Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-04-28

During the nearly two years of use,
what has this system shown, what sue
cess has this met, and how is it liked by
the people?
First, while it was not intended as
money-making scheme, the profits have
been largely more than was formerly re-
ceived as licenses from the saloons. This
profit is turned into the public fund, and
is a source of benefit even to those who
have paid it.
Second, 1t has elimine ted the grog-shop
and the grogshop influences from poll
tics. 1t is only necessary to mention this
to call to the mind of every thoughtful
reader the baneful influence of the saloon
in politics. Wherever there are saloons,
they become, if not the headquarters of
political demagogues, the principal
means by which they carry out their
plans; and usually, when the aggregated
saloon interests are lined up in the active
support of any man or measure, then,
generally speaking, it is well for self
respecting voters to be on their guard
against them. The dspensary system
efiectually removes this evil.
Third, and the most important of ali,
this system very much decreases the
quantity of liquor sold. This is accom-
plished in many ways. The fact that no
liquor is allowed to be drunk on the
premises, that no sales can be made at
night, and that no credit is given, all
have their bearing on this.
1t removes the social part of drinking,
np tt,itI as
habit. When four or five persons get
together in saloon and mutually
treat" it is more than probable that
some one or more of them will be in
toxicated before" the round is made, and
then there is perhaps Job for police
man. But under the dispensary system
this is largely avoided, because if the
parties want liquor they buy it, go to
their rooms, and the vicious creating"
system being eliminated, it is not so prob
able that drunkenness will ensue. The
police records in the little town mention
ed show that only about sixty per cent.
of arrests have been made for the cause
Of drunkenness during these two years
as compared with the number made in
the same length of time before the pre-
sent system was inaugurated. Ordinarl-
ly saloon is a lounging-place, where
crowd of people congregate (and the
saloon is made as attractive as possible
to this end) but it has been found that
there Is no trouble of this kind near the
building in which the dispensary is con-
Quoted generally called The Dispen-
sary), and there is scarcely ever any
need of policeman in that vicinity, be
cause the crowd does not stop-those
who wish to buy do so and pass on.
The people generally uphold and in
dorse the system, and would seriously
object to any retrograde movements; but
they would gladly have incorporated into
the law any and all ideas or plans
looking to the further improvement
of it as it now is. 1t has helped the
community morally and financially, and
until absolute prohibition shall come,
this system, or some improvement of it,
is likely to be more and more largely
adopted as its merits are more generally
known and appreciated.
1t is certainly step far in advance of
the saloon methods, and seems to be the
most satisfactory settlement of the liquor
question yet devised. -Communication in
Outlook.