The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-28
A CLASH OF OPINION.
Curious Donati IN to the Interests
of Controversy.
SUIT GROWING OUT OF TIE LIQUOR
QueStiOn-PhenO Increase OF
Game i'm Vermont WOodIands-An
Old Law 10 Re Tested.


MONTPELIER, VT, Oct 26-The fer
ment of problems often contributes as
vivid object lessons in the small state as
in the imperial commonwealth such as
New York or Illinois. No recent issue
aas SO startled public attention and i'm
Uttered the clash of opinion in New
York as the excise question. Vermont,
too, can furnish curious donation to
the interest of controversy, which in her
case involves the reputation and dignity
of its chief magistrate.
This state lives under ore of the most
strenuously drawn of possible sumptuary
laws. No man may sell or give away
spirits, wine, ale, beer or cider, nor is
he permitted to import the same into
the state. Violation of the law imposes
$500 fine for tho first offense, and for
the second a similar mulct, with so
days at polishing marble in the work
house. As public opinion has ebbed COM
pletely from underneath the law, it
goes without saying that it is defiantly
broken in all the villages and cities of
the state. It's main support is in tho
primitive rural region, where the abo-
riginal drunkard may linger in perennial
paradise at the cost of a few bushels of
otherwise worthless apples and jour
ney to the cider mill.
Without discussing the concurrent
conditions of the Vermont statute, which
invokes a serpent's trail of blackmail
ing alike sordid and cynical and habit
ual contempt for the law in its ccnse-
quences, let us 'tcoIne to Recuba" and
sketch u complication somewhat unique.
Some months ago prominent citizen
Of St. Johnsbury, also the proprietor Of
it's principal hotel, noted as man of
worth and public spirit, was condemned
to the workhouse for repeated infraction
of the liquor law. A monster petition,
signed by respectable persons of both
parties, was laid before Governor Wood
bury, impioring remission of sentence.
The Vermont Brutus took an austero
stand. The majesty Of the law would
be more splendidly indicated in tho
case of notable sufferer. So reasoned
this highest official at the bar of justice
The second act of the little comedy
opens with new character, the editor
Of one of the most prominent journals
of the state, who had always been tho
sturdy advocate of high license Mr
Woodbury., it seems, is the OVyner-pos-
sibly, indeed, interested III the manage
ment-of one, if not more, of the lead
ing caravansaries at Burlington. It had
been asserted that liquor was Gerved
here to the guests in their rooms. Mon
sieur the editor sent a reporter to test
tho matter bibuloHsly. The result was
whitening Philippe in the Rutland
Herald, which impaled the gu73erna-
torial victim alive Oh stake of his own
sharpening.
Third act now ON the boards: Il libel
suit has been entered by the governor
against the editor, and the latter, it is
asserted, is clapping his hands with
iendish joy over the fun he is going to
have. The governor defense against
the editorial charge is that if liquor
was sold in his hotel it was without his
knowledge or consent. The dangerous
and fallible character of such plea i
scarcely needs a chief justice to appre-
ciate. However the libel suit ends, it
will afford curious spectacle, the gov
eInor of a state practically On fri Il for
tho violation Of law in tho enforce
ment of which he has shown p0nlpou1
severity.
One Of the significant facts in the ex-
listing status of the Vermont woodlands
is the phenomenal increase Of its wild
game. In many places the deer herd
with the kline on the meadows, browse
in the cornields. even stray into tho
large cities i'll their reckless meander-
ings. Law forbids hunting them till
1900. The bear, the panther and the
lesser fauua have also increased greatly,
while the mountain farm Is gradually
but surely i'll process OF reclamation by
the remOrsoless woods. A novel devel-
opment promises along the whole chain
of the beautiful Green mountains, the
evolution OF hunting and fishing pre-
serves on an extensive scale through the
ownership of clubs or private individu-
ais.
Several Of these fascinating enterprises
are now operating with great success,
and the air is full of negotiations in
different parts Of these picturesque for
est wilds, which rise from $500 to
I, 800 feet in height, for the purchase of
lake and forest domain. Such clubs are
becoming the vogue throughout the
country, and the Vermont mountain re
glOn offers almost matChlCsS advantages
for the purpose. There are about eco
beautiful lakes surrounded by dense.
aboriginal forest lying along the very
tops Of the Green mountain range, the
cold clean waters of which constitute an
ideal home for trout and bass, while the
brooks already swarm with the first
named fish. Those who are alive to this
unique and interesting movement claim
that it contains Potentially of a larger
revenue to the state than that produced
now by all agricultural resources, ex-
elusive Of maple sugar, which must 30
classed with the interests of the woods
rather than with those Of the fields
The only drawback in the requirement
of desirable woodland properties for
game preservers is an old law inherited
from colonial times which prohibits the