Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-01-26
What OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
A VERMONT CENTENNIAL
(F'rom the Montpelier Journal)

pclier became the capital Of the state
when the month of the sitting Of the
Legislature comes around again. 1t was
| in 1895 that Montpelier was made the
permanent seat Of the Legislature upon
the two condtions First that Montpc-
ler should give tho land for capital
| and should erect the building before
September I. 1905: and second. that II
| future Legislature shall cease to hold
sessions in Montpelier, the state shall
pay to Montpelier tho value of the prop
! erty. Montpelier complied with the con-
liticns and for hundred years LcEis-
lntures have met here. The first capitol
was humble affair. though not for those
times. 1t was soon outGrown an am
other took its place, which was 'ckcd
by fire. The present state House was
then built and later the additions were
put on.
It has been proposed that some sort OF
a celebration should commemorate the
centennial OF the establishment Of tho
Capital at Montpelier. TO the Journal
such course seems emncntN proper
land fitting. II is seldom that Vermont
has Il good opportunity for a State celc-
brutiou which shall wake the memories
of her noble past, rouse the patriotism
of her young men and quicken the blood
of her civic veterans. Such an opportu-
nifty il this. 1t concerns matter of
state interest the consideration of which
must bring to the front that which should
he prominent in the State history. There
ican he no better time for Vermont 30
stop and take an account of stock. of
her accomplishments in a ccnturys life"
OF course tho celebration should ho
conferred IN Montpelier from the very
nature of the event it conmcmofa to-:
1t should be no triline AFFAIR. but
whole suulcd. hearty Dc monstraton Of
the genuine pride OF Ncrmontcrs in Ncr-
mont and her accomplishments. Yer
imonters. Of prominence and sons OF Ncr-
mont who have taken their courses else
where should he called 10 give of
/, their wisdom and co1uencc and expert
cnce for the benefit of those who attend
the meeting. Patriotism should DC the
llovnote of ii all
Eut there is another celebration OF
state Importance due to take place this
year in Montpelier. which it Is well 10
consider il! connection with that Of the
Capitals centennial. Twenty years ago.
as the result of It sort Of spontaneous
manifestation of desires by numerous
members and ox-membcrS OF tho Leg
i-lature. "A grand legislative reunion was
held in Montpclicr II Wa attended by
great crowds. lasted two days with Il
reception previous. and WAS ropcte with
oratory. patriotism and good fellowship.
Party lines were forgotten and men from
lall parts of the state. md from other
States who had served Vermont in tho
, Capitol. t10ck",l together 10 renew old
acnuaii'arcos. Old mon renewed then
boyhood by "reminiscences of days long
past: Young men worshippcd at the shrin"
OF wisdom and experience Tho reunion
WAS grand success.
Ten years later. o. in 1896. the second
doccnnal reunion wa- held. Again il
was a great success. Again good fellow
> ship gave of itself and the partakcrs of
the enjoyment received inspiration which
, made them moro than over before loyal
Vcrnontcrs, believing in their state, and
active and energetic in their work for all
that stood for her progress. This year il
, is ia he expected that tho legislators and
: eX-lcgislators Of the State will again
gather in Montpelier when the month OF
October comes along. to drink of tho
fountains of youth and patriotism
\ why not combine these two cclebra
tons: Why not add to the third docen-
NAL legislative reunion by celebrating at
u choice Of permanent Capital for the
state? It would add to the interest and
/ value Of the events. probably would re-
. suit IN Il larger attendance, would not
noccsstate so many days being taker
from their business by those men who
: would attend both cclebra ions. 1t wouC
= assure monster meetings worthy Of thu
state and her record during the pas
hundred years.
Naturally If would tall upon Mont
Z peicr to furnish a hall or balls for thu
n occasion. There can be no question tina
:, this duty would be gladly performed
either Y the city as q city. or by in
dividuals according as wisdom dictates
" 1t is not too soon To be thinking abou
"A he plans for these gatherings. Montpe
a licr citizens should be thinking, for the,
. should prepare to take a leading part il
making the arrangements for the cen
tennal celebration. Her guests must lo'
g cnterla med and housed we'll and this will
. be no simple task if such crowds appea
as may he expected, such as to make al
: convention crowds appear small by com
" parison. Montpelier will attend to tn
IT local end of the matter all right, withou
# question. 1t is. then the proposition u
:. starting the celebration idea workin;
" throughout the State that is at rrescn
II most important.
y DO honor to Vermont. Let every Yer
!. montcr bcstir himself and show that h.
is interested in the progress Of the Stat
e and will be glad to sound her praises "A
lie great patriotic Jubilee in October
y IMPORTANT LIQUOR DECISION.
i G'rom tho Brattlchoro PhoenixJ
: But for the change made in the liquo
le law two years ago a recent decision q
i, the United states supreme court woul
he of importance To this State and il
. likely to make troub" with Maine. tn
&c only New England state under prohihi
1T ton. Authorities III Tanna. Iowa. seize
r. aud destroyed packages ri luunr shppc
. lC. O. y. into that town from llinoi.
Tho Illinois supreme court sustained tn
IS pcuCoc ling as regular and legal. but tn
IN United States supreme court holds tina
the liquor in question could not legally h
seized and destroyed on the ground tina
such a proceeding is in contravcntion q
the decision of tho interstate commerce
~ clause of the federal constitution. |
announcing tn" decision, Justice Whit
pr said that if the practice complained OF i
Iowa were to he carried TO it's lcgitmat
no conclusion and the various States wcf
given authority to control Z. O.
"a shipments of merchandise from one Stat
to another, much of the interstate bus
as ness Of the country would he placed q
Il,