Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-01
THE COUNTY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
WHAT WAS DONE AT ITS ANNUAL MEET
ING WEDNESDAY.


County Temperance society was lively
and interesting. 1t was called to order
at o'clock, in the vestry of the Congre-
gational church, by the president, Rev.
M. G.. Stebbins of Cornwall. The attend
ance was large.
The meeting opened with the reading
of Scripture by the president and prayer
by Rev. Il. G.. Thompson. The report OF
the secretary and treasurer was read, ac-
cepted and adopted The latter showed
balance of $3.l2 in the treas
ury. The secretary also read the
constitution of the society. A COM
mittee on nominations, consisting OF
Rev. Mr.. Keith, G. C. Cady and E. H.
Thorp of Middlebury, was named by the
chair, on motion of Mr.. Keith and on
motion of Rev. Mr.. Thompson the chair
named committee on resolutions-Mr.
Thompson, Rev. Dr. Archibald and Dea.
James of Weybridge.
These preliminaries disposed of, the
question, "Resolved, That the prohibit
ory liquor legislation of Vermont is an
unconstitutional infringement of person
al liberty" was debated by j. S. Chand-
Ter, Esq, of Ripton and Rev. Il. G.
Thompson of Middlebury. Mr.. Chand-
Ter, who took the affirmative, insisted on
confining the debate to the search clause
of act No. 45 of the last legislature. He
contended that this was unconstitutional,
and in support of his position quoted
from the constitution of the United States,
the constitution of Vermont, Kent's Com
mentaries and other authorities. He did
not believe the supreme court would sus-
tain the act.
Mr.. Thompson, on the other hand,
hadn't particle of doubt as to the con-
stitutionality of the act in question. Rum
selling is the crime of crimes, and severe
measures are required in dealing with it.
The act comes within the police powers
of the State. The public good is what is
sought and the legislature is made the
Judge of what it may do to bring that
about. Custom-house officers are en-
powered by the United States law to
search persons without warrant.
Mr.. Thompson was excused from serv-
ing on the committee on resolutions and
A. u. Tupper, Esq, was chosen in his
place.
"How much is being accomplished by
temperance instruction in the schools of
Vermont" was the next topic consd-
cred. Mrs. J. G.. Houghton of Middle
bury read carefully prepared paper, in
which she sketched the movement made
by the w. G. r. U. for the establishment
of such instruction and gave many facts
bearing upon the subject
Rev. Mr.. Keith followed. He highly
commended this plan of temperance work,
the result of which he was sure was good
and ultimately would be great and grand.
The children are interested in the study
and when arrived at maturity will be in
telligent reformers.
President Stebbins believed in teaching
by example and had been interested in
the debate in the Legislature on the pro-
posed law prohibiting the choice as teach
ers, superintendent, or State superintend-
ent of schools, of persons who used liq-
uors and tobacco. He suspected that the
bill was not passed because it would
have made ineligible some who wanted Of
flee. Rev. Messrs. Bidwell of East Middle
bury and Thompson of Middlebury, DR..
Bond of Cornwall and 5. b. Nj. Cowles
of New Haven spoke on the same line.
On motion ;of Mr.. Cowles the secretary
was instructed to procure a copy of Mrs.
Houghtons paper for publication.
"What is likely to be the practical eff
feet of the change made in the mode of
electing county commissioner, was the
next topic down on the programme; but
no one appeared to have any ideas on it.
The question of the expediency of
abolishing the Middlebury agency, raised
by j. f. Crane of Middebury, stirred up
spirited debate. Mr.. COwles, who is
the commissioner, thought the agents of
the county were all exceedingly cautious
in making sales. The Mddlebury agent
had had 60 applications for liquors on a
certain day, but sold it to only 30 of the
applicants. In Mr.. Cowles' opinion it
would be an outrage on the citizens of
Addison county not to have an agency in
this town. Rev. Mr.. Stebbins said the
executive committee of this society had
requested the ladies of the w. G.. II. L.
to appoint a committee of their number
TO visit the agency here and see to whom
sales were made, but they were refused
access to the books of the agent. He
asked what precautions were taken by
agents to prevent sales to improper per
sons, and what means to secure pure liq-
uors. Judge Knapp also put some que
ries. Mr.. Cowles replied to the questions
and said he would remove an agent
spected. j. NJ. Slade, Esq, was of the
opinion that the majority of the people
of Middlebury favored the abolition OF
the agency the loss the past year was
over $400, and we of this town do moi
care to do business for less than nothing
for the benefit of the county. Mr.. KNAPP
took exceptions to Mr.. SHADES statement
of the feeling of Middlebury with regarC
to the agency. Further remarks on thu
subject we're made by Messrs. Henry S
Foote, A. p. Upper, j. M. Slade anC
Dea. James.
Rev. DR.. Archibald reported as fol
lows for the committee an resolutions
and the report was accepted and adopted
WHEREAS, There has lately appeared wha
processes to be an expression of opinion IL
regard to the prohibitory law of this State, il
which large majority are represented as op
, posed to the provisions OF that statute
Resolved, That we do not believe that sait
representation exhibits the prevailing senti
ment OF this county, which we believe to b.
largely in favor OF the requirements of tina
law.
Resolved That the executive committee o
this society be requested to obtain and pub
lish as full a statement as practicable of tn
prevailing opinion of the inhabitants OF thi
county in regard to that law.
RESOLVED, That we heartily approve OF tn
amendments to the statue in regard to tn
sale OF Intoxicating drinks. enacted by tn
last legislature of Vermont, and tender ou
thank q TO that hOdv tor their fidelity.