The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-22
THE INDUSTRIAL BUREAU,

Some two Or three State papers have
manifested SOFT of "ghoulish glee''
over the defeat of the bill for continuing
the industrial commission. In view of
the refusal eff the Legislature to sustain
the commission, and of the reactionary
feeling observable in the press and
among the people, correspondent in a
note to the editor accompanying a re-
cent communication says: 81 believe
you are right-Vermont is her own worst
enem ~
The critics of the late commissioner
were fond of representing that irrepara-
BILE injury had been done Vermont by
his advertisement of her abandoned
farms and of the opportunities here fot
buying farm lands at very low prices.
But who shall estimate the damage TO
the State aceruing indirectly from these
criticisms and directly from the unpatri-
otic, and unbusinesslike course of the
Legislature in refusing to follow up and
push it to its natural conclusion the
work begun in 1882 Vermont Yields
the field to her competitors. The re-
ports of her lack of enterp Use, her in
difference to the cOmmOuest means of
success, her unwillingness to employ the
agencies that state as well as individuals
must use If they would be prosperous.
have been heralded over the country.
vermont deserves nothing if she is not
willing to make an effort for herself -
say her truest and best friends, grieved
that having put her hand to the piow of
progress she listlessly turns her gaze
backward. "Vermont is barren waste,
A rabbit can't cross the State without
taking lunch with him. It's Legisla-
ture has abandoned its industrial and
immigration bureau say the agents of
immigration companies interested in set
tling the West and jealous of this new
and attractive rival for the preference of
the best class of European emigrants.
What will be the effect of the late
change of policy on further immigration
and what on the colonies already here?
No similar enterprise, we venture to say,
ever opened with brighter prospect of
success. 1t was the emphatic testimony
of Mr.. NOrdgren that wonderful success
was achieved in a short time and at so
slight expense. During my fifteen
years of experience in emigration" he
declared recently, ~ never met a people
who received foreigners more kindly and
generously than the people of Vermont.
The newcomers, with the hope of soon
ha ing their friends and relatives in
Sweden with them, felt, with few ex-
cept ons, contented with their new home
and am satisfied that If the State had
continued the commission, say for two
years moro, Vermont would have been
settled by Scandinavian people more
largely than Maine, and for about one
third the cos to that state.n Mr.. Nord-
gen has received hundreds of letters of
inquiry from his countrymen, and had
given them to understand that the mat
ter of their coming here would be in the
hands of some representative of the
State. Very likely he is wondering now
what he shall write his countrymen. His
answer would be likely to be rather con-
gealing. The Swedes at Wilmington and
Weston, if left alone, may not become
alarmed or discontented, but they must
feel as If they had lost the protection of
the State at the very time when they
greatly need it. IL would not be strange
II rival interests should take advantage
of the existing status to breed alarm and
discomfort, and so break up the colonies
and persuade them to remove 10 other
States, There must al least, unless some
cOunteracting effort is made, be a check
upou the coming of their friends and
relatives, now that there is no represen-
tive of the State 10 whom they can look
for counsel and protection. This would
be natural. Strangers in a strange land,
they seek and rely upon the advice and
direction of the States representative.
What can be done in this emergency?
The State is likely 20 suffer seriously If
nothing is done II towns and individu-
ais interest themselves and will take hold
Of the matter in earnest, much may be
done. But this implies organization. It
implies work, time and expense. The
performance of service like this is pecu-
hIrly the function Of the State. State
agency, State interest and responsibility,
give dignity, strength, character, and in
spire confidence, and the State acting