St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-12-12

be done by the townq This is not a
local option law, but was made for the
whole state, and a vote of the town
would have no legal authority. The
law provides that county commission
er shall be elected at the March meet
ing, and that he may on or about the
first of May appoint town agents in the
several towns. A vote of the town
could be nothing more than advisory at
the most, and would be nothing more
than an expression of opinion by those
that might be present.
1t is said that there is great COM
plant in our place in regard to the
agency; that it binders the progress of
temperance, &C.; that it is the opinion
of resident physicians that the town can
get along very well without the sale of
liquor. Perhaps it would not be i'm
proper to consider who it is that de-
mands the abolition of the agency. We
are quite sure that it did not originate
with those who have been identified
with the temperance cause hitherto,
but from quite Indifferent temperance
men, and those who sympathize with
those who we're lately prosecuted for
selling and keeping intoxicating drinks.
do not believe that there has been
any general complaint from the tenn
perance portion of our community.
Nearly all the doctors of both schools
in here have been interviewed on this
matter, and not more than one has been
found who will agree to discontinue the
use of liquors in his practice. They
say that if we are to have no agency
they shall get it elsewhere-probably
at the drug stores, and if they cannot
get it there they will keep it them
selves. l wish not to blame the doc
tors at all. They are many of them
strong temperance men, and treat this
question with fairness and candor, but
they say that at present they will not
agree to discontinue the use of the arti
cle-say they are using much less than
formerly, &c. Would it be wise under
the circumstances to abolish the agency
that is controlled by law and is part of
eur present prohibitory law, and throw
rum into the hands of irresponsible
persons 2 1t seems to me that it would
be worse than folly.
A good deal is said about other towns
in the county, that they have abolished
their agencies, and are troubled about
the st. Johnsbury agency, &c. think
those towns have only done what it is
to do here-that is, have
thrown the sale of liquors into irrespon-
sible hands, and have not discontinued
the use Of them, or lessened the use of
them perceptibly. know that the
doctors in some of those towns have
sold for many years one of them was
prosecuted before the county court
few years ago, and paid in fines and
costs about two hundred dollars.
If this matter is to be discussed be-
fore the public, let it be done with can
dor and in the best interest of temper
ance. believe that the mass of the
real temperance people of this place
will consider well this subject before
they will take this matter from where
the law has placed it and set rum af1oat
again in the community. Depend upon
it all the OppOsers of the law and SYM
pathisers with rumsellers will favor
this movement, and possibly some hon
est temperance men may think it a step
in advance; but it is to be hoped that
they will consider that matter well be-
fore lending their aid to this movement.
TEETnT I'll