Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-12-25
THE RUMoUEsTIoN BENNINc-
TON.
It's All Right-The People Want 1T
Other Queer Comments BY Truth
full James,


Other Queer Comments BY Truth
full James,
Mr.. EDIToR:-I am very well known
to the citizens of this town and most Of
them would give me c. rtiticate for good
character. 1t has been my bad luck not
to be talked about, it is true, but that is
a misfortune which can't help. But l
would rather have such a run of bad
luck as that, than live in town where
folks mean whaV they say, or to live in a
town where good drinks are not sold in
convenient places at low rates. For
town that throws up its hat for freedom,
the American Eagle and free whiskey,
you can't beat old Bennington. This
you know is a prohibition State, and any
bOdy'd know it in this place. Don't you
know, Bennington beats the world for
its original way of applying the prohibi-
ton law. don't know that these are
the days that try mems souls, but l do
know that these are the times to make
on old guzzler think of the past. Beer,
five boot leg, and free lunch thrown in,
tells the story Why shouldn't we get
big drink, and get it cheap? The boys
sell right and left and there's nothing to
pay. If fellow likes drink and likes
it often, he's foolif he doesn't wade
right in deep for prohibition. That's my
ticket cUery time. AS things are run
here Just now, that is the ticket that
gives us the biggest drink for the least
money And isn't that what we're here
for anyway? Prohibition in Benning-
ton means plenty of good beer, and what
more does man want in this life?
There are some folks though that are
mighty queer about this business. They
speak about beer and rum as if these
things were common enemies, and |
have actually heard them talk as if they
couldn't associate with beer seller. To
hear them on the streets or near the
church doors you would call them born
saints. never could see into it, for
when it gets darkiSh, in the edge of the
evening like, you know, these same peO-
pie slip in through the back way down
at--'s and then they make up for
all the dry talk of the day. | have no.
ticed that great many people never
drink beer by daylight l don't know
why, unless it is because it sours on
their stomachs. l wonder would you
let me call some of these daylight saints
by name next week. I'd like to do it to
help the saloon keepers. The example
of these men is needed to put the selling
of beer and rum on proper footing.
There is too much mOdesty in the rum
and beer business. Why not sell these
staples of life open and above board, the
same as crackers and cheese? Why, the
beer men don't even put out signs nor
advertise in the papers! Something
OugH to be done to let the boys have
some light. Nobody objects seriously
to this beer selling, except once in a
while when awhack at the "rummies"
serves to help along some other enter
prise or serves as a vehicle for some
thwarted schemers spite. If a man
wants to beat political friend he waits
until the critical moment comes and
then he points a. the saloons and
squirms like a big baby that needs pep
permint. What has the saloon keeper
done that he should be used for such
bad ends? Isn't the beer seller a bene-
factor? Doesn't he buy groceries, and
coal, and beer, and sometimes put
money on the church plate? OF course
young boys are sometimes shyly tempted
to drink in his place, and fathers pay
money over the bar that should feed and
clothe hungry children, and little wives
weep and suffer in the bitter humiliation
of knowing that dimes, needed for the
support of the home, are squandered for
accursed rum. but what of it? Isn't it
BUSINESS? What if the money needed to
buy medicine for the sick child was
spent for whiskey. and the baby died,
and had to be buried in cheap coffin,
did the preacher say anything about the
matter in his funeral sermon, or at
church the next Sunday? And if the
rumseller was wrong wouldn't the min
lister sag so? Rum selling must be all
right or the people wouldn't have it.
The preachers wouldn't put up with such
a thing if it was wrong. know preach
ers. The women of the place, too,
would rise up a. ainst rum selling if it
was wrong. Who. could stand against
them if they really said thing must go?
If the women of this town once thought
rum selling was wrong, it would have to
get out of the way like brushwood be.
fore an avalanche! Then too, don't we
have of1ic rs to stop wrong doing? My
eyes, but if selling rum was oUrOng, don't
you think these good men would know
it, sir? And don't you think they would
jump on it, and be glad of chance to do
their duty? Rum selling and rum guz.
cling are all right. The churches say SO
by not making any continued opposition
to either. The people say SO by afford
ing the business living patronage and
by accepting the fruits of it as readily as
if the money had no smell of blood about
it. The officers of the law declare it by
L.. 81. h.. l. r