Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-28
Another Letter from Nal. VaIen-
tine.


BENNINGTON, VT, August 28th, 1894.
There is nothing to withdraw from, or
add to, my open letter of two weeks
since. Its object as appears on its face,
was,
First To call attention to the condi-
ton of things in our town, hoping to
arouse public sentiment which would
in some way, at least, check the abuses
mentioned, and stop gambling in our
scenes on fireman's muster day.
Second. To point moral applicable to
all of our large towns in the direction of
enforcing the prohihitory law in form
and spirit, or its modification or repeal,
believing that high license, or even free
rum under law, better than free rum in
spite of law. 1 generalized as much as
the subject would admit, not attempting
or wishing in the article to prove any
one person criminally guilty.
1t may not be amlss, however, to sup
plement it by showing what may be, and
is done without violation of the letter of
the law, and so at the risk of repeating
an old story, which every one knows, l
will illustrate the workings of the pres
ent law from the most favorable stand
point. We hear of the quilting" of
some proprietor of a hotel or GROCERY,
and good smart sum paid by the Of
fender, and we all rejoice. But does the
offender go out of business? Not bit
of it! On the contrary, he goes on as if
nothing had happened until pulled"
again. This time the unsophisticated
rejoice that the party is going to be
prosecuted for second offence, and that
he will have a chance to mediate on the
EVIL of his ways in confinement. But,
10! papers are served on his bartender,
or some other person who comes forward
and confesses to such offenses as the Of
fcer and he agree upon. The money is
paid and the seller goes merrily on Gd in
fnitum. Imprisonment,o or fines in proper
ton to the offenses, would stop sales, but
if sales are stopped what becomes of the
income? Is this the purpose of the law?
1t reads prohibition not license, under
any name, and the worst of it is, that
this license, what is not used in expen.
ses, goes to the prosecutor rather than
to the State.
OF the thousands of dollars paid by
sellers in this town, to all intents and
purposes for the privilege of selling,
hardly enough is received by the State
to pay the expenses of prosecutions. /
am not sure but that l would rather the
seller should have all the profits, and pay
nothing, than to be assessed as now,
prosecutors receiving the surplus. But
can we expect officers to resist the temp.
tation to thus make money? We must
remember that this, of which we now
speak, is under the law. Should such
law be repealed or improved, or should
we go on forever calling ourselves pro
hibition State, prohibition which does
not prohibit in towns where enough rum
can be sold to make it pay? AS 1 said
this is representation of the best side
of the law, the other side, collision
false swearing, protection, ETC., having
already received attention.
l have read with much interest the
communications of Judge Geo. j. Bond
Hon. A. P. Childs and others.
No doubt these articles apply to other
towns in the State with equal force as tC
our own, and perhaps the interest now
manifested will lead to enactments re
lating to liquor selling that will be en-
forced. If my previous article has il
any way aided in arousiDg the healthy
feeling, at present manifested in this
community, its object is fully accomp
lished.
1 am glad to say that believe the day.
of open and defiant disregard of Oul
criminal laws Qiquor selling and gam
bling), are about numbered in Benning
ton. The outlook is encouraging. There
is no installing the overwh Ginning senti
ment in favor of law and order.
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