in keeping
abreast with the times, in replacing ira.
ditions by live ideas, and in substituting
progress for inaction."
The Herald would have done a good
service if it had pointed out the re.
torme5 in our statutes needed to put
vermont abreast of the progress named.
10 answer another class of opponents
we quote the West Randolph Herald
"A correspondent of the Argus in speak
ing OF The efforts to bring Swedes into
vermont intimates that Commissioner
Valentine as well as the publisher of
this paper are disposed to favor the
Swedes as against the natives Of the
State. So far az Mr.. Valentine IS con-
cerned, II we mistake not, he distinctly
disavows this. So far as this paper IS
concerned, we are not aware that one
word has been said to give the least color
such an intimatiOn. We favor the
coming OF the Swedes for the simple rea-
son that the natives of the State do not
avail themselves OF the privileges offer
ed, They prefer to take their chances
IN the West, Besides, neither the Com
| missioner nor any one else except the
owners of the lands, have anything to
do in fixing the price of lands. And we
have yet to lean that any owner Of these
lands is not as willing to sell to a Yer.
monter as TO Swede upon like condi-
tions. We place Vermonters and Swedes
and honest, upright, industrious
men OF any color or nationality upon
the same level with regard to invitations
cent out to come and buy farms in YER
mont. We desire to have our young
men remain with us and occupy these
neglected farms and vacant houses, but
ii they will not then we want other peo-
pie OF the best classes that can be found
to come and occupy. Can any fault be
found with this position ?"