Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-09-03
GOING INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH
LIQUOR SELLERS.

The time is at hand when the men
will be elected to our state legisla-
ture who are to make, repeal or
change the laws by which we are to
be governed; and it will depend on
the good sense and Judgment Of these
men in relation to the changes that
will be made. How necessary then
that the best men we have-men who
will be quick to understand the ma
ture of proposed legislation, to reject
that which will not be for the benefit
of the people and to retain that which
will-be elected to these important
positions.
1t would certainly seem that there
are enough of such men in every
town and it will be for the interest
and welfare of the people that they be
selected as their representatives. 1t
appears evident THAT there is con-
siderable feeling existing in relation
to our temperance laws and there are
those who are very anxious for their
repeal and the substitution of high
license or local option. Perhaps some
attempt will be made to secure such
change at the coming session.
Now I am not going to admit or be-
Iieve that any such move will be sue
cessful but it is well enough to keep
in mind the old maxim that, "Fore
warned is forearmed, and SO be ready
for emergencies. I do not yet be-
lieve that the enlightened people of
Vermont are ready or willingi ito go in
partnership with liquor sellers. Does
this appear to be strange SUPPOSE
ton, that anything of this kind could
be inferred from the enacting of a
high license law?
Let us look into the matter a little.
Supposing we had such a law, what
would be it's import? A town sells to
a man the right, or gives him license
for consideration, to sell intoxicat-
ing liquors. On his part, he pays for
the right and the town accepts of the
payment in return and guarantees to
him the right land liberty to sell. Is
not this legal transaction in accord
ance with law to which both are
parties? So it would seem. And
more, is not the town under obliga-
tions to protect the seller in his bust
ness? Then if this is so-and if it is
not will not some one set me right
does it not become the people of a
commonwealth like Vermont to look
carefully before any such change is
made and place themselves in a posi-
ton from which it might be difficult
to become extricated, be the need and
desire ever SO great?
Repeating the prohibitory law and
substituting high license, although
it might be considered a desirable
move by some, yet to the sober, far
seeing majority should meet with no
favor, but instead be destined to the
verdict, "Thus far shalt thou come
and no farther.'' Some may bring up
as an argument for high license that
the money thus obtained would go
quite way toward reducing town or
expenses and SO would be
SO much saved. Is it not fact that
rum drinking, where it is practiced,
leads to long line of immoral and
criminal acts, necessitating the en-
ployment of labor and money in their
prosecution and reformatories for the
care and safe keeping of transgres-
sors? Where, then, will come the
saving?
No! Rather let us guard our towns
and state from the liability of having
more drunkenness and the results
that follow, by seeing to it that no
man, pay he ever SO high license,
have the liberty and right to sell in !
boxicating liquors to his fellowmen.-