St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-12-23
A Temperance Crisis ut 81. Al
bans.

periencing just such time as St.
JOhnsbury passed through two years
ago or more. AS we have before sta
ted in these columns, the temperance
people of st. Adams walked up some
ago and determined to put an end to
the traffic which was fast running the
reputation of the town. A paper was
circulated, pledging assistance on the
part of the signers in the work of en-
forcing the law, and about ninety
names were secured, including many
of the best men of the place. A "work-
ing committee was organized, and the
campaign began in earnest. Several
of the lower grade dealers were prose
cuted, fined and their places shut up.
The hotel proprietors were not forgot
ten, but were urged to run their hotels
on the temperance plan. Probably
with a view to demonstrating that this
could not be done, they closed their
bars, and the impression prevailed that
the hotel men would keep in line with
the temperance movement. But the
crisis came last week Wednesday night,
when Mr.. Lavender, of the Weldon,
closed his house to the public, permit
ting only the regular boarders to re-
main. On Saturday the proprietors OF
the American and st. Adams houses
followed Mr.. Lavender's example, and
st. Adams was without regular hotel
accommodations. The coaches stop
ped running to the depot, and even
the livery stable men refused to put up
teams from the cOuntry-though we
can not possibly see how the rum traf-
fic can affect the livery stable keepers
and their action especially deserves a
severe rebuke. The hotel proprietors
give as the reason for closing, that il
does not pay to run a hotel unless they
can be allowed to sell liquor.
The Messenger says the people are
very much agitated over the matter
and it is very easy to imagine such a
state of feeling under the circum-
stances. The temperance committee
tried to labor for the good of the place,
and it is very certain they did some
effective work but the hotel men were
grieved beyond telling, and sought to
bring on a crisis by shutting up their
houses. Judging from what the Mes
senger says, the hotel men are not like
ly to gain their point. When the cri-
sis occurred, an additional paper was
circulated by the COMMITTEES, to test
the popular feeling, and in a short time
nearly fifty more names were secured.
We quote from the Messenger concern
ing the feeling of the people on this
matter:
"Naturally a great many people are
alarmed when no entertainment is fur
nished i'll town, and argue the most
dire consequences. They wish the no.
tells to he opened at any sacrifice and
want the present temperance move
ment, which they allege to be the sole
cause of the trouble, summarily and
Immediately stopped. On the other
hand, there is no doubt that a quiet
but strong feeling has sprung up with
in few hours in opposition to the ac-
ton of the hotels in shutting up in
such a manner and without notice, to
the harm and detriment of the town.
Threats are made that the
butter market will be transferred to
Sheldon or SwantOn soon. This is
looked upon as contingency not like
| ly soon to occur, and while there is no
doubt that a little trade and a few
drummers will drift away, very few
think that st. Adams is likely to suf-
fer seriously or permanently because
the hotels are closed. The majority of
people look upon it AS a great incOn-
venience, but not as deep rooted
evil
A large and enthusiastic meeting OF
citizens on Monday night resulted in
the Strengthening of the temperance
committee 10y addition of several more
to the working force, and by public
sentiment, which is in favor of carry
ing on the war as long as necessary
| lie COURSE Oh Jlle committee was near
tily endorsed. "Forbes" telegraphs
the journal an interview with Hon.
Bradley Barlow, one of the owners OF
the Weldon House, in which Mr.. Bar
low said that "he should not consent
to its being opened again except as a
temperance hotel, so long as the pro-
hibitOry liquor law remains in force.
He states that if any parties will pur-
chase the interest i'll the house owned
by Lansing Mills of Boston he will ask
nothing for his portion of the property
provided he is guaranteed from further
expense in connection with the house.
Mr.. Mills has been telegraphed to by
some of our citizens for his price for
the hotel property" The fight wakes
warm, and its result will be watched
with great interest.
We hope the temperance people OF
st. Adams will stick They have
shown good deal of backbone up to
date, and we hope they will not be
cOwed down by hotel proprietors, liv-
cry men or anybody else. Let the
movement be "A general one, '1et no
guilty man escape" for right princi-
ples will prevail If then are stuck TO Iona