St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-12-12
PRESS COMMENTS
HIGH License Never Co,,;na

TO remark tnaI all tn1S talk about
high license reducing liquor drinking
in the State is nonsense. A man who
pays high license will find it neces-
sary to sell as much liquor as he can
to make the business pay. Saw what
one will, legalize the sale of LIQUOR.
open saloons on the streets of our
cities, and fill them with attractions
and hundreds of young men will be
drawn into drinking habits who
would have escaped the vice under
other circumstances. No letting
down of the bars if we wish to keep
the good name of the state" That's
about the size of it.
The Burlington Free Press, the
most influential paper in Vermont,
adds: That's about the size of it. -
Nobody need be alarmed about a
repeal of the prohibitory statute of
Vermont. It's penal and fee sections
may be modified, but its repeal and
the substitution of high license law
in its place is as nearly impossible as
to Overturn Killington mountain.
Will the Rutland Herald mark and
remember this prophecy Fl Rutland
Telegram.
Mr.. Sanderson Sustained.
The discussion over Mr.. Sander
sons structures on the school law is
stirred up anew by his reply to his
critics. The st. Adams Sentry, one
of the critics, comes to its own de-
fence with the remark that Sander
sons address has long since passed
into oblivion; in another morl1 h he
will be there himself so far as 49,
factor in the educational economy of
Vermont is concerned" The ST.
Johnsbury Caledonian is inclined to
think that 'Mr. Sanderson can back
up his words with his pen" The Mid
dlebury Register is more emphatic:
THAT he made no assault upon any
one must have been apparent to every
reader of the address. However,
there are people who feel as if they
are abused when the truth is told
concerning them. That was the
main charge of MIR. Sanderson's
critics, and that it was baseless
ought to be clear to all who are ac-
spoke. The last paragraph of the
letter contains a good deal of truth,
wholesome, perhaps, but merIt1ng
the consideration of those who have
the welfare of the state at heart. -
Bellows Falls Times.
A SpoiIman' idea.
at seems to be settled" says the
Chicago Tribune, that Senator Far
we'll will introduce a bill at the forth
coming session of Congress for the
repeal of the Pendleton civil-service
law" Farwell is a republican spoils-
man, and is mad at the president for
presuming to dispute his right to
distribute the federal Offices of Illinois
among his favorites, and mad at the
civil-service law for limiting the scope
of his action in rewarding the party
henchmen. He doubtless intends to
do what the friendly newspaper quot
ed says he will do, and that he will
have the support OF a number OF
other republican congressman who
have recently expressed their opposi-
ton to the law there can be no ques-
ton. 1t will remain to be seen, then,
in how false a light these political
are placing the republican
party as a whole, and how heavy the
pledges of the Chicago platform will
weigh against the greed for place
that has recently been displayed in
such astonishing proportions within
the party which for the first time in
% years has found itself in power
without holding a complete monopo-
ly of the federal patronage.-LS Spring
field Republican.
Doubtful Friends.
Doubtful friends, says Ksop, are
worse than certain enemies. This is
particularly true, it seems to us, with
regard to those who are advocating
the substitution of license for prohibit
ton in the state of Vermont, just
now, under the guise-or disguise
rather-of friends of the cause of tenn
perance. When the liquor seller and
the liquor drinker join hands openly
their purposes are at once so appar
ent that no great harm is done.
Such a union of forces is natural
One desires increased opportunity
for selling; the other desires increased
for drinking. The situa-
ton is at once understood and each
counts for no more than his true
worth. But when men under the
disguise of friends of temperance adj
vocate the substitution of temper
ance for prohibition in the state of
Vermont the case is different How
ever specious the arguments present
ed undue influence is eXerted. They
are enemies in the uniform of friends.
Such men, we believe, are not only
doing the cause of temperance great
harm in this state, but they are him
1ering the execution of the laws al
ready enacted. They are the doubt
ul friends of 4sop, who are worse
than certain enemies Burlington
Free Press.
Foes of Civil Service Reform.
The determination to break down
The civil service rules is by many pol
ticians frankly avowed and by many
others secretly cherished. The great |
majority of those persons who man
age our politics, and who manipulate
he party organs may be counted as
he open or insidious foes of the merit |
system. The establishment of this |
system was exorted from them by |
public opinion; it must be defended |
against them There is need, Just |
low, of a vigorous popular campaign
against the spoilsmen. A thorough
discussion of the system, its princi-
Dies and its achievements, would be |
X trenely useful at the present time.
The stupid cant of the spoilsmen
about the establishment of IAN Office |
holding aristocracy' needs to be ex-
posed, and the fact made plain that
he merit system is the only method
IF distributing appointive offices