The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-26
For . ereatsr vermont.

For a Greater Vermont.
The preliminary steps taken las
Saturday at Burlington toward tn
formation OF a Greater Vermont AS
ISOLATION makes possible the organ
ization of a movement that will be
very great benefit to this State.
does not matter whether it is Gale
a Greater Vermont Association,
State Board of Trade or by som
other name. Results rather thai
names are what count
1t is pretty generally conceded
that more organized. aggressive effort
is needed to boom Vermont, to ex-
plot our rndsyslopSd resources. and
10 convince. the world that Vermont
not only is a good State in which to
be born, but good State in which 10
live and to labor In opening ad-
dress James P. Taylor. president OF
the Green Mountain Club, to whose
energy is due the success of the
Burlington meeting, called attention
to the fact that new spirit had been
in evidence in this state. since the
Lake Champlain Tercentenary cele-
bration. Everywhere we recognize a
greater hopefulness and indications
of greater progress as unmistakable
as the first signs of spring.
This new association is proposed
in the hope that 1t may act as sort
of clearing house for those who con-
troll undeyeloped resources and those
who are willing to aid in their devel.
opment. 1t is to be expected that
| there will be many who will be skep-
teal of the success of this enterprise,
and who will point to the fate of sim.
liar attempts in the past. 1t should
be remembered, however, that previ-
GUS failures do not mean, of neces-
sity, that success never can be achiev
ed. Apparently Vermonters are
more ready than ever before for such
a movement. The need surely is
great. The neighboring states are
outstripping us along lines in which
we ought to be proficient Isn't il
better to lend assistance to a worthy
attempt to put Vermont ahead than
it is to stand one side and sneer and
throw stones at those who are trying
to accomplish something?
Vermont never will OCCUPY the
place to which she is entitled until
her own people have confidence in
the states possibilities and try t
help themselves. The only motive
actuating the men engaged in this
enterprise is an honest and patriotic
desire to put Vermont ahead. If oul
citizens are bound to look under the
bed every night for some political col
spiracy they will never develop mucl
more than narrowness, suspicion anC
stagnation. With splendid possbili
ties of greater agricultural develop
ment, with thousands of water hors,
> power running to waste that ough
to be turning mill wheels and opera
ting shuttles, with vast minera
wealth as yet undisturbed beneath
the Green Mountains, and with natur
al attractions for summer tourists un
surpassed by any state in the Union
surely there is need OF some organic
ed effort looking to the arousing o
, Vermonters to keener sense o
their opportunities and calling the a
tention OF the outside world to GU
unexpected wealth.
Such an organization, working hal
moniously with the State Publicit
Bureau, the transportation companie
and all other forces that are attempt
ing to boom Vermont, can accomplish
great good.
There ought to be a large and er
thusiastic representation of dele
gates at the meeting to be called il
the near future to complete the OF
,, ganization. 1t is the only opportur
ity Just now Afforded to bring int
one association all the forces tina
are seeking to establish better Vel
mont.
: Recognizing the need of such al
! organization isn't 1t worth while {
, try to make II a success?-Montpelie
!, Journal.