Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-11
A State Organization Formed at
Montpelier to Conduct Meth
Odical Work.
ITS PRIMO J ES DECLARED
The Saloon Per Gus in Its Character
ALI Oppose, the Open Saloon
Asked to ] {. in the w ork-Ex-
ecutive - mittee OF One
Memberfrom Each County.

AIontpclier Dec. 10.-About % members
of the ministry and a few prominent citi
zons of Vermont gathered at the Y. NJ c.
\. rooms in this city this afternoon to or
ganize campaign in support of the pres
ont liquor law Of Vermont and secure the
rejection of the high license bill at the
coming referendum. The Rev. Il. NJ
l'uller of Barre was chosen temporary
chairman and the Rev. +. A. Poole of
Barre temporary secretary. Plans of
work were discussed in an informal way
and the following declaration was framed
when an adjournment until evening was
taken:
We, citizens of Vermont, deeply inter-
eSted in all that pertains to the Sobriety
and prosperity of her inhabitants, hereby
associate ourselves in the endeavor to Sc
cure a popular vote against the nigh Ii
cense bill at the coming referendum and
declare our belief in the following state
mcnt of principles:
The evils Of intemperance to-day are
moro than question of religious faith or
personal morals; they menace the iuteg-
riy of the home, weaken the effectiveness
of the church, and attack the industrial,
commercial and civic life of our land. We
therefore regard it as possible. and reck-
ON it duty, for all who are interested in
ileir fellow men as individuals and as
sharers of our social order, to lay aside
all prejudice of religious or political par
1isauship; to ignore differences of con-
.
ana to meet on the common platform of
al. aroused and unseliish citizenship for
the defeat of the license law. lately pass
ed, at the referendum next February.
I've understand the modern liquor
saloon to he any place where private capi-
tai in the hope of large returns seeks to
carry on dram selling in connection with
Il social resort and for the conservation
of political power. Its only ondurable
feature is the satisfaction of "A craving for
met in other ways. A long and varied
perience with the saloon, in our own and
in other lands, has demonstrated the
truth of the following positions: The
saloon is pernicious in its essential char
acter and in its inevitable influence; it
causes the depreciation of surrounding
prup.r rty, Hithdraws money from lcEitim-
ate avenues of trade. increases drunken
ness and crime, and is the parent of pau
perism it fails to suppress Illegal sales or
bottle-drinkng; and by reason of its in
tr,nchment under legal protection it par
TALLY wells its Viciousness by a garb of
IrspeCtabilty, finds ample means of re-
sisling wholesome restrictions, dofes the
laws and debauches officials and defeats
all efforts to remedy the abuses dis
covered in its practical operations
Sin the license law enacted by the
present Legislature to go into effect at
such date as the people may determine,
We recognize the result of patient and con-
SclCntlONS ldDol on lle part Ol dDle men
who have done their utmost to aCComp-
lish the impossible task of legalizing the
saloon and at the same time protecting
the State from its raVages. We therefore
declare that this new law is a perilous
and needless remedy for whatever unWise
legislation has hitherto existed sure to
bring ills far greater than any we now
suffer- and giving no assurance of relief
from those which Ne now feel. We af-
firm that it is the duty OF the present hour
TO thoroughly organize all voters who
thus believe, and to ccaslesslY agitate
from now until Feb. next in every town
aud city of Vermont, in order to thor
oughly expose the essential error and
many unfortunate details of this license
law To this united work we invite all
believers in the prohibtory system,
whether in its present or in some modi-
ted form; all who desire to see the Nor
Wegian or dispensary system or any sim
liar alternative receive more careful
thought; and all who may discover in
the proposed law features which make its
rejection desirable. We utter an urgent
warning against experimenting with that
which, when once afforded legal protec-
tIon, is sure to find sufficient corrupt and
ooTupting agencies for maintaining it.
self, even against the desires OF a major
ity of our citizens In urging the defeat
of the submitted law we do not commit
ourselves to the unqualified approval of
every provision of the prohibitory law.
HOT contemplate lne luuelhllp continuance
OF present conditions. If we are defeated
at the polls, We pledge ourselves to con-
tinue our organization until its principles
triumph; and if victorious, we assert our
Willingness to undertake the initiative in
proposing such legislation as experience
a4d study may demonstrate to be best
adapted Tor promoting the interest Of true
temperance m Vermont
Inc ADJOURNED meeting was held this
evening III the senate chamber Represen-
tatlNe Dartt OF Springfield presided, The
d"'laraton or principles framed this af-
tornoon was read by the Rev. j. L. Sc
wall OF 81 Aloans, the secretary.
Representative Bailey of Newbury was
first called upon for an expression Of
opinion as 10 the declaration read. lie
considered them good, terse and to the
point for the expressed object in view,
but desired to be excused from expressing
any decided opinion on them until he had
opportunity to study them more carefully
At this point Chairman Dart was