Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-10-31
THE STATE LIQUOR AGENCY.

OIE state liquor agency has had bad rcpu-
=. sorthe during much of the time since at was
placed in the hands of Mr.. Burnham, Among
temperance men there was considerable trepi-
dation when he was appointed state liquor
agent He was considered by many judicious
persons as a very unsuitable man for the place
and it was feared that he would manage the
agency in such manner as TO damage Its rep
utation and bring discredit upon the liquor
law itself When those who criticised the ap-
pointment were pressed for the grounds of
their objection to Mr. Durham, they would
generally reply that they Judged him by what
he had said of hmselfip his book on the Hen
Fever" Lnthst book he had very fully ex'
plagued the principles on which he had man
aged the hen business, and not by their con.
sent should the liquer agency be given up to
management of a SIMILAR kind.
But these expressions of discomfort were
ueither very loud nor very general, and, by
Mr.. Burnham's friends, they were attributed
to unreasonable prejudice. They did not pre-
vent the appointments Aud so the runners of
acknowledgement have been discredited as the
false and malicious tales Of these who hated
the liquor law and sought to destroy it, But
as the cid prevert says, it takes good many
shovelfuls Of earth to bury the truth; the rr-
emphatic, until at length, there was au inves
tigation, not at all satisfactory tie anybody,
although the result gave rise to seme talk of
<'whitewash." 1t was that investigation last
spring. or rather the way ia which it was used in
Mr.. Burnham's behalf. that first led US 10 sus-
pect that rumor in this case told the truth. 1t
certainly did not satisfy the public The reputa-
ton of the agency has grewn worse and worse
until now another legislative Investigation pro-
misses to establish serious charges Of misman-
agement. In another place we copy a report
of what has already been proved
1t seems to be forgotten in some quarters
that this State agency fer the sale of spirituous
liquors is anything more than a snug berth for
any waiter en- Providence" who, having been
serviceable ia connection with SEINE political
purpose, demands his reward. Ii Mr.. Burn
ham really had any such claim to be rewarded
for services he had rendered, this circumstance
was itself unfortunate; and his appointment to
the place in question still more SO, This liquor
agency was established as a necessary append
age Of the liquor law, and it should be in the
hands of some wise and reliable friend of that
law, som man of capacity and char
acter, who commands the confidence of tenn
perance men, and of all others who know him,
some man, in a word, who will make the
liquor agency what it was designed to be, No
man who lacks these qualifications should be
thought Of for the place, for the agency can
not have fair trial in unfit hands The motive
of the liquor law is good; and the busiest OPP
pcsers of that measure must admit this,
whatever they may say of it in other
respects, 1t should have fair trial, be-
cause its motive is so cemmendable, and be-
cause it is law which was demanded by a
majority of the people of this Commonwealth,
1t does not now seem likely that the present
liquor agent will continue to hold the place.
If the serious charges against him are fully
sustained by the present investigation, he will
find it necessary to vacate the Office, to which
some other man must be appointed and we
hope that the next appointment will be made
with great care, and with due regard to its in
innate connection With the reputation and eff:
ficiency of the liquor law. We would have
some man appointed to that place whe is not
only fit to fill it properly, but also one who is
so closely connected with the temperance
movement SO Enthusiastically one of its repre-
sentatives, that all the immediate friends of
this movement will feel themselves in a man.
ner responsible for his management of the
agency. Let it be fairly tried in such hands !;
and, if it fails to answer its purpose,-if it
earns a bad name by furnishing rascay IL
quors, and thus becomes source of mortifica
ton and shame to every friend of TEN.
perance,-then let it be abolished aud, until
then, let us insist earnestly on having it placed
in suitable hands where an honest trial of its
uses may, if possible, authorize it to become
permanent institution.