Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-12-29
JUDGE L. n. THOMPSON
On the Enforcement OF Our state ProhibI
tory Law.

sunday evening, Nov. 10, 'gS, he address,
ed union meeting 10 the Baptist church,
Burlington. His words are as valuable
to us 10 Addison county as to the people
Of Burlington. These extracts are from
the Free Press report Of the meeting:
do not come here In any official capa-
city, but as a citizen of Vermont to dis
cuss the prohibitory law and whether or
not it can he enforced. The salient feat
ures of the existing law were briefly out
lined by the speaker, who said that the
law was not intended to BE prohibitory
law, for among other things it did not
prevent man from giving away liquor
In his own house, except to- an habitual
drunkard or to minors not of his own
family, and from the fact that an agency
under restrictions was allowed in every
town and city.
The law rs intended to shield and pro-
tect the slaves of the alcoholic appetite
and those who follow after them; to pro-
tect our children and our homes. No
man have ever met claims that it would
not be of benefit if carried out.
The law makes drunkenness a crime.
There was time when to get as drunk
as lord was privilege. just at this
point Judge Thompson cited numerous
interesting cases where drunkenness had
led to crimes, the facts being CLEANED
from his judicial experience.
Turning TO the enforcement of the
law, Judge Thompson contir ued "Can
the law be enforced? is pretty question
to be asked by the descendants of Ethan
Allen. What kind of a people are we?
The law is made by the people for the
people and TO be enforced by the people.
Why not enforce It? | do not believe
there will ever be time when there will
be no violations of this or of any other
law. do expect there will be a time
when the number of the offences will be
diminished. Except In the prohibtory
law, offences are diminishing. On the
east side of the state the liquor law Is as
well enforced as any other law, and |
believe them better enforced there than
here. know not why. fail to recall a
single case where a respectable man has
been given the sentence provided of a
fine OF 5000 and one years imprisonment,
that he has not stopped the business.
The law can be enforced in this city. In
nine out of Ten cases he pointing of the
legal gun brings down the game. The
law is rs easily enforced as any other
law.
You ask how it NAV he enforced. 1t
NAV he enforced by the decent, law
abiding citizens of the community, who
want things right. There must be honest
men in every department concerned in
the enforcement. and one dishonest Of
fetal may spoil the work of the others.
When the people of Vermont rise up and
demand that every public official shall be
an honest man and faithfully enforce
the laws or resign, then shall he secured
the class of men needed to enforce the
laws. The way is to prosecute the of
Tenders as fast as they can be found
They must be taken one by one. Search
and seizure are the most efficient ways
of enforcement of the law. The recen,
decision of the supreme court regarding
nuisances is one of the best weapons by
which the enforcement may be accom-
plished in certain cases. 1t provides fol
the Indictment of the owner of the hote
or place where liquor is sold, his ser
. wants and all connected with the place
A temporary Injunction may also bt
granted.
81 do not suppose you have IN this cit.
any respectable people who violate tn
law. The man behind the counter of
drug store who breaks the law is Just a
much criminal as the keeper of tn
lowest saloon in cellar. He Is also aid
IF f,f 70
- you have them. TO enforce the law al
must be treated alike. When law Is en-
II acted it is the duty of every citizen t
: abide by its provisions and see that other
do likewise. Some think that becaus
J. they do not favor law they are unde
no obligation to abide by It's provisions
Such man is traitor to good govern
ment Just as much as though he took u
: arms against his country. The principle
are anarchistic. 1t is this sort of tai
from decent people in Burlington an
" all over the state of Vermont whic
= braces up the lawbreakers. Anything
this life which is worth having is difficu
to attain and hard to keep. The strugg
:, for law and order is eternal. | do M
n see how a man may he minister of II
l. gospel. church member or good eli
s. zen without lending his aid in the el
r, forcement of the law and in the interes
:. of order. You in this city have startt
e. on good cause. The liquor law cann'
u be enforced by spasmodic attempts b'
e. only by steady and united effort. Whe
" done in this way you are as sure OF vi
m tory as daylight is sure to follow dar
If ness" Il. j. BARTON.
~ Salisbury, VT.
he
y Youths Companion Editor Dead
- BOSTON, Dec. 26.-Daniel Sha
~ Ford for moro than 40 years the propri