Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-15
The Prohibitory Law Is u Referen-
dunn Advisable?

The Prohibitory Law Is Referen-
dunn Advisable?
Most civilized nations admit that the
liquor traffic as the, most potent source
of pauperism, misery and crime, must be
restricted. They have also discovered that
to devise effective methods of controlling
traffic In which the profits are so great.
and which ministers to an appetite as con-
Stunning as that for strong drink, is no
easy matter. No liquor law has yet been
devised which works perfectly under all
circumstances, and in all communities
alike. The problem everywhere is how to
secure the best system for the purpose
best adapted to the particular community
which is Immediately concerned
This journal has never claimed that the
prohibltory system was the sole and final
solution of the problem, for all commun
ties. In some States the conditions and
character of the population are such that
a prohibitory law must be practically and
to be wise to multiply dead letters on the
statute books. Vermont, with generally
we'll ordered rural population, and with
no large centres of population, was per-
haps as favorable n field for the trial of
the prohibitory system as could be found;
and in few, If any, communities has it had
n rairer trial. When adopted, some forty
five years ago, the results in the lessen
ing of intoxcation and decrease In pau
perism and crime were so marked that
opposition to it ceased except on the part
of inveterate topers and of the liquor
dealers whose business was heavily cur
tailed by 1t. Though in time these results
became less evident the law has held its
place, and has been from time to time
STRENGTHENED in its provisions, because the
majority of the people believed 1t to be
on the whole more effective means to
the accomplishment of It's worthy purpose,
than any license system OF which they
had any knowledge. In so far as 1t has
tended to lessen moral effort for the re-
preston of intemperance- the tendency
being to make the law take the place of
moral suaslon. and to omit the latter
harm has been mingled with the good
effected by the statute. But in spite of
this 1t has done n good work and accom-
plished much towards making our State
the well ordered and on the whole temper
ate community that 1t is. The law has
enabled each town and village to do what
| it chose with the saloons. Where the
people wished them banished they have
had to go. In towns where public sentl-
ment was less pronounced the law has
been a weapon for the suppression of rum
! L. H.
which drunken men were seen staggering
The personal liability and nuisance claus
cs have. made the saloon keepers some
what careful how they sold to minors
and drunkards. Everywhere the tralh,
has been driven behind closed doors. Nc
signs of liquors for sale, or arrays oil
,whiskey bottles In the windows. have
tempted the man who was endeavorinG
to control his appetite. The person who
wanted liquor has had to go In search OF
1t. 1t has not been offered TO him un.
sought
Moreover, when told that it was n fool
ish law, the Vermonters have looked out.
side their State to see how license laws
were working elsewhere. They have notet
ance in States and cities having license
laws, than in Vermont They have seer
that high license laws are elsewhere as eX
Itensively violated as the prohibltory Law
Is here. They have, In cities where thu
granting of licenses depended on thu
board of aldermen, seen such boards con
stituted, as In Chicago. almost wholly o
| liunlr "A
J sets, licenses have been allotted b,
boards of special license commissioners
they have seen local politics run upon tn
rum issue, and boards composed OF mel
who sought the office of commissions
for the money there was in 1t. who CAV
out licenses to the greatest number ant
: to the dealers who would put up the mos
money to go into the pockets of the com
missoners-the dealers recouping them
selves by indiscriminate sales to minor
and drunkards on Sundays and weel
days, and of the cheapest, poorest, an
, most maddenlng liquors. They have see
places such as some of the Canadian ci,
les, where the license system has been un
: der as fair control as was deemed possible
so suffering from pauperism and Grim
fostered by the saloons, that strong move
. ments in favor of prohibition have arise
, In them. Influenced by such practice
: cons .derations, as well as to a large eX
tent by principle. the people OF Vernon
4. have sustained the law. no attempt
repeal or weaken It having come With
, Mauser rife shot of succeeding.
r 1t cannot be denied, however. that clam
, or against the law has increased of lat
, due In part to democratic schemes to d