Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-29
BUSINESS MEN 1t DINNER
Stirring Address by Congress-
man Frank L. Greene.
Officials Of Vermont Milk Chocolate
Company Give Reasons for Locat.
Ing In MISREPRESENTATION
Are Most Favorable.

Arc Most Favorable.
The most successful banquet of the Bur-
lington Merchants association and Cham
Der OF Commerce yet held was that of
Thursday. when 200 members of the
association. other business men of the
city and friends sat down in the main din
ing room OF the Hotel Vermont. The only
cloud on the evenings program was the
inability of Governor Horace y. Graham,
who was indisposed. to be present. Con-
gresham Frank l. Greene came in place
OF Governor Graham, his address being
received with enthusiasm. Other speak,
ers Of the evening were John Walker,
president of the new Vermont Milk Choc-
olate Co., and q. B. Edwards. the vice.
president, who will be the manager of
the new factory. W. T. scofield, president
of the association, presided over the post
prandial exercises.
CHOCOLATE FACTORY OFFICIALS
SPEAK.
Mr.. Walker, who was first called upon
by the POSTMASTER. spoke Of his appre-
citation Of the opportunity to meet the
gentlemen At the city. He also told why
the men interested in the Chocolate COM
factory in Burlington in preference to
other cities. Inducements. he said.
were the high calibre Of men, their fair
ness. knowledge of business and aggres-
siveness. He was also impressed with
the beautiful location Of the city itself,
with the railroad facilities. the climate,
which 10 particularly adapted to the BUSH
ness But most OF all, said the speaker.
was he impressed with the great asset the
city and State has in Lake Champlain
and its close connection with the great
waterways OF the country. As time goes
on. said Mr. walker, this asset will be-
come more and more valuable for the rail-
roads Of this country will never be able
to transport the commerce Of the country
successfully without moro aid from our
waterways. and the successful develop
ment Of tho country depends largely on
now we handle our mercantile marine
ana inland waters. The time has arrived
when our national and State governments
should adopt q definite plan and proceed
at once with permanent improvements to
our inland waterways and make our mer-
camille marine q successful competitor for
the worlds commerce.
The next important factor in the &C.
lection OF Burlington as a place of To-
cation was the possible DEVELOPMENT
or the ro-electric plants here. As
years go by. GOAL and oil must continue
to advance in price. Electricity gem
Grated from water power will be AFFECT
ed much less than either coal or oil.
ana therefore we should continue to
have an advantage over other points
not so we'll situated and this advantage
should be permanent Last and not
least there 10 q grasing country here
abouts surpassed by few sections of
the United States. and the production Of
milk with high development Of these
srazing lands should be practically un-
limited. In passing. Mr.. Walker paid a
compliment to tho progressive spirit
Of the press Of Vermont. as shown in
their editorials In closing Mr.. Wal
for the contract to erect the new fac
tory, ]. E. Cashman. A detail Of the
bids appears in Q story elsewhere in
these columns. I,
Mr.. Edwards. vice-president of the
new chocolate company, spoke very
briefly. Mr.. Edwards. a young man. 80
years Of age. will, when the building
is completed, probably by July IL, come
to this city to reside and take over the
management OF the manufacturing OF
the products to be turned ,out by the
| factory. Mr.. Edwards spoke last eve
| ming Of being an Englishman but
| stated that he was in the process OF
being made a naturalized citizen OF
this country. having already taken Out
his first papers.
CONGRESSMAN GREENE'S ADDRESS
Congressman Greene when introduced
by the toastnaster. received an ovation
as he did whom he entered the dining
room. the applause lasting a full hall
minute. Mr.. Greene said. in part:
In spite OF tho fact that man look
ing on may think that he knows wha
he would do were he in an official ca
pacity. when the time arrives when HI
stands in position to act he finds HI
must stand on not what he thought h,
ought to do yesterday. but on what h,
must do to-day He cannot please all o.
the people all Of the time. and II he set
out 80 to do he finds himself spineless
A man starting out in public Office can
not have hard and fast rules to govern
him. but he has . certain general outline
of his own political beliefs and civi,
outline which he must live UP to as bes
he can. A man to represent the sentiment
OF Vermonters at Washington must &c
In touch with his constituents. for It Il
easy to drift into the atmosphere o
Washington and away from the inspira
lions Of the green hills and valleys OF oil
Vermont. A Legislature does not 81
that 10 more Trustworthy useful ant
honorable than Vermont's Assembly. an,
Congressman Greene spoke Of the pleas
ure and inspiration 1t was to him t,
visit the sessions held at Montpelier. !
comparison Of the laws made In Vernon
during the decade from 1900 to 1910 will
laws made in other States will show tina
there was no moro up-to-date and thor
ough so-called progressive Legislation
made In any Of the termed progressiv
western States than was made in Yer
mont. whose laws bristle with commo
sense because Of the old-fashioneh, delhi
crate thoroughness with which they ar
made.
When man in Washington become
perplexed at issues upon which he mus
cast his vote and wants to DO prudeu
he has but to stop and ask himself wha
those In Vermont would do II confronte
by the same problem and he will nc
mako as great mistake as though h
had not reasoned in this way.
1t would be unwise to dwell upon eel
tain events now shaping themselves int
the country's history and II is discree
for men in public life, at this tim
especially. to be eloquently silent. To
much has already been said by thos
who have not stopped to consider tn
htppancy of their remarks. To think sci
; tously at present cannot but fill one wit
melancholic contemplation. Nobody know