Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-09
CONDITIONS IN VERMONT.

% tne E-dltOr OF the Free Press:
NO one knows better than the writer
the utility Of open letters to the press
out when an Official Is publicly attacked
as inc superintendent OF the REFORM
schooi mas lately been by the smaller
weekhes or the State, It seems almost
the duty or his friends, that Is OF all
VINO are honestly Interested In the true
betterment Of Vermont. to rally openly
to his support.
What are the true facts OF the case?
MI Barss has for some years been
| studying the social conditions In YER
mont. Some good citizens, knowing this.
asked MIN to speak about them at a
church gathering. This talk melted more
good citizens to ask him to tell others
about what he had found and then the
| press took 1t up and reported what he
SAID and spoke favorably Of his work
ana seriously considered what might be
, done TO hmeliorate these bad conditions,
OFTEN adding, if l remember right, that
every Nermonter should know about
this state Of affairs. Unfortunately one
or THESE papers. or a quotation there
from. got into the editorial rooms of
the New York Sun and was commented
upon. Then cry went up from these
same state papers that Mr. Barss was
inJuring the good name OF Vermont.
Before the publication Of the articles
In the New York Sun and Boston Tran
script all the criticisms OF Mr.. Barss' u
address which I personally had read had
been favorable. Since that publication
criticism has been generally guarded or
adverse.
Have a few lines in the metropolitan
press altered the truth7 Should not every
good Vermonter fully understand all the
conditions good and bad which exist In
his State? Ignorance is the great en-
envy OF reform. Can you save an apple
by polishing the skin If 1t Is already rot
ten at the core?
If any harm has been done who is
responsible? Mr.. Barss quietly speaking
to the better citizens of this State,
speaking with absolute sincerity and sin
gleness of purpose. or the press of the
State which on It's own responsibility has
spread broadcast the facts as he stated
them? If the editors knew they were
untrue they should have contradicted
them. If they thought they would in
jurc the State they should not have pub
lished them.
Mr.. Barss has courted no publicity for
himself but for the truth and for the
good of Vermont
If as one journal insinuated. he wished
to get his name into the papers. he Is
well enough known outside Of this State
to have his views and his personality
given wide publicity. He is so well
to-, 90 Ind i,,,
offers to leave the State and only re-
considered his resignation Of year age
at the earnest solicitation of men who
are fully cognizant of the splendid work
he is doing and who have at heart the
best interest of all citizens Of Vermont
both the good and the bad.
After all no harm has been done tc
| tie State No harm has been done &c
Mir. Barss. but We fear harm may be
done to the reforms which he is so ably
and so unselfshly advocating and from
which it Is hoped that great good vii
accrue
We who are interested in these reforms
have no quarrel with the press. We be.
lieve that with a few exceptions 1t Is
| honest in It's motives and we appeal tt
| it's generosity and with full faith cal
! upon 1t to aid us by its great influence
| for good and not waste its power II
mistakingly trying to cover UP actua
| conditions or in petty personal criticism
Reputation is what others think OF
| us, character Is what we know ourselves
| to be-" y.
Congressman Underwood carried Geor
gia presidential primary by 10000 owe
| Wilson