Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13
4 SPLENDID TRIBUTE TO WEIR
MONT

It is not Impossible that the Rosster
libel may prove to he an eventual benc-
TT to Vermont. although tremendous
effort will be necessary to counteract
the harmful results of that undesirable
publicity. 1t has stirred up our peo-
pie and the habit of talking to the
country as a whole may become so
firmly established we will keep at it
after the Rossiter article is forgotten.
Another benefit will result from the
operation of the spirit of fair play in
host Of papers throughout the country
are taking up the cudgels in behalf OF
the Green Mountain State, and some
gratifying publicity is resulting,
The Providence Journal, one of the
most influential papers in New Eng
land, printed the following on July 6:
Nearly a year ago a correspondent OF
New York newspaper, who may we'll
lave been n graduate from one of that
CltN's numerous bureaus OF misinforma-
ton. sent a story to his paper to the eff
feet that inside information regarding
census returns disclosed the fact that
Vermont had lost In population during
the decade; that all except very few
Of its cities and large towns had lost in
numbers; and so on, all going to show
that the state was in rapid decline and
was soon likely to attain a moon-liko
oeadness-minus the moonshine. Tho
story was sheer fiction. 1t was imme-
dately denied by the Vermont census
supervisor, who was in position to
know. He declared the State had not
lost in population
Tt is an old saying that a lie will
travel a league while truth is putting on
its boots Upon the publication Of the
New York story. editorial comments APP
poared all over the country condoling
with the people of Vermont and sagely
commenting upon tho unfortunate cond-
tons which did not exist. Comments of
this kind have continued ever since. The
Eermont papers are kept in a constant
state OF protest They call attention to
tho census figures, in refutation of the
charge OF loss of population. and they
ElVo facts which prove that Vermont's
Industries arc generally in a healthy con-
clifton, while its citzens are reasonably
prosperous. The denials avail nothing
The original lie is stu in circulation and
is still believed. The impression that Yer
mont Is dying State seems to be quite
general 1t will not down.
1.-THE census figures of 1910 show that
the State the youRest of the New Eng
land family. the first Of the new States
to join the old ones, but In reality, al
though unofiiCially, one OF tho fourteen
original States-increased in population
faster during the past decade than dur
ihE any similar period since 1870. 1t in
creased In numbers less than four per
cent: but Il IL one OF the few older sis
ttrs than can boast of growing at fast
or rate during tho last than during the
PREVIOUS decade New Hampshire cannot
make such boast Neither can Massa-
chusctts, with its great manufacturing
commercial and fishing interests; nor can
Illinois, with its great city OF Chicago,
nor Missouri with st. Louis and Kansas
City, nor Michigan, Notwithstanding De-
trort's phenomenal growth, nor Mime
sofa, with Its two big cites The list
Of States which have slowed up. while
Vermont has been increasing its pace,
also includes Indiana and Iowa and
most of the States OF the New South,
including Texas, the agricultural Nee
ca, which Is reputed to be drawing new
citizens from all over the South.
Vermont 10 an internal State, without
navigable rivers, Although possessed OF
abundant water-power, It's manufacture
ing potentialities have been hampered by
acll of water Transportation and its dis
lance from the sources Of cotton, coal and
iron supplies; and every Industrial pur-
suit possible to its people has always been
andicapped by tho Chinese wall which
pas dwarfed its trade and barter with
Canada. 1t is the best agricultural State
in New England in grain hay and the
ordinary cereal crops, after making due
allowance for the market gardening near
large cities In southern New England,