Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-06-27

Juoo anu pIdCliCdi law, WHlCu, Will
united public opinion back of it, can be
observed, and which will reduce the
sale of liquors, and with the sale. the
long array of crime and suffering that
always follows their unrestricted sale,
to a minimum, instead of raising them,
as high license certainly will do, to a
maximum.
And this, to reduce the sale of liquors
to minimum, is all that we believe itsis
an object to attempt, because all that can
practically be accomplished, and prob
able is all that we have a right to
attempt, for the use of liquors is not
necessarily an evil. 1t Is the abuse of
liquor that makes the trouble, and there
fore it is this excessive use which
should be amendable to laws, which all,
except possibly few who want to make
money by its sale, will agree is proper
subject for regulation, and should be con-
trolled by legislation.
And this is the nature of the operation
of the law known as the Sweden and
Norway temperance law, which the
REGISTER has several times suggested as
in its opinion the best possible law
for restraining or regulating the sale of
liquor. 1t has been tried in several of
our southern apd western states and
found to work admirably. The writer of
this article had opportunity to watch its
operation in a winter spent in Columbia,
South Carolina, several years since.
At the state dspensaries, man, if sober,
could get what liquors he wanted, and
carry away, precisely as he would tea or
other articles of consumption, but he
could not drink them where bought; and
the greatest of all evils connected with
the sale of liquors, that of treating, and
by which many, especially boys or young
men, are brought into habits of intern
perance, is practically done away with.
The chief Justice of the supreme court Of
South Carolina, a gentleman of the most
exemplary character and abilities and who
told us that he and the lawyers generally
had opposed the enactment of the law,
but that since experiencing its operation
they had entirely changed their mind
and become its hearty supporters, as it
had proved IN every way most excel
lent law.
The REGISTER will endeavor at once to
bring before its readers, and so far as
able the people of the State, more ac-
curately the features and workings of
this law. The Outlook magazine had
quite full exposition of it several years
ago. commenting it. Ex-Governor Wood
bury told US that he had examined some
what into the matter, and thought it to
be an excellent law. Ex-Governor
Stewart has quite recently spoken IA
vorably of it both to the writer and
other citizens of Middlebury and vicin-
ity. And we have been in hopes that he
would draft such law, adapted to Yer
mont conditions, for none could do it
better.
The whole question of temperance
legislation is now relegated to the
people of Vermont in their different
towns, with the final decision to be
reached in the legislature, for it
is very evident that some radical
change in our temperance legislation
must and will be made at once. And
therefore it becomes a matter of unusual
Importance that the representatives
chosen this fall from the different
towns, should be candid, fair-minded
men especially fitted to decide upon
question of such great moment as
this in such a manner as will best con-
ducc to the permanent welfare, pros
perity and happiness of the people,
not forgetting that to them is entrusted
not only their own interests or wishes,
but also that of their wives and fami-
lies, the women and children of Vermont,
now and for many years to come.
"
The one and the only mistake at the
convention was in connection with the
local option and high license resolution
first introduced by Mr.. Clements lieu
fapapt chnuld hox-a baar blod