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The State of Vermont last week declared war on Germany.

It was not a declaration of war in so many words, but that was what it amounted to. And it came about because Vermonters like to be sure they are going to get paid for their services.

Six months ago the Vermont Legislature passed a law requiring the State to pay a bonus of $10 a month to any Vermont citizen in the armed service of the U.S. in time of war. One day last week State Representative Donald H. Norton, veteran of World War I, chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee, introduced a resolution that the bonus should be paid immediately, on the ground that President Roosevelt's recent shooting order to the Navy was in effect a declaration of "armed conflict" with the Axis.

The House adopted Chairman Norton's resolution. So did the Senate. Governor William H. Wills, confessing himself stumped, signed the resolution, made it law.

To the State of Vermont's service men will go $59,900 a month for the next twelve months. Said Veteran Norton: "As far as Vermont is concerned, we [have] declared war. . . ."

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