Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-28
vEpMONTvs FINE RECORD.

part of our present supply.
vERMONrs FINE RECORD.
Despite the repeated publication OF the
facts concerning the record mado by YER
mont in connection with the development
of various branches of the military ana
naval service of the United States, va
rious newspapers throughout the country
continue to publish articles rejecting the
early discrediting of the Green Noun
tain State. Under tho circumstances the
only recourse for Vermont is to continue
TO refute the Islander. With this Idea we
gladly print letter sent to the News OF
Charlotte, N. c.. by Colonel Thomas as
follows:
have read TIE item IN your paper Of
February Is purport,ng 70 have been cop
led from the Philadelphia Record, which ID
an apparent effort to chastiss Congress-
imam Dale Of Vermont for some remark
which he is alleged to have made.
I have no part in any quarrel your paper
or the one from the City of Brothtrly Love
may have with Congressman Dale. lie Is
a man in public life and If your conscience
directs you to crticise him, that is your
prerogative as an American publisher.
He is open to such criticism as his acts
and utterances warrant, nor Will he ask
me to defend him. He Is amply able to
defend himself IL he considers tho attack
worthy of his attention.
In the article referred TO- however, tho
fair name of Vermont is malgned and in
this am profoundly Interested. The ar
ticle reads i'm part as follows: THAT
State, once famous for the fighting spirit
Of the Green Mountain Boys of the Revo-
luton and the Civil War, has not yet
supplied one whole company to the army
Of the United States. Let Mr.. Dale wake
up Vermont that is the only part Of the
country that is not up and doing No
withstanding that you have fallen into
the error of publishing this article which
you have CLEANED from the Philadelphia
paper without regard to its truthfulness
yet believe you have a sense Of justice
and fair play and are in favor Of the truth.
I believe you would not willingly libel a
neighboring State, and although Vermont
is somewhat distant in point Of miles,
believe we should all be neighbors. espe-
cially in the present world struggle.
wish to make you acquainted with a few
facts which it wccld have been we'll for
you to have learned before copying the ar
ticle in question. Had you learned
them, 1 believe you would not have copied
that article.
1t was my privilege to have to do person.
ally with the recruiting in Vermont. Be-
fore the United States had been in this
war four months, Vermont had an or
ganization of considerably upwards Of
two thousand officers and men. all YER
monters and all volunteers, II under
stand the organization this was enough to
make considerably more than lone whole
company; in fact several companies.
More than seventeen hundred Of those
same officers and men are now serving
under the Stars and Stripes in the army
of the United States on the fields Of Eu-
rome. The rest Of them are serving like
wise on this side Of the Atlantic.
l personally know, too, that about four
hundred more Vermont men have volun-
teered within the past three months and
have gone into organizations of the line
of the army. l know too. that a large
number Of Vermont men, since the
United States entered the war; have gone
into the quartermaster corps, the engi-
neers corps and other organizations
of the army as volunteers and many
have volunteered for the navy. 1t may
also interest you to know that before Con-
gress had completed the declaration of
war the State of Vermont had by vote of
it's general assembly. approved by its gov
crnor. appropriated one million dollars
toward the carrying on of the war. Have
you in mind another State that has appro-
priated a larger percentage of its wealth
to this cause? 1t may also be of interest
to you to know that Vermont .anticipat-
ing some delay in obtaining clothing and
equipment for her soldiers, bought and
supplied the organization I have mention
ed. uniforms blankets. and every author
lied article of equipment which money
would buy. and that the men have spo-
ken Of as serving both in Europe and on
this side are to-day using a vast amount
of clothing an equipment which was origi-
nally supplied them by the State of YER
mont as already stated. What States have
been more alive to the situation
If you care to investigate the record OF
voluntary enlistments for the army OF the
United States, including regular army and
National Guard, you will find that based
upon percentage of men of military age,
Vermonts record is exceled by the Ha-
waiiGn Islands, the District OF Columbia
and only Ave OF the States or tho Union,
ard YOU will note that none CT snose nve
StPsas tvh.vc publications are given 10
sian scrirs Verpont, either by original
or copied articles II you care TO look up
the fAC.s YOU tdn iaarn trat onl? one state
IN the Union co. show a smaller percent
age Of rs iren Of draft age claiming e%-
emption from military service than can
be shown by Vermont. Are you wiling. so
far as you MAJ he able, to corIec: the err
roreous Impression which your paper mas
spread broaadcas. in this comh,uni'y con-
oern!ng the State OF Vermont by PUBLISH
ing the copied article In question?
II you wish to interest yourseh III
close study OF Vermont what she ID 40
ing and the spirit OF her people, you can
learn n whole lot OF good things ABOUT
tine present day patriotism OF tie people OK
that State that have no: the t:ne 10
write
Should you see At to make yourseit IA
:nallar with that State and its people am
sure you would agree with me that IN YER
mont the spirit Of Ethan Allen ana 'he
Green Mountain Boys is neither "ea" "or
sleeping.
Very sincerely,
FRED Is. THOMAS.
Colonel, 57th Pioneer Inf, F'irst vermont
Infantry)
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