Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-22

The movement of public sentiment appears
to us to be rather in the opposite direc-
ton. BE that as it may this paper has not
changed its position on this subject. 1t
has supporte ed the law which restricts the
sale of intoxicants to single authorized
place in each town. where liquors can be
obtained for certain specified purposes,
medicinal, chemical or mechanical, as
good law for a community like Vermont.
We have never maintained that 1t was
perfect statute as 1t stands upon the stat
ute book, or that 1t was necessarily
adapted, or adaptable to all communities.
Having watched the operations OF the law
in Vermont from its first enactment until
now, and having observed the operation of
license laws in many other states and
other countries. we uphold the existing law
as more effective, more easily enforced in
community like ours, and better in most
respects than any license law of which we
have any knowledge. But we are tied to
no pet theory on the subject aside from
its actual practical value. We look at re-
suits rather than means-and II any one
will show us a system which will more ef-
fectively rcpress the enormous evils result
ing from the free traffic In intoxicating
liquors, in community such as this of
Vermont, we say, as We have often said
before, that we shall be glad to welcome it.
We do not now know of any such system.
Evidently the majority of the people Of
Vermont do not know of any such system;
and this being the case they have refused
in the past. and till some new ight appears
on the subject, will refuse in the futtir',
to change our existing system of repression
of the liquor traffic for that in vogue in
any other State or country.
The Herald chose to consider our brief
remark to be equivalent to statement
that tho FREE PRESS was in favor of
local option where the majority was in
favor Of prohibition, but not in favor Of
1t where the majority was in favor of
license Our words viii! not hear such a
paraphrasc. For the benefit of our Rut-
land neighbor who really is not as ohtus-
as Re would make himself out to be. we
amplfy our remark. Where the evil re-
suits of the liquor traffic under general
license system have become intolerable
and. as for instance in the State of
Georgia a law is passed which permit
any county to Danish the saloons and
rurhoes. with such results of improve.
ment in the good order. health business
and morals of the people in the dry
counties that other wet" counties follow
their example till a majority Of the coun
ties have banished the saloons, and ;
strong movement is inaugurated to maxi
all the counties dry" a State prohih
tory law so-called, we welcome and com
mend the process of local option undc
which these results have become possible
on tho other hand where. as in Vernon
a law is in force which drives the rum
holes underground. puts the traffic out
/, side Of the authorized agencies under tn
. ban of illegalty. removes temptation from
, the drunkard. enables the officers of tn
law to close any liquor nuisance, and bid
owners beware how they let their prop
erty for the illegal traffic-where further
more it happens that league is ORGANIZED
: with the high approval if not pecuniar
aid of the liquor dealers outside of tn
State) whose object is to secure Legislation
which shall make it possible for saloons I
be opened and drinking places and liquo
stores, Wholesale and retail established o
the principal streets of our cities, undo
license system which stimulates the I
quor dealer to sell all the liquor he posi-
= bly, can. with the inevitable consequence
of a vast increase in the flow of liquor
and increase OF drunkenness, misery i
families, pauperism and crime-where i
- short local option would be "A step down
wards instead of step upward, thi
, paper does not applaud local option. Thi
has been and is the position of the FREE
=. PRESS on this subject; and no one nee
misunderstood it.