Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-22
THE PROHIBlTORY LAW.
Views of cx-Gov. U. A. Woodbury. in Re-
lation to the Subject.

The merit of the prohibitory law Is en-
gaging the attention of the citizens of
Vermont this year much more than usual.
In discussing the question for a represen-
tative of the Free Press ex-Gov. u. A.
Woodbury. said:
"The prohibitory law is being attacked
with renewed vigor although its perpet-
uity is not seriously threatened At this
time It must be admitted by all fair mind
ed men that the reasons for these attacks
are more justiiiable than at any time in
the last decade.
ut is useless for the friends of temper
ance and law and order to minimize the
dissatisfaction that exists, but 1t is their
duty to squarely face the situation and
endeavor to find remedies for the evils
that cause It. 1t is not Just to accuse all
who oppose the present law with being
enemies Of temperance, because there are
many good men who believe that some
other law, especially in the larger towns,
would be more effective in restricting the
use of liquor.
THEY have become so disgusted with
the burlesque of enforcing the law in the
larger places that they are ready for any
law which they think can be enforced and
under which not much more liquor would
be sold legally than is now sold Illegally.
! If | could believe that the result would
be as they predict | should join their
ranks.
There has not been time in the last
] ten years when the law has been more
openly and nagrantly violated than 1t Is
to-day In Burlington. The city Agency
sells liquor with as much freedom as Il
South Carolina dispensary.
| ANY day may be found there the law
abiding citizen who will not buy of 9TH
er than the legal agent and by his side
the "Od Bum who cannot buy liquor at
a drug store or saloon. Both are cheer
fully served
Making charitable allowances for diff
fercnccs of opinion of men and consider
ing their environment it is not strange
that some of the papers in the state
should favor Il change in the law.
THE idea of saloon Is abhorrent to
me- and / do not believe as they do, but
l am willing to concede that they are
honest in their Views. | believe that IL
the voters of this city could be polied to-
day they would vote against having a
saloon here. If they thought such action
would prevent dram drinking, but it is
very probable that they would vote to re-
peal the present law and try some other,
for the reasons above stated.
''1t IL not eXtraVaCant to say that three
fourths Of the public sentiment which ex-
lists in this state against the present law
is caused by its non-enforCement and not
because the people want free rum This
sentiment has been created largely by the
inclIlcicncy and the Indifference or worse
of the officers whose duty II is 10 ENFORCE
the law. and until some means can ho
devised II overcome this deplorable con
diticn the law will continually grow r
disfHvor. and justly SO too.
THE law Is already severe enough, II
not too severe. upon its transgrcssors
and [ hope that our Legislators will moi
make the mistake of endcavoring tc
siren Sthen it by by adding more or Sc
vcrc- penalties.
"ln regard to the referendum as pro
rosed | believe that the law, which has
: been in our statutes for nearly half {
century and which, with all its faults, has
; done great good. would be sustained, bu
sucl u result would not do much good al
: States attorneys and other officers woul'
not be converted to righteous ways b!
that means.
"rhe only way to destroy the sentimen
, which exists against the present law am
IN favor of license law is to discreet!
) and impartlally enforce it,
, IF :his cannot be done then think tha
! some other law. but not n saloon law
; would be preferable in the larger towns.