The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-11-26
VERMONT AT ST. LOUIS.


st. Louis fair? The matter was bs
fore the Legislature, at the session OF
a year ago. vigorous push was
made for an appropriation. The ennis
saries of the fair were here to press
upon the members the vast Importance
of an official representation at the Pur-
chase Exhibition. All the instru-
mentalities that men use to exploit
their schemes were employed State
pride, this cheapest of all considera.
tions, was appealed to. The senti-
mental and the emotional we're moved.
The ambitious, with visions of exposi-
ton glory and Importance as repre-
sentatives of the State and dispensers
OF the peoples money, were clamorous,
but it was no go. The Representa-
tives refused utterly and emphatically
to be buncoed, and the proposed APP
preparation and it's schemes of Green
Mountain splendor, out by the turbid
Father of Waters, in the sweltering
heat under the st. Louis Dog Star,
like the baseless fabric of a vision
faded and left not rack behind"
Is there any evidence that the men,
bers of the Legislature have had a
change Of heart during the year that
has passed? Is there any reason now
that did not exist then why they
should back with an appropriation the
scheme they SO conoluslvely rejected
In the course of some twenty years the
Legislature has been asked to pay tor
State representation in the advertis-
ing enterprises Of various ambitious
cities On one pretext or another,
some historical anniversary, or some
commercial pretense, New Orleans, or
Nashville, or Buffalo. or st. Louis, -
and, in the near FUTURE Oregon s
chief city-announces an exhibition,
directly for its own advertisement,
incidentally for the common good,
and invites the States of the Union
and the powers Of the earth to come
in and celebrate. The host wants the
guest to provide big appropriation
for an ornate building and retinue
of officials and representatives. 1t is
all right for the beneficiary city.
IT these feasts of the fox and the stork
occurred only at long intervals, the
case would be somewhat different.
Time for recuperation would be given,
and the invitations might not be re-
garded with that tired feeling"
oh with prcnino fro
quency, they now excite.
A State 'building,' or State
headquarters, at one Of these exposi:
tions is the last thing in the whole
round of alluring propositions that
will be of any practical use. Remem-
Der Chicago and the Roman villa and
beware. The thing that counts is ex
hibits, and exhibits are what sensible
people in search of knowledge or in
vestments go to see. These are not
found at beplastered headquarters
building or at one built of stone or
marble. If the State would make an
exhibit on it's own account, it might
show forth, in some illuminating way,
the millions of waste and useless
lands which cucumber its geographical
area. IT it would show how it spends
it's money for its own betterment-the
real test of wise State policy in re-
spect of material things-it might
send to st Louis, writ big in blazing
characters, the records of its recent
hedgehog legislation If there shout Id
appear to be pover6y of lawmaking
for developing or replenishing the
material resources of the State, aud
extreme parsimony in the appropria
tion of money for internal improve
ments. for marshalling and putting
into operation the agencies of progress
and prosperity, and observers of the
record should suggest that like char.
ity, Vermont should begin at home,
rather than out in st. Louis, the
work of renovations there might bt
greater reason for taking the sugges
ton to heart than Tor a feeling Of
offense.
Vermonters are abundantly able tC
look after their own individual inter
ests in the Purchase Exhibition. Tht
granite men of Barre are moving il
the matter of their special industry
The marble men need no State aid
nor do the scale men or other indus
tries. The dairy and sugar Interest,"
have their own organizations and the.
are able and doubtless willing-anc
probably prefer in their own way tt
manage their own affairs at st. Louis
The sturdy independence of Vermont
ers, each in his own line of aotivit,
and enterprise, like the soldiers o
the Green Mountain State, is guar
anty that at st. Louis, Peace will
have her victories no less renowne
than War So let the Legi slatur,
repose in peace at home Abhor beg
gary either of the members for thei
per diem or the railways for. thei