The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-05-31
PLEA FOR NEW ENGLAND
Protest Against Congress Spending
Millions on Swamps.

HtiitoHS OH SWdUlpSs
Editor of the Banner:-When the
new congress convenes, which will be
at an early date, one of the first
things to be taken up is Secretary |
Lanes so-called soldiers and sailors /
settlement act, to provide farms for
returned soldiers and sailors. In the /
last congress it was proposed to raise /
one hundred million dollars to carry |
out the work. Congress failed to pass
the appropriation. A short time ago
Secretary Lane proposed the bill
again increasing the appropriation to
$50 million which has been advanced !
to the half-billion mark within the |
past few days.
1t seems that Secretary Lane acted
on the spur of the moment when he
advanced the idea of using the pro-
posed money to reclaim swamps and
deserts in the west. With thousands
of abandoned farms through the
country this idea of the Secretary of
the Interior appears absurd to the
average farmer of New England. The
untitled land here in the east is not
neglected because of its poor merits
but because of the lack of intelligent
man power.
New England is slowly coming to
its own once more. Its agriculture is
being built up to most fitting de-
gree. However we are minus thous-
ands of enthusiastic young men to
advance the good work The older
| generation of farmers have patrioti-
cally overtaxed themselves with work
Now that the dark clouds of war have
apparently vanished the old farmer
will sink a trifle into pre-war days
state Of condition. little less am,
bilious and enthusiastic. Then why
advocate bill which would rob us of
many of our stalwart ambitious young
men. Such a bill is a grave peril TO
New England, considering the agri-
cultural decline we suffered in the
past Truly we ought not to be too con-
siderate or selfish yet why should we
I ilOA eiCi 1OuSAt00 hllOM hntlC III Nni0
bill win be fatal to US.
We have right here in our own
state untold agricultural facilities
which would be far greater asset to
our New England boys than sending
them West on swamp and desert
farm. their souls inspired with a
bright future only to find 'all that
glitters is not gold" Such an under
taking would be very expensive OPP
GRAFTON as the cost of drainage and
clearing land is beyond the means Of
the beginners, even though the govern
ment give a long time, for payments
There is time for this work after the
land, now available, and in most
cases of more benefit to the beginner,
is looked after.
n But first OF all before even consid-
ling giving the returned soldier a farm
! why not test the young man farming
\ capability by letting him work as a
laborer on farm for at least one
year the government mourning the ex.
pence Of maintaining an efficient EN-.
ployment bureau wherein to secure
positions on farms inclining to the
phase of agriculture they like. In
y this way the average young ex.soldier
would be better fitted for the work,
land many would discover their UNI.
fitness for farming. AS the bill now
stands many inexperienced, many
shiftless. and many fortune hunters,
would be tempted to try their luck,
only to find that they we're tied down
to economic slavery
Therefore. citizens OF Vermont, let
us do all in our power to give New
England boys farms right here. We
need them to upbuild our state or
states. Agriculture is our biggest
asset and with many Of our young
men. inclined TO that phase Of life's
work, gone, we will have far more
competition than heretofore. Our fed
eral farm land, banks and state Agri.
cultural banks will make the financial
burden easy.
For the bentit of the returned sol.
dier's for the senetit of the New Eng
land states and the county as whole
wish that every patriotic citizen OF
Bennington who wishes to see us
prosper in the future as we have in
the past few years send in a vigorous
protest 70 congress against the Lane
bill to spend half-billion dollars re
claiming distant swamps and deserts
Ios soldiers who prefer farms in
New England.
, Do not submit to everything; sub
; stitute action for conversation. Do II
now before it is too late. A personal
letter to our senators, or representa-
, tiyes viii do lot to help the cause
Sincerely,
Edward f. Horst
Bennington. VT, May 26th.
INTERFERING WITH -0cPERITN