Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-09-26
Favors Local Option.
FEDERAL PoINT, FLA. Sept, l9. '95


Mr. EDIToR:-I notice quite otter
In your paper that there is at times
more or less trouble in your state oyel
: the surreptitious sale Of intoxicating
: liquor, and have thought that possibly
the several prohibitory states might
with profit learn lesson in regard to
the control Of the rum traffic from the
state of Florida. The law regulating
the sale OF liquor in this state is local
option. A person, in order to obtain
license TO sell liquor, get d petit
ton from a majority of the lega, voters
ofthe precinct in which his sales are to
be made, whereupon the county COM
missioner will issue to him license,
Tor which he must pay to the state
5000; to the county, $3.50; and to the
precinct or town, $3.50. Besides this
local tax, he has to pay the govern
ment tax, which brings the license so
that no one can afford to set up bust
ness in any but the largest cities. This
county (Putnam) has only one city
where liquor is sold. The high license
pays for the police force and, probably, |
Tor all the pauperism thabrum drink
ing may require or produce. No one
attempts to sell liquor on the sly, as
the profit would not pay for the risk.
The small towns and hamlets are en-
tirely free from the curse and the
whole traffic is made open and above
board so that it is easy to control. and
is more desirable in every way than
the strictly prohibitory laws that pro-
duce SO much discussion and trouble
III those states that have enacted them.
a few years ago your correspondent
visited New England. In New Hamp-
SHIRE, IN Its capital city, Concord, bar
rooms were doing a thriving open
business right on the main street, with
in stones throw OF the capitol bnild-
ing, In open violation of the law. In
Vermont, liquor was sold on the sly
IN every town in the state of any con-
siderable size. In Portland, Maine.
Iheir greatest complaint was from the !,
y effects OF the liquor traffic, while in
a liquor saloon could
,e found on almost every corner OF =
he streets OF her principal towns and u
lilies. According to the statutes OF y
hese several states this traffic paid !,
lothing to the state or cities where the ?
lquor was sold. The whole business ,
vas supposed TO be done sson the sly =
nd was beyond the knowledge or
ontrol Of the authorities. q
"A iawless act was winked at BY the :,
eople, thereby creating contempt y
law that was nearly as harmful as
ne nefarious traffic in intoxicating
rinks. With our high license and &C
'cai option these evils are avoided. II
true that the state Iegalizes the traf- m
and makes itself Indirectly a party 81
} i, but BY SO doing it keeps it with W
sight where it can be controlled and al
wlll venture the assertion that there NJ
no more evil from rum drinking in
lorida than there is in Maine. II is isl
'und to be very difficult matter to an
gislate what a man shall eat or drink. tn
here are thousands of people OF nc
ealth and intelligence, who use in
xicants to a moderate extent and wi
g effort to entirely prohibit the use n
an article that is so largely used bv de
the people of the earth, however tn
neiul Its immoderate use may be. is 70
practicable and useless. The wiser nc
urse is to keep the traffic III intoxi- Ht
MS IN sight, where it can be regu- pr
'ed and controlled but not prohib. 20
a. Prohibition does not prohibit, II.
simply creates law-breakers. Yer arc
mt will do well to take lesson ty.
IN FLORIDA. j. F. TENNEY.