St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-03-27
Local Option or Prohibition.


The recent formation in Rutland OF tn
Local Option League has been the caus
of much newspaper comment and W,
present below some Of the varied opin
ions of Vermont editors on the new
league and the consequent discussion Of
the temperance question:
II the present local option league will
confine itself to fair argument, based up
on facts, the friends OF temperance need
not be alarmed by it. If the prohibitory
policy of Vermont cannot sustain itself
in fair discussion, it ought to 60 down.
Burlington Free Press.
II the Local Option League discovers
any method Of inspiring courage in its
sympathizers, and bringing them out of
hiding it may astonish people. This is
our opinion is that it will prove insur-
mountable. The moral forces of the
state are so strongly arrayed on the
side of prohibition, so earnest and vigor-
Gus, that it requires more deepseated
conviction and active interest than most
believers in license can muster to face the
obloquy that still attaches to that
cause.-[ Randolph Herald and News.
Hands have been uplifted in holy hor-
ror and sanctmonious faces wrenched
expressionless, as if hit with ragged
edges from boiler explosion, over the
kno Wedge that Local Option League
has been orgonized. Why so? Have
not the believers in a license system as
good and as tenable right to organize as
the believers in prohibition or any other
system which seeks to control the liquor
traffic? Justly, it would seem so. Local
option means a privilege-priviege to
issue liquor licenses in towns desiring
license, and absolutely no traffic in rum
in those towns not desiring license-not
even liquor agency Burlington Clip
per.
The recent formation of the Vermont
Local Option league has naturally been
subject for editorial comment by about
every newspaper in the state and much
that has been said has been ANYTHING
but commendatory. There is really no
good reason why those who favor the
regulation of the liquor traffic by a
license law should not combine. If its
purpose, as has been stated, is to discuss
the liquor question in fair and candid
manner, much good may be accomplish
ed by this league. We venture the asser-
ton that any rational arguments that
the league is able to bring forward will
be candidly answered by those who be-
lieve that the present law is better So
luton of the problem for state like YER
mont at least. Indeed, the friends of the |
prohlbitory law in this state can ask for |
nothing better than the agitation of the |
law along honest and sincere lines. 1t is |
well to remember that so called narrow
ness and intolerance of opinion has in
the past existed as much, to say the
least, among the opponents as the sup
porters OF the prohibitory law North
field News.
1t has been understood for some time
that Percy w. Clement of Rutland will
be out cunning for the Republican nomi-
nation tor Governor next year. So it is
figured now that he has become presi-
dent OF the Local Option League, that he
Will make his fight on that issue, and ii
defeated IN convention, will run as a bolt,
ing cand1date, dependmgon a union with
Democrats tor success. Percy is a very
shrewd man and IT is safe to venture the
statement that the boiling proposition
IS not part OF his program, for its
adoption would at once be fatal to his |
ambition, so TAR as his party is concern I
ed, and the bare suspicion of it is likely |
to be. STILL it is to his credit as a man
OF pluck that he is willing to lead in the
local option agitation, even inside party
lines tor he cannot fail to know that il
will weight him heavily among the Re
publican politicians and that the safe
way for any man who wants to run for
party nominations is either to keep mum
on the subject or go with the politician
crowd. 1t would be healthy thing to
have gubernatorial fight made on this
issue, though a Governor counts but
little in the law making power Brat
tleboro Reformer.