Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-27
TO THE CITIZENS OF
BARRE.

The action taken by the General Com
mittee on the celebration of Company
f, Field Day appears to have been mis-
understood. The intention Of the Com
mttee has been to carry out the wishes
of the public. Their time has been
principally devoted to devising ways
and means of raising a fund rather than
to its disposition. We did not anticipate
that there could be any misunderstand-
ing as to the general purpose for which
any funds that might be raised should
be used. Various plans were sugges-
ted. Some citizens desired that the
funds should be given to those members
of the company that were SICK or IN
special need Others wished to have
the money divided equally among the
members of the company, without
regard to their circumstances and needs.
Others suggested that if n considerable
fund should be realized, it should be
used towards the establishment OF a
hospital. Others again urged that some
portion of the fund should he given to
the benefit of the regiment az large, or
TO those companies that should partici-
pate in the celebration. This WAS on
the grounds that Barre, though one of
the largest places in the State, had
contributed very little for the benefit OF
the whole regiment, while other places
had contributed several hundred dollars
of which our own company received the
benefit as well as the local companies
Still other plans were brought forward
In view of the division of opinion the
general committee thought the wises,
plan would be to leave the disposition
of the fund to the company itself, SO far
az possible, believing that the boys who
went to the front were the ones tol
whom the celebration was intended ano
who should have tho entire say, so fal
as possible. as to the disposition of the
proceeds. Ia order to get the sense OF
the company the general committed
asked it to appoint committee to con
fer with them in regard to the matter
taking care that all classes in the com
pany should be represented by having
a representative of each squad appoint
ed. 1t was the intention of the genera
committee to faithfully follow th'
wishes of the company thus ascertained
but, since it wa. possible that the com
pany itself might have a diversity o
opinion, the general committee still re
tanned enough of authority to settle tn
final disposition. In other words, tn
general committee intended to act NOR
in tho place of arbitrators in the cas-
should there be difference of opinion
in the company, than as directors of th
disposition to be made. If the fun
should be small one, different dis
position might be made by the compan'
than If it was large one, and there ar
many other contingencies that might al
feet and determine the wishes of th
company itself. But we should say tlli
much, that the general committee ha
no intention OF using the fund to pa
old debts, to fit up any rooms, or
benefit any old or State Militia organizt
ton.
As committee we desire to serv
, the entire public and to meet the wish'
of the boys who have so courageousl
: and patiently incurred the dangers {
, the camp that have proved to be no lie:
:, deadly than those of the battle tiel,
! We should regret exceedingly that an
class of our citizens should refuse
take part in so worthy an enterpris
because the general committee might |
unable to formulate, without consult
p ton with Company f, a definite pla
f which might be approved by all. 1t
a evident that there is net a unity OF Sc
timent among the C 'izen' AS to the di
posilion of the funds, but we belize
that no ci,lzen or organization that
worthy to share in the credit that Coz
pany f has reflected upon our ci
should refuse to do something, becau
their preference cannot be 1ollowe
when they know that no plan will
adopted that will dispose of any of t
funds except for the benefit of the bo
y who went to the front, and according
their wishes, If possible.
- We earnestly urge all citizens a
organizations TO promote the enterprj
q in every way, and As n genera comm
tee are ready and willingto give PIT
=. lie hearing to any suggestion that
person or organization may wish
make.
ht JOHN W. GORDON,
II Chairman of Gen. Com