Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-06-27
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES
HISTORY OF PROHIBITION.

HISTORY OF PROHIBITION.
1t was 80 years ago that Vermont,
following the example of Maine, enacted
a prohibitory law. That was time of
extreme reaction from the loose habits
of liquor using long prevailing. Drink
ing had been common among all classes
of people in New England, as elsewhere.
No family of any means was without a
supply of spirits-rum, gin and handy. |
Rum was served to the workman in the |
field, 1t was plentiful at all social func-
tons, no matter how genteel. The
clergy drank about as freely as the laity.
There was rum at church assemblages
as well as at barn-raisings. The |
traveller or the visitor was sighted when
not rendered warming glass. And
then this free and demoralizing use of
| intoxicants eliminated. Reaction came
and wave of temperance sentiment
swept over the country. 1t at first
found expression In the organization of
societies and movements for voluntary
abstinence of the "teetotal' kind, the
rum seller being regarded as a product
or effect of social conditions and not a
cause. BY 1850 the movement had en-
tered upon the compulsory stage which
aimed especially at the manufacture and
sale of liquor. The Maine law was en-
| dclpu III 1901 anu ' tl HUH lOllONtu
in 1852. Nowhere, not even in
Maine. was prohibition made more eflec-
tive than in Vermont. The state was
without any large towns, the drift of
population was against it, and in non
growing rural section the policy natur-
allv found its most favorable field for
enforcement. But even here it has long
been recognized about as much a pre-
tension as reality. 1t began by con-
ceding to alcoholic spirits medicinal
virtues which admitted of their sale
through public agencies, and where this
was the case the Illicit use and sale of
ntoXicants were to be expected. Given
a demand for liquor and the supply was
sure to be forthcoming. Legal prohibit
ton sought to strike at the supply with
out touching the matter of demand, ex-
pecting that the demand would disappear
after long and close restriction upon
supply. But this expectation has not
been fulfilled. The situation has not i'm
proved as the years have passed Illicit
selling has more and more abounded,
, particularly in the cities and larger
, towns. Not long ago governor of the
state figured more or less indirectly as a
defendant in a case of prosecution for
illegal liquor selling. Thus while pro-
hibition operated doubtless to restrict
l the trafllc, 1t rendered the same more
; demoralizing; and no feature of the
recent canvass for control of the state
| convention has been more prominent
2 than the free use of intoxicants at the
caucuses. So when Percival w. Glenn
ent of Rutland believed that public
>, sentiment had become about ripe for a
reconsideration of this policy, and set
l out to put the matter to test, the event
G proves that he reckoned accurately. He
made such further demonstration of
strength as to wiring from Republican
convention, where prohibition has always
heretofore lived in entire security, plank
, practically instructing the next Republic
+ can legislature to refer TO popular vote
e the question of substituting high
y license and local option law for the
d present policy. How the people of Yer
G mont will vote on that question remains
u to be seen. But it is of no small signifi
!. canoe that a decision has been reached &c
=, refer the subject to them. The nOmina
n ton for governor passes out of the line
q of clique dynasty which has long con
II trolled it., Gen. John G.. McCul
Tough is man of unObjectionabl
j character, who will doubtless bring tC
public office in Vermont high degree o.
public spirit and singleness of purpose
for the good of the state.-SpringiielC
Republican.