The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-07-22

phase or another of its social order
and material condition, takes occas-
ion TO make independent analysis OF
the facts from the home viewpoint. he
can, of course, easily assure himself
that some degree of misunderstaud-
ing, PERHAPS some degree of more or
less fiippant or careless misreprescn-
tation, on the part of outsiders is
responsible for the evil report he
deplOres so much and so properly.
But he can also just as easily satisfy
himself that, however awakened the
public spirit OF the commonwealth in
recent years, there are still some lin
gering traits in the manifestations OF
public policy here, some hang-overs
from the narrower view of less favor
edegenerations, that continue to handi
cap the ambition of the progressive
element OF today in efforts for the up
building of New Vermont"
Here is a case in point 1t may be,
at first thought, considered relative
~ unimpOrtant, but it illustrates
principle and serious factor in the
attempt to organize popular endeav-
or along new lines of thinking and do
/ ing for the betterment of Vermont
! The legislature of 1910 created the
Office of state ornithologist and gave
the power of appointment to the state
/ commissioner of agriculture The
act read, in part:
1T shall be the duty of the state
ornithologist to investigate the dis
ribution, food habits, and utility OF
/ the birds of Vermont, to make studies
regarding their relations to insects
and other pests, to disseminate the in
formation thus obtained for the bene.
/ fit OF the people OF the state and to
act in an advisory capacity regarding
/ legislation for the protection of birds.
lie may prepare bulletins regarding
the birds OF the state, the means of
protecting them, the methods OF pro
tecting crops from birds and other
! economic matter relating to birds. the
same to be published at the commits
sioner's discretion He may deliver
public lectures and addresses provid-
ing necessary expenses are met by
those desiring such services"
In the light of present knowledge
of the demands OF modern scientific
agriculture, this last sentence Is short
sighted indeed If the experience OF
men interested in such works for
public improvement goes for anything
at all, it teaches that one OF the most
important labors the state ornitholo.
gist can perform for the public good
is to 30 about the state and make a
serious and systematic effort to inter
est the members of agricultural SOC
ietles and the residents of agriculmr.
al communities in the subject he is
appointed 70 popularize And yet.
being paid no salary and not even be-
ing allowed reimbursement OF neces-
sary personal expenses for such an
undertaking. his missionary work is
entirely dependent upon the volun-
tary contributions of the people he is
supposed 10 benefit but who may be
said, in one sense. at least, not TO be
very certain whether they stand in
need OF that benefit or not. certainly
not yet sufficiently aroused to the
need OF it so that they would be like
ly to come forward spontaneously in
any great numbers with offers to de-
fray the expense OF his teaching.
II the state proposed to provide
him the means whereby he could car
ry his propaganda o. practical teach
ing into every important agricultural
community so as 10 arouse an inter.
est in the subject there might be
more hope that he would accomplish
important service. and that the good
] Of
quent opportunities for his mission
airy work in other places But he is
limited. to a little pamphleteering at
the state expense. and men that have
had large experience in this work like
the director of the state agricultural
college, for instance. will testify that
pamphleteering in this field accom-
7 plishes mighty little good compared
with carrying the teachings OF mod
ern agriculture straight to the farmer
in person by word of mouth and by
practical demonstration
So far as that goes. the last sen
tence in the quoted section. "He may
] deliver public lectures and addresses
providing necessary expenses are me
. by those desiring such service" IL
q nothing but an elaborate statutorj
pretence of an authority that he does
a not need at ALL because any man tina
pretends to know anything abou
birds. can do the same thing. whether
J. he is by law styled state ornithologis
or not
Precisely the same shortsighte,
economic policy showed itself whei
: the legislature OF 1905 creating
n commission to propose amendments q
= the constitution. stipulated in the frs
= resolution 10 that effect. The sal,
" commission shall receive no compen
sation for their services or expenses.
Il was not to be expected perhaps
y that many men likely to be chosel
e for this service would demand econ
v pensation for their services" Sue
A "A task Is more than likely TO be
labor OF love and undertaken from
'e sense OF public duty. But while pei
- forming, az great cost OF private leis
ure and personal effort, such an I'm
le portant undertaking In the public sci
Il vice, only to know that even nece,
sary expenses were not to be rein
{, bursed. while Il does not necessaril
"A preclude a willingness TO render sue
- service In emergency. certainly doe
tend to dampen the ardor with whic
- A.. d a.. -