The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-01-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Ui Gov. Prrcirsi ". Clement, Deliver
I'D Before the Vermont Legislature.
faurm.x Yutk 1atG

I'D Before the Vermont Legislature
January 10th. 1919.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of th,
Joint Assembly:
The town Is the unit Of government
In Vermont, and the meeting Of ths
representatives Of towns aniedsted bJ
many years the formation Of the state
government as II Is now constituted
A meeting Of the town representatives
therefore has always been An import
ant event 10 the people Of Vermont
This meeting Of the legislature Of
1918 is particularly important on &C
count OF the problems which confron,
us, and upon which you will be requir-
ed 10 pass your judgment
We have been intrusted with the
management Of state affairs for the
coming two years know that we
approach the performance Of our
duties guided by lofty purpose to do
our best for the prosperity Of the
state. Yet, however high may be our
ideals, however much we may hope to
accomplish, we may fail Of achieve
ment unless we can at times lay aside
our personal preferences and act with
the majority. Team work is more
necessary for specific performance in
Legislative action than anywhere else.
II at times we find our individual
opinion submerged, we may console
ourselves with the thought that, by
and large. the judgment Of the legis-
lature is better than the judgment of
any one man IN II.
When our predecessors last met in
this historic chamber less than two
years ago, we were entering upon the
greatest war the world has ever
known. The history Of the world is
the story Of its wars, and we have not
been slow in making history since that
day. Even two months ago, when we
were elected in office, the slogan of the
country was Everything to win the
war And now, so quickly DO armies
and n.avies shift the scenes in times of
war. we face the problems of peace.
Whatever the League of Nations or
the League to Enforce Peace may do
for the world in the future, of one
thing we may rest assured. The hor-
rible memories Of the struggle
through which the world has just
passed will deter il from entering up
on another great war so long as we
live
Thanks to the dauntless courage OF
our sailors and soldiers, the victory is |
ours. All honor to the noble men and
women who have stood close behind
our fighters with material aid and
CHEEKY word. We could not all be in
the firing line, but we have been able
TO pass up the ammunition. All honor
to those who have given their lives IN
defense of their country In the
moment of our victorious rejoicing
the thought Of them comes to US.
Their memory will ever be fresh in
our hearts. Their names are cngrav-
ed upon the pages Of our country's
history. They are immortal; for their
deeds will live after them.
The Legislature of 1917 provided for
the payment Of small bonus TO each
enlisted soldier and sailor during the
first year of his enlistment That was
during the period when the fedora!
government was not paying proper
wage. / see no good reason why men
who we're drafted should not have the
same benefit. The service they per-
formed was equal and the same.
therefore recommend that the provi-
sions of Section 53, No. los Of the Acts
Of 1917, be extended to all men drafted J
from Vermont into the naval or mill
tary service of the United States not .
above the rank Of private.
Public Education
The laws regarding public education ;
should be modified with regard to {
transportation and the restoration Of /
the rnral school. Our farmers are On. 9
titled 70 have adequate school fac!li- q
ties provided for their children, and TO s
have the schoolhouse, wherever pos h
sible. 80 located AS to become the c
center Of the varied interests Of the t
community. j
The rcpor, Of the State Board Of o
Education will show that during the p
past year 5000, ,209.27 was paid for p
transportation. OF this amount the n
state paid ss0,4T7.2l Under proper il
arrangement a large proportion OF il
this sum would have been available for
the repair and building Of schoolhous- q
es and for the employment Of properly y
qualified teachers. The law should be il
70 amended as to make transportation n
optional with the school directors, sub n
ject TO proper methods Of appeal. At u
81. e1rs,a sf.,aa fhe State pn-rT ~ EAii- n