Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-04-09

Ut SlIOuSlJ anu heartily SuppOILcu II hS Ch-
forces it in earnest and in accordance with
the spirit in which the law is drawn, and
regardless of whom the enforcement hits.
What public sentiment will not support
him in is half hearted, spasmodic work,
hitting a head here and there, and then
dropping the fight. If the enforcement
hits high up in the social or business scale,
and if somebody of that sort gets job at
marble polishing at Rutland, so much the
better, if people of that kind persist in
violating the law. What the people don't
want is to see the little or low-down fell
lows hit while the big ones keep right on
with their business.
1t gives one 'that tired feeling" to hear the
old yarn rehearsed over and over again that
somebody is going to be frightened because
a hotel-keeper threatens to close his house
if the law is enforced. Level-headed and
fair-minded men hereabout came to the
conclusion a good while ago that hotel
keepers are not privileged class in this
respect. If they have a right to set up
"speak-easy" for what money there is in
it, so has the grocer, the butcher, the bar
Der, and the tinman.
1t is not alone the so-called Temperance
people" who take this view of the case.
There are plenty of men who believe a
high license law to be better than a pro-
hibitory law, who would like to see our
present law enforced on this righteous a nd
equal basis for a year or two. 1t was Gen.
Grant who said while president, that the
way to secure the repeal of bad law is to
enforce it.
Let Mr.. Robb keep the courage of his
determination, and an unyielding stiffness
in his backbone. Let him have no fear
about the support of public sentiment if he
makes it appear that he is absolutely fear
less and in earnest about enforcing the
law. After years enforcement of this
kind we shall begin to find out whether it
is good law, and if we want to keep it as
it is, or whether there is too much Of it,
as so many people think when it is only
halfway enforced, or not enforced at all.
There are several indications that the
supreme court judges 'mean business" in
their determination to see that the prohib-
itory law is not allowed to become a dead
letter. In Franklin county Judge Thomp-
son has refused to give the states attorn ey,
Isaac \. Chase, certificate which will
enable him to draw his salary for the last
six months. The ground of the refusal is
~. I, ., x,f
his Office faithfully and well as the law re-
| quires. The point of the complaint against
Mr.. Chase appears to be that he has not
enforced the prohibitory law in good faith {:
or, in other words, that he has prosecuted
clerks and "tine takers but has not pro-
ceeded against the owners or proprietors
of the places where liquors are sold.
Early in the week hearing was held
before Judge Thompson at st. Albans in
Mr.. Chase's case. He was sharply ques-
toned by the judge, and weakly answered
that he had been very busy" when ask
ed why he had not proceeded against noto-
rious places in ST. Adams under the nui-
sance act. One of the strongest pieces of
evidence against Mr. Chase was given by
| Oln Merrill, in letter to the judge. Mr..
| Merrill is neither an extremist nor a lunatic
on the temperance question, but he puts
the pith of the whole matter into this para
graph in his letter
| There can be no question but what the fran.
| ers Of the prohibitory law intended to stop the
| sale of liquor far as possible but Mr., Chase s
method of prosecuting vioators of the law merely
establishes license which might aptly be termed
| "bunco license" because the offenders realize
from the beginning that all that is necessary is 10
| pay up periodically, the assessment made by the
| states attorney. l claim that Mr.. Chase has vo-
| lated his oath Of office in not executing the law
| according to its intent Any one conversant with
| the workings Of this law knows that the states
attorney has il in his power TO shut up every sa-
| loon in Franklin county. All he has to do is 70
give one first offence and il the offender has
| tain knowledge that the second will be given him,
that will end the business. With some insignif
cant exceptions l know OF no one who has been
violated continuously during his administration
in every town in the county of Franklin. His
periodical visits far results show, have been
merely for collecting revenue, and not for enforc
| ing the law. For these reasons certainly cannot
endorse his claim for payment of salaryin question
The time tas come when an official OF the state
sworn TO do his duty, who notoriously neglects to
perform that duty, should be dealt with in a man
ner that will subserve the best interests of law
and order"
This is as healthy and bracing as a
breeze from Vermont hilltop.