The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-02-27
Saturday, February 27, 1915.
COUNTY HARMONY

can De furnished lot CARL III 'h'"i'
| id paupers, who now are generally
| cared for in some private family at
| considerable expense. The usual
| town farm is not equipped with any
hospital facilities and it is only the
| old and feeble minded men who can
| be properly cared for There Is no
| doubt that a county farm would con-
duce much to the comfort and we'll
being of our invalid poor. The ex-
pense will be much more in the coun-
| ty farm. AS a rule the town poor
are cared for at a minimum expense
now, and the towns will have all the
overhead expense in addition. What
ever the merits of the proposition, 1t
is sure to be voted down at an cleo
ton, and for the reason that the vot-
ers have been given no choice as TO
where the county farm shall be locat-
ed. AS usual it is a case of Ben
nington; Ueber Allies. and as usual,
the proposition will be defeated.
Perhaps Bennington Is the best To-
cation and would be chosen, but the
average voter does not like to have
anything stuffed down his figurative
throat. We admire the enterprise OF
Bennington, but the allies" will de-
feat her.--Manchester Journal.
The Journal mistakes the situation
entirely. After the Bennington town
farm house was burned the voters
OF Bennington spent some time con-
sdering what to do and finally voted
to put up a modern and practically
fire-proof building for the use of the
town. No thought was given to any
thing but the needs of the town of
Bennington.
After the work of erecting the build
ing was well under way kindly old
gentleman, who years ago served the
town creditably as overseer of the
poor and was genuinely interested in
the problems connected Herewith,
conceived the idea that the plant
when completed was large enough to
take care of all the towns poor of the
county. Unknown to anybody. save
two or three personal friends he en-
gagged an attorney TO draft bill
carrying out his idea and 1t was
presented to the legislature.
The proposal was as much sur.
prise to the people of Bennington as
to the rest of the county 1t repre-
sents no dark plot on the part OF
Bennington. 1t is merely the we'll
meant attempt of an honest and
kind.hearted old veteran to help make
more comfortable a few unfortunate
human beings some of whom, at least,
are not to blame for the position in
which they are placed in their old
age and poverty.
1t is hardly in good taste for the
Journal to gibe Mr.. Houghton on his
plan. We do not need TO agree with
him, but to hold him up as a nefar
ious schemer against the people of
Bennington county is unjust.
In all seriousness and candor The
Banner urges the Journal and few
other citizens of Manchester to be
little more kindly in their sentiments
toward Bennington. The town of
Remington is no better and no worse
than other towns, but nothing save
evil and harm can come from the
Journals practice of sowing suspic-
ion, jealousy, hate and discord be-
tween the north and south ends of
Bennington county.
The county is fortunate in having
the large and prosperous town of Ben
nington furnishing market. bust
openings. giving employment and 9th
or advantages to the smaller towns
of the county. The state school and
road tax money of Bennington goes
to aid the smaller towns and just as
far as possible the citizens OF Ben
nington stand ready to aid any and
every town Of the county.
Bennington for two years has gen
erously voted nearly half the pay of
the county farm agent TO aid the
rural districts of the county. Ben
nington has aided the county improve
ment association knowing that the
bInhllcT lOWnS WOuiu ne inc OHeS
chiefly benefited. Bennington in
every way possible has sustained the
effort of Manchester to get rid of the
toll-gate at her eastern gateway and
Bennington has in the past and will
in the future endeavor to aid Man
chester or any other Bennington
county town as far as lies in her pow
err
Honestly, dear Journal, wouldn't it
be better to stop this quarreling and
fomenting of discord? Wouldn't it be
better TO consider each question fair
ly on its merits without seeking to
impugn the honesty of the motive of
others? 1t is not possible or desir
bale that we should always agree. a
good understanding is often best
reached through an honest difference
of opinion, but neither honor nor pro
fit nor anything else that is good can
come from persistent efforts tc
! blacken the name of neighbors whom