Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-26

ity of the substance Of this resolution, but
various considerations combined to render
this declaration preferable to a request
that the Legislature give the people an OPP
portunity to vote for or against prohibition
simply. as was advocated by some.
If the coming Legislature complies with
the petition embodied in this plank Of the
State republican platform, it will formu-
late a law embodying tho features Of license
and local option, which will take effect IL
the citizens of the State so elect by a ma
jority vote. The people will then have be-
fore them two measures dealing with the
problem SO that the two can be carefully
compared, which would not be the case
were the Legislature to ask the people to
vote simply for or against the present law,
for in the latter case they would be merely
rejecting prohibition without knowing
what they we're to secure in It's place. If
the plank adopted Thursday is carried out,
the people will know just what to expect in
tho event of a change from prohibition TO
license, for the new measure complete and
explicit, will be under consideration, sub
ject to criticism and rejection.
1t can be seen therefore that the plank
of license and local option, but is simply
q petition that the people be given an OPP
portunity by tho Legislature to choose be-
tween two systems of dealing with the
traffic in intoxicating liquors; between the
prohibitorv law and a license and local
option law. Ours Is a government of ma
jorities and If majority of our people
prefer either system to the other. the ma
jority are entitled to compliance with their
wishes in the matter. A new law will have
to satisfy Il majority of the members Of
the legislature and then a ma jority OF the
people, else it will fail and prohibition will
continue in force. 1t remains to be SEEN
therefore, whether the advocates Of H.
cense elected to the legislature can for
muate license law that will thus com
mend itself.
The declaration in favor of caucus law
was made in response to a demand which
has existed for number of years bu,
which has grown more insistent during the
present campaign for the governorship
Democrats have invaded republican eau.
cuses to an unusual degree, so that with
their aid minorities have been able to die.
tate to a majority of the republican voters
in not few instances. Many States have
laws dealing with political primaries, and
their results have been so satisfactory as
to justify the hope that the enactment OF
similar legislation by our lawmakers may
abate some of the evils attending the hold
ing of caucuses under existing conditions
The planks dealing with national legs
lation breathe spirit of fealty to repub
lican traditions and also express ,he
loyalty of Vermont republicans to the ad
ministration Of President Roosevelt. There
is no uncertainty about the declara ton.
dealing with the subject of the Philippines
the Cuban republic. and reciprocity rh;
republicans of Vermont are fully abreas
Of the times, yet true to the foundation
principles of the Republican party; anc
they hope in the future as in the past t.
point with pride to its glorious achieve
ments as well as to its true principles ant
l -.