Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-18
VERM0NTs MAN POWER IN THE
WAR.


WAR.
Hoover says Vermont Is leading all |
the States in the food conservation
campaign. Men and women and even |
our school children have been doing |
their part nobly. In other directions
also the Green Mountain State has
been taking q leading part in the |
activities Of this war period to sup |
port the nation.
Some people through the malicious
activity Of some Of the newspapers OF
the large cities have gained the I'M |
preston that this statement would
not apply to vermonts part in actual
power for battle service. The Hon.
Mason s. Stone chairman Of the YER
mont committee on publicity, has done
. real service for the commonwealth
by furnishing data from the office Of
the secretary OF war going to show
our little State ranks seventh in the
whole list Of States as regards enlist
ments for the U. s. regular army and
the National Guard. which is part of
the American army by law.
It is a striking fact that the honor
OF heading the column of States and
territories in this connection belongs
to distant Hawaii. It's gross quota
assigned was 2.403 men. whereas its
total enlistments in the two organiza-
tions named up to July i were 1897.
Oregon holds second rank with a quota
Of 1887 and actual enlistments $751;
The district of Columbia stood third
with a quota OF S.796 and actual en-
listments of 2,S6o. Then followed in
order: Maine. quota 7.076. enlist
ments 5.24S; New Hampshire. quota
A.%11. enlistments s.2O7: Rhode Island.
quota 6.277. enlistments 4.4e5; wyom-
ing. quota 2.ess. enlistments 1858;
Vermont. quota 3,243; enlistments
2.1ss; Kansas. quota 1875. enlist
ments 1895; South Dakota, which
stood tenth. quota 1854. enlistments
l.125.
OF the other States. and especially
those whose newspapers have been
hailing vermonters as "slackers,"
Massachusetts, stood IA, New York go
and Connecticut "a in the list. Such
great States as Ohio ranked %. Penn
sylvania 80. Indiana 25. Illinois SO,
Minnesota AZ, Michigan A, while Mon
tana won the BOBBY prize by standing
of M Ie<
ments of 1858.
In speaking of the general situation
the Vermont Phoenix says: "Vermont's
total contribution to the fighting arms
Of the nation has been fully 1000 men.
not counting the adventurous spirits
who crossed the border in the early
days to join the Canad'aa overseas
contingent The names Of over 80 Ver-
monters have appeared in the Can
adam casualty lists. In new recruits
for the regular army Vermont has not
made large showing. for the reason
that her young men elected to go into
the National Guard companies or into
other branches Of the service. If tho
total of man power furnished to popu-
lation could be accurately figured we
believe Vermont would lead every
State in the Union today Windham
county. as has been stated over and
over again. was the only exemption
district in the New England or Allan
tic States to which the first draft DID
not apply. for the reason that this
State furnished more than it's quots
before the draft came. After Ethar
Allen had relieved his feelings with 9
few cuss words we presume in quietel
moments he would say that hs wal
proud Of the fighting spirit in Vernon
in the present day."
This gratifying showing should no
lead Vermont to rest on it's oars. o.
the contrary we should squirt" as tn
college oarsmen say, and cross tn
goal at the very head Of the patriots
procession.