Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-24
Judge Bond in EVIDENCE.
SEARsRURGH, Aug. 22nd, 1!

SEARsBURGH, Aug. 22nd, 1894.
Editor Bennington Banner: l was
somewhat surprised and greatly delight
ed to read in your recent issue the brave
and manly letter of Major Valentine.
Surprised, because had begun to think
that no man in Bennington dared to say
publicly that liquor selling was crime ;
and delighted, because man of Major
Valentines intelligence and influence
should be the first to speak. This ring
ing letter ought to be a tocsin of war
against all law breaking in Bennington
county, liquor selling included. 1t
ought to inaugurate war against crime
and corrupt officials that should not
cease until men and women could visit
Bennington on Jubilee days, without in
haling the fumes of whiskey on every
corner and running against men reeling
in drunkenness on every street, and gam
blers, bunco men and blacklegs in every
available place. 1t should continue un-
til Bennington county is purged of the
disgrace OF States Attorneys hung in
efigy, and of officials who encourage,
rather than punish crime, and'grow rich
by granting immunity to traffic that
causes more suffering and robs men,
women and children of more money than
all other crimes throughout the land.
have just finished reading the report of
the late mass meeting at Arlington, and
its objects are most commendable, and
sincerely hope that hereafter every horse
thief in the county will meet the fate of
Rufus Young, and get the full penalty of
the law. But Unjust confess that l am
at loss to know why the crime of horse
stealing should be so presistently hunted
down, while the crime of liquor selling,
which robs Bennington county of a
thousand times as much money and en-
tails untold suffering should enjoy i'm
munity.
If recollect rightly, FIVE cases of LID
uor selling have come before the county
court in the last two years. and in none
of the cases has q witness been sworn,
but the offender has pleaded guilty to
Just as many or as few offences as he de-
sired, and has virtually been tried by tho
States Attorney instead of the court.
In these cases the fines have varied
from SIS to $50 for each offence. In
four of these cases the respondent has
entirely ceased selling, as am informed,
while in the fifth the respondent has
been promoted to nomination of assist
ant judge. In my opinion, special pros
ecutor and States Attorney are not en-
tirely to blame, either in liquor selling
or other crimes. The penalties imposed
by courts are too light. IT Rufus Young
had been sentenced to one year it is
probable that some more horses would
have been stolen in the year 1896, but
with sentence of ten years the COM
munity can rest secure from him for a
series of years. And the rumseller will
quit business just as soon as his fines are
c,,oh hot he mill 20
A few fines of $50 or SIS for each offence
will act like magic in my opinion. Ma
jor Valentine hints slightly towards a
license law. hope do not understand
him rightly. If so | differ with him. l
have never yet known a Nation or
church to exist and prosper that licensed
crime. The Pr9torian Guards of Rome
sold the imperial purple to the man who
would give to them the most liberty in
crime, and soon only the beggars occu
pied her streets.
Charles XII. of Spain, licensed crime,
and to-day Spain holds her place as a
Nation only by the courtesy of European
governk ents. All criminal laws are
prohib laws, and there is
not Jingle reason that
can urged for license
-.liS n, that cannot be urged for the
q of any other crime, and not sim
Nbuse can be practised under prohi-
acHtion that cannot and will not be prac-
tised under license liquor law. do
not want to see the present law changed
unless it be to strengthen it.
When began TO vote 1 made vow
that l would never knowingly vote to Ii
Cense any crime and believe it is the
duty of every true temperance man to
fight it out on that line"
Major Valentine, and the late convention
at Arlington has set the ball rolling and
hope it will continue to roll until we
can have another convention and devise
means to enforce all criminal laws in
Bennington county. Yours in hope,
r.-.- GEO. j. BOND.