News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-11-28

town, Field of Springfield, Hale of
Lunenburg, and Whittemore of Eden.
Mr.. Fleetwood said the referendum
of SO was not the referendum that is
proposed here, as the old one only
related to when the law passed
should go into effect. He believed
the referendum proposed was uncon-
stitutional.
Mr.. Whittemore said that he was
elected as a prohibition Democrat
from aRepublican town and his views
were well known. No good comes
from drinking or legalizing the sale
of liquor. Local option means dou-
bic arrests.
Mr.. Hale of Lunenburg dwelt on
the Importance of the question. We
are here for the State and it is our
duty under the constitution, to
frame laws. He deprecated follow
ing blindly public sentiment. Why
cannot the large towns enforce the
law? He could name twenty men
in Rutland or Burlington or ST. AL
bans who, in six months time could
create a sentiment that would mean
straight enforcement. The news
papers could help greatly. No law
is perfectly enforced. The law has a
restraining influence. The women
have fully as much interest in this
subject as the men, but cannot vote.
Not a woman's name can be found
on a license petition. That, by i'm
plication, condemns it morally.
Throw the idea of revenue to be de-
rived to the winds. This is a ques-
ton of deeper moment. Go to other
states and study results. In every
instance almost, arrests have been
doubled in years that Massachusetts
towns have voted license. We should
maintain the high character of YER
mont and the Vermont home.
Mr.. White of Rutland said the
House should take such summary
action as to dismiss the bill without
a hearing or to head off the amend
ments calculated to improve the bill.
He scored the gentleman from Hall
fax for, by implication, accusing of
lying all those who differ from him.
Turning to the bill he said it came
from the people. If this body defeats
it, it must take the consequences.
He belived in the theory of prohibi-
ton, but considered the present law
impracticable in operation. What
has been the influence Of this law on
other questions and other law? He
thought it had not been satisfactory.
If a man is going to drink and wants
to drink, he can find it to drink. He
thought that there would be as much
liquor drank under one law as an
other. The present law is a burles-
que, the butt ofredicule whenever tits
mentioned, as much among friends
of the law as among opponents.
This influence of contempt for this
extends to other laws. Anvvne who
has attended prosecutions for liquor
selling will notice the difference be-
tween such cases and those of other
offences. Assuming that the people
want the law, well and good, let
them sustain it under the referendum
of this bill. If they do sustain it in
this way, it will strengthen the law.
1t will quiet agitation. The speaker
referred to the operation of prohibi-
ton in Rutland where the system
was not a success. Prohibition does
work well in many smaller towns
where sentiment supports the law
but representatives from such towns
should seek the greatest good to the
greaest number. What objection to
allowing the people to decide this
question:?
Mr.. Field of Springfield said that
a man in his town who drank asked
him to safeguard his son. The ref
erendum would not be a fair method;
wives and mothers could not vote.
Not a petition has been signed by a
woman.
Mr.. Taplin of Barton referred to
communication of Doherty and asked
why not refer that to the people?
We are representatives of the people
and qualified to decide this question.
He admitted the growth ofthe license
feeling but urged a united opposition
to it. There is no trouble with pro-
hibition if those who say it can't he
enforced would try to enforceit. He
defended the part taken by the wo-
men in this question. They have a
right to defend their homes and child
rem. Give them the right to vote
and we would not fear the rum
power. He wanted no part of the
revenue to the State to be derived
from the sale of rum. Some minis
tiers have signed license petitious but
not many. He scored Burlington
and Gov Woodbury. for the liquor
sentiment in that city. Vote for the