Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-07-13

Montpelier, July 12.--With over n
score Of notable guests, native sons
and men prominent in State and mn
tional affairs, and with all Of tho
larger towns and cities in the Stnto
represented with sizeable delegations.
the annual meeting of the Greater
Vermont association and celebration
Of the States 125th birthday, an
event which has been awaited with
much anticipation for many weeks,
opened at two o'clock this afternoon
in the armory with President Fred
erick X. Rabbit of Bellows Falls pre-
siding. Charles Gleed Of Kansas City,
Mo. former resident of Morrisville
and a prominent lawyer in the West,
was the opening speaker of the after
noon session. He came as the result
of telegraphic invitation from Theo-
dorc y. Vail of Lyndonville and with
out being informed as to the purpose
OF the meeting was Informed that his
subject would relate to Vermont his
tory.
The other speakers at the after
noon session were eX-Gov. i. c. Smith
of st. Adams, president Of the Cen
trail Vermont system. Admiral Robert
f.. Peary Of the United States navy
and John Barrett, director-genoral Of
! the Pan-American congress. Major
Gen. Leonard Wood Of the United
States army wired his regrets last
evening. his important duties at this
time being such as to prevent his
travelling any great distance. Another
who was unable to be present was
! Carl Nrooman. United States assistant
secretary of agriculture.
EX-GOVERNOR SMITH
In the course of his remarks about
Vermont Ex-Governor Smith said:
The first essential Of success in tho
organization Of community Is a
basis Of taxation that Is fair and
sane. Until 1880 the burden of sup
porting the State was then borne rat
ably by all the citizens Of the State;
but about that time a different policy
was adopted and the State departed
from its long time system of levying
general property tax and inaugural
ed new system of making one por-
tion of the members of society bear
the burden Of the balance of the MEM
bers. Certain of the corporations
were thereafter taxed to pay ex-
pcnses; expenses have gradually in
| one branch of society carry the ex-
| pcnse Of the State organization for all
it's members is precisely tantamount
to the proposition of living on other
peoples money. Living on other peo-
Pies money inevitably leads to extrav-
agance and extravaganza inevitably
| leads to waste.
| The speaker. referring to the increased
| Of tl,a Stpta ~,
changed condition is clearly traceable to
the fact that tho State has depart ed
from a right principle and adopted q
| wrong one.
! The Legislature under the new order
OF affairs was given the power to put
the hand of the State into the treasury
Of four classes Of its citizens and draw
| therefrom whatever the State wanted tc
spend.
| President Smith gave statistics show
! Ing that the population Of the State has
not increased rapidly enough to war
rant the increased expenses. Tho fault
| does not lie at the doors Of the State
officials, whose strict integrity and
| honesty is not questioned, but solely with
the system. Not until the Legislature
finds it's way back to the broad and
| ancient highway of fair dealing will the
gates OF a greater Vermont ever oper
for its people to walk therein. The mat
ter Of savings banks deposits being used
to develop the resources in the State In
stead Of being invested in western
mortgages WAS also touched upon.
President Smith turned from his dis
cusson OF political economy to touch
upon politics, saying that he believed
high offices in Vermont should be KEEP
for Vermonters. This doctrine ought t6
be principle Of State policy at all times
| Vermont should be governed at all times
by true Vermonters. The speaker upheld
the tradition Of the mountain rule ant
| urged the people not 10 abandon 1t, Tt
the mountain line. more than to any
| other factor, Is due the glorious recort
of this State In tho affairs of the ma
ton.
JOHN BARRETT.
Director General Barrett spoke OF {
Greater New England and a Greater Yer
mont in part az follows:
There Is no question whatever in thu
mind of impartial observers Of tho situa
tion that the time is not far distant whei
there will be no such thing as n deserted
farm in Vermont and Its surrounding sec
tions. All the world Is realizing tina
there are conditions Of living. climate
soil and physical possibilities which were
never appreciated in the old days, TIL,
men or Vermont and New England wht
nave gone forth throughout the nation ant
the world, to make good have been 81
successful In all lines of activity that tn,
opinion Is unanimous that there is not
part OF tho United States, or Of the world
where better. sturdor men and womer
are raised than hero. A certificate o
birth In Vermont, and diploma from
representative educational institution o
New England aro passports everywher
to the best opportunities and to perma
mont employment.
l 'If on this occasion can p1alSA n .pxac