Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-03-29
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
give the Young People Of Vermont Some.
thing to Do and They will Work out
Their Own Salvation.


thing to Do and They will Work out
Their Own Salvation.
Before the men of the Congrega tional
| church Friday evening, Hon. Clarke c.
| Fits of Brattleboro delivered one of the
most valuable and stirring addresses
heard in Bennington in a long time and
one that should have an inspiring effect
on every man who heard II.
Mr.. Ffttss subject was Some Things
Which Are and Some Which Are Not the
| Trouble in Vermont" He secuted the
idea that the troubles of Vermont are
political or that they can be overcome
by any political remedy. Vermont's
| troubles, he declared, are due to stag
nation of industrial life especially in the
| rural communities, the weakness of so
many towns due to decrease Of popuIa-
ton, the failure to invest Vermont
money at home to build up the business
and prosperity Of this state
Mr.. Fits painted in glowing terms the
record of Vermont in matters OF political
ana governmental progress Vermont
was the first state to provide for the
pest system Of taxing railroads on their
earnings and to collect the tax by a sys-
tenn at once effective, and at the same
time constitutional This system has
now been adopted by most Of the other
states.
vermont was the first state to work
out a successful system OF making the
big interstate corporations responsible for
thelr actions In this state. Several other
states have now taken up the Vermont
system while others are cropping around
IN the dark and have not yet found out
that successful plan has been found
back up here in Vermont.
vermont was the first state to have
successful public servic commission
law with power over all public service
corporations. So-called progressive states
nave had to borrow their IDEAS on this
subject from Vermont
vermont was the first state to take
up the gradual elimination of grade
crossings under the direction of the
state. Some Of our big and wealthy
neighboring states have not yet found out
how to do II.
Vermont was the first state to devise
an incorporation law that gives the in
weston in corporation the right and the
power to find out just what security
there is back of the investment
vermont was the first state to enact a
law that does away with the bucket
shop. The law is only a few lines in
length but it is effective and the states
that call themselves progressive, have
had to borrow the ideas from Vermont
These said Mr.. Fits, are only a few
of the things that prove Vermont to be
one OF the most progressive states in the
out the aid of primary elections, rep
resentation on population basis, and a
whole lot of alleged cures that are much |
advertised and talked about.
But Vermont has some very real |
troubles that are not pleasant to talk |
ABOUT, but which must be met and over |
come. large number of our rural COM |
munities which have lost in popuat on, |
nave fallen into decay in many respects |
They are producing weakened children, |
who are not keeping up to the Vermont |
standard. The crimes which are start
ling our state are committed by our
degenerate native stock
Mr. Fits stated that while he was
attorney general. he prosecuted II
homicides, and that II of them were
committed by native Vermonters OF the
weakened stock. Sixty-five per cent of the
serious crimes in the state and nearly all
Of the viler crimes such as rape incest
etc, are committed by native Vermont
stock. During the past few years there
has been an increase OF As per cent In
the number of insane, and largely from
The native Vermonters.
These conditions demand our full
force as state and people to meet and
One of the essentials 10 in
1ustrial development. Give the people,
and especially the young people, some
hing to do. and they will not spend their
line in idleness and vile converse ton
hat lead to vile crimes Vermont money
IT more of it, should be invested at home
md not sent out of Vermont to build
Up other communities. Only a quarter OF
Vermont money in Vermont savings
,anks is invested in Vermont
Churches and civic associations must
10 their part Vermont wafer power and
'ther Vermont resources must be de-
'eloped. The skeptic who says, you
ant do nothin,' and If you DO 1t won't
mount to nothin,'" must be driven into
he background Bennington Banner,
iarch %.