The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-11-23
MANY CARDS SIGNED
OVER THE STATE
The Patrol Committee Mucn Pleased
with General Response
Especial to The Caledonian)

Especial to The Caledonian)
Manchester, Nov. 22-Vermont, al
ways loyal to her own people and
hospitable to visitors to her soil, is
responding with characteristic good
will to the movement of a group of
Vermonters with the good of Yer
mont at heart which has already be-
come familiar all over the State as
the Patrol Committee movement.
According to statements given out
at Patrol Committee headquarters,
there could hardly be expected any
where in the country a finer response
in so short period as that since the
movement began as is shown by the
signed 81 Believe" cards which every
mail brings.
These signed cards are not only
the expression of public will which
the committee intends to put before
the legislature when it meets, but are
regarded by the committee as an in
dex or barometer of the public's feet
ings with regard to this movement.
And the barometer, they say, is rising
rapidly, indicating fair weather in
plentiful quantity ahead.
Vermont has several times risen
nobly to statewide movements of
similar public character if not of
quite the same program No one can
accuse her of not rallying to the
standard of public good, when that
good is plainly demonstrated.
That the Patrol Committee pro-
gram is demonstrating itself is appar
ent by the hundreds of signatures
pouring into headquarters. Particul-
arly popular seems to be the first of
the committees five points, that of
better roads. The farmer wants bet
ter roads, the manufacturer wants
them, the merchant wants them, the
average inhabitant wants them.
Campaign manager E. F. Trefz is
in the midst of a three-weeks' speak
ing tour about the state. Mr.. Trefz
repeatedly points out in his talks,
which age. basea-~en- obseFFatiens-yali
over the country, that states which
have built up their road systems to a
high condition of efficiency have
found that instead OF costing money
they have been a source of profit.
Citizens of the State of Iowa spent
half million dollars on five-years'
campaign of education on good roads
before they began to put THEM new
system into effect. This was not pub
lie money, but private subscription.
Yet every citizen who subscribed to
this fund is finding his money re-
turned to him many fold.
Vermont, mother of great men, has
upwards of 100000 of her sons spread
abroad through the country, living in
other states. These states therefore,
may be said to owe Vermont 100000
of their citizens in return. But such
return is not to be looked for if, for
even the practical purposes of visit,
they cannot find here roads as good as
those they have been used to in their
own states.
Such, at any rate, is the thesis of
the Patrol Committee; and such ar-
parently is the belief of thousands
and more who have already put their
names down on the 81 believe" card,
the creed of the movement.
The Patrol Committee has this
week issued a folder giving the his
tory and the aim of the movement.
Thirty thousand copies of this folder
are being mailed to voters in the
state this week and next, and more
will follow The committee will
gladly furnish any number of copies
&c +b;r foIdo1. On 1.aO,Iact