Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-30
WHAT OUR NEIGHBOURS SAY.
Interesting and Valuable Suggestions
In Re alton to Temperance LIE & islation.
(iTrom the Landmark

There is need of careful elaboration in
framing a local option law that will be
acceptable to n majority of Vermonters.
There have been four or five bills intro
duced into the Legislature. not one of
which ms a whole would be- in our option,
satisfactory to the people. There Is no
popular demand for saloons. In fact pub
lie opinion is against their Introduction.
The granting Of licenses to hotels and
restaurants, In which the selling of malt
and spirituous liquors Is a secondary con-
sidcration and not the main business,
would answer every purpose. There are
many objectionable features in the pres
ent prohlbitory law and the manner in
which 1t was enforced in many instances
and the opportunities It gave for
gratis" led to an uprising against It. 1t
is not free rum that Is wanted In Yer
mont. The call Is rather for a fair. equit-
able law that will grant to towns desr-
ing license system. stringent in it's
operations the right to adopt II for a
specified time. Each year the voters
should pass upon license or on license.
Whatever defects may be seen in practi-
cal operation OF such a law can after
wards be remedied. But we are great
ly mistaken If any law legalizing saloons
will ever be adopted by the freemen of
Vermont
ANTI-sALOON LEAGUES ATTITUDE.
Qrom the Barre Times.)
The Vermont Anti-Saloon League mas
been almost forgotten in the discussion of
liquor legislation before the Legislature
and the position OF the league is indc-
terminate 1t Is certain, however that
the league has not lost sight of the liquor
legislation as George W. Morrow, its SUI
perintendent, was in Montpelier last week
and was an interested listener in the
House. He was evidently feeling the pulse
~ nrtd Hot
| likely the conditions were not such as to
please him He undoubtedly found that
the republican Legislators are still cog
infant of their duty. to pass n license
| local option bill with referendum at
| tachment. and that no efforts would avail
| to turn them from that duty. According
| TO MIR. Morrow the league still maintains
| Its position that a referendum is desira-
| BILE In opposition to the expressed desires
| of the Prohibition party. And that the
| superintendent of the league expects a
| license law to be passed Is shown by his
statement that the referendum would best
| suit the League in the summer rather than
| in the winter as the farmers upon whom
| he says tho league depends would be bet
| ter accommodated at that time.
WOMEN AND THE REFERENDUM.
(From the Bellows Falls Times)
Several of the good women of the State
| are passing about petitions to the Legis-
lature requesting that in case of refer
endum of the liquor question the women
| be allowed to vote On general principle
| we believe that the women ought to be
| allowed to vote on a question that so vi
| tally effects their interests rs this does.
| We do not see how the Republican party
can favor movement of this kind
| at this time. Tho party in its plat
| form promised the people of the State
that they should have chance to vote
on license-local- option bill. Nothing
WAS said about charging or restricting
| the suffrage. Fair dealing requires that
the suffrage be left as 1t was at the time
| this pledge was made so far as the re-
publicans are concerned.
An Authoritative Summary OF Repre-
sentative Battell's State Store Bill.
From the Middlebury Regster)
House bill lO4, by Mr.. Battell. was In
PRODUCED Wednesday morning The title
Ia IAN act to regulate and license the sal
of intoxicating liquors; guaranteeing the
purity thereof; and providing for the dis
tribution of the profts of such sales
1t Is regarded by all who have made
a careful study OF Its provisions as the
best bill thus far introduced.
1t seeks to eliminate the element of
private or corporate gain from the. bust
ness by having the profit from all sales
whether by State stores, licensed drug
gists or hotel keepers. paid into the State
treasury and then divided among the
towns OF the State according to the pop.
ulation to be used by the towns as they
vote.
1t is a pure local option measure.
The towns and cities determine by
vote, just how Intoxicating liquors shall
be sold, whether by the glass In the case
OF malt liquors, and In sealed packages
each bearing the State label guarantee.
ing the purity and quantity sold, II hard
stuffs." or whether only In sealed pack
ages; or whether for medicinal purposes
only.
No liquors can be sold In any town or
lefty unless such town or city so votes.
No license can be granted to any drug
stores or hotels unless the voters of that
town or city so direct by vote
No bin before the Legislature gives the
people so large measure of local option.
II 1t should become q law the Stats