Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06
(From the Boston Transcript

Tho Transcript published on April 10 an
article signed 49," reviewing paper by
William s. Rossitcr, formerly OF the CEN
sus bureau, printed In the journal OF tho
American Statistical association, IN which
he analyses the returns OF the census or
1910 In Vermont and draws some most
disheartenlng conclusions from govern
mcnt figures. Indeed, he does not hesitate
to say that these Vermont figures of1er
"perhaps the Hloomiest statistical picture
TO be found at the present time In tho
United States"
1t Is sometimes easy to read Into any
analysis Of census statistics precon-
ccived theory of their meaning without
consciously deviating from the truth.
This appears to be what 81 has done In
his hasty and superficial generalization.
based on Mr.. Rossiter's figures. He does
not emphasize at all the creditable things
that even Mr. Rossitcr Is careful TO
| show. lie emphasizes only the gloom that
he reads into his figures and has helped
to spread broadcast once more the cruel
" unjust and mournfully misrepresented
report that ut has now been officially
demonstrated that Vermont is retro
grade State" And he continues: This
announcement Is all the more interesting
because Vermont Is the only apparent
exception to the normal progress of the
normal American state And Vermont
has backslid with q vengeance. While 1t
| is not true as in the case of Iowa that
the actual population of Vermont has
decreased, yet such serious and funda-
mental economic changes have been
working as to warrant the announcement
that Vermont is in the immediate need
of n policy of conservation OF the most
radical and far-reaching sort-conserva-
ton and development of its resources
natural as we'll human
This Is a most serious indictment of a
State. and one not lightly to be framed.
much less to be lightly circulated from ono
end of the land to the other in the certain
knowledge that irreparable damage to the
reputation of e region and the people that
dwell in 1t can be the only result of such
publicity.
But after all the statistics Of population
that the census bureau can muster have
been scrutinized and analysed with the
most expert skill. the simple, fundamental
fact remains that the esprit and morale of
the social order Of any people never were
and never can be reduced to figures. And
the true test OF the condition OF any State,
the only true guide TO the social status of
. any people-whcthcr they are prosperous
: and progressive, whether they are OF
s standard intelligence and average human
ambitons-is not the number of white
colorcd and Indians not taxed that the
census adding machines will show for
them. but how they are living. what they
are doing and bow much better they are
planning to live and how much better they
are hoping to do 1t is not n question OF
numbers. but Of quality. and one does not
= have to invoke tho doctrine of Nautilus
to prove that to any sensible reader.
4 THE BRIGHT SIDE OF STATISTICS
d There are several ways of making effec
II tive REPUTATION Of the conclusions of -
because there are several aspects Of the
situation in Vermont that mere censu.
figures cannot show Perhaps for III,
purposes of this article II may be OF In
terest to review briefly how the progress
J stve spirit OF Vernlonters has manifesto,
= itself through their laws in recent years
Let us take the very same ten years GOV
cred by Mr.. Rossiters figures. Let III
glance at d few of the evidences OF tn,
constant evolution of a higher social ordc
in Vermont as expressed in the acts o
the Legislature during this period. And
doing so, let us remember at each stel
II that the Legislature of any State is al
10 ways the last and most reluctant agenc!
l. 10 voice the progressive thought of tn
N community units that make up that Stae
l. Let US keep In mind that the growth o
ie 4 more ambitious and loftler sense of 50
Is clal responsibility and desire must star
with the people back in tho towns an,
i
sure before IT finds expression in tn
Legislature. Let us remember that. how
ever progressive State Legislature ma.
~ appear to be a times, 1t Is almost a.
>. ways behind tho standard Mt which tn
rank and file of it's constituencies have nj
=, ready arrived, even at that.
First of the achievements Of Mr. Ros
t., siter'J gloomy decade. because the mos
~, radical manifestation OF prOgressiv
as thought anu purpose, comes the adoptio
2e Of the local option liquor Law. For ha
ca a century previous to 1907 Vel
Id mont was prohibition state, Sc
la called, and generations of her pee
or pie had grown up under regin
that, catering to what was once a hig
moral purpose of the multitude, found
the growing lnxity OF popular scntimer
opportunity 10 make IL IcllSU pl tllf S'a
ute for political purposes, and eventual
H' came TO tolerate tho utmost hypocriuci
- loosrueSs and actual corruption an
. fraud in the administration OF the Law
~ In the period covered by Mr.. Rosslter
mournrul speculations, the habits
thought of half n century were uprootc
ana a local option law very similar
es the Massachusetts law was enacted. Til
ry change was made by Vermont while Ne
IL Hampshire and Maine were still Joined
M their prohibition idols. New Hampshi
followed soon after with the same Kin
IN of law, but Maine is still struggling
I'D bc free of its ancient prob bition incubu
cir Poor old "decadent' Vermont!
'e' one Of the most noteworthy manifest
. tions OF progress in these ten years h
. been the practical reconstruction OF &
"9 educational system. Some time betoI
~ the old district school system was aba
w t1ned and the town unit plan substitute
'cS In the past decade the State has put In
ny successful operation laws consolidate
'o schools In the various towns and provi
IL" ing for the transportation Of pupils fro
remote parts of the town to cent?
schools: providing for the expert sup,
intendence of schools with the larger pa
mt OF the expense borne by the State:
ng curing all towns where there Is no hi
mt school to pay tuition OF qualified pupils
TX high schools outside; the other smil
'ye trings all tending to the betterment
kit educational conditions along modern lin