Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-12-26
THE LIQUOR LAW FIGHT.
A Candid Estimate of the Issues and
the Outlook.

the Outlook.
[From the Montpelier letter of a special
correspondent of the Boston Transcript
In the seven weeks intervening before
the referendum, there is likelihood of the
greatest activity on both sides. Most
prominent and conspicuous among the op-
ponents OF the new law will be, of
course, the old-time advocates of state
prohibition; and it will be the effort of
the friends of the license measure to
make it appear that nearly all the op-
position is composed of men who simply
wish to keep the old prohibitory law
unchanged, with all it's offensiveness and
inefficiency as temperance measure.
They will doubtless be aided in this by
the intemperance and apparent bigotry of
some who fight against the change. The
license men have shrewdly compelled
the contest to take place in winter, when
the country roads are most likely to keep
from the polls a large portion of the
rural vote. which is sure to be against
the new law: but if it should appear that
any large number of voters were thus
kept from the expression of their views
next February the manifest injustice
and unfairness of the referendum will
create a reaction against it's result. 1t
law must meet determined opposition
from two other classes of voters besides
extreme prohibitionists. The agitation
OF the last year has convinced many
former believers in prohibition that it
is mistake to attempt ii in large places
where the local sentiment makes it a
farce and worse; and that local option
must be henceforth given to the towns
and cities. This does not mean. however
that all such are ready to see the saloon
with all its acknowledged evils given
free hand in Vermont, without more
study and thought as to some other solu-
ton of the matter While the Battell
bill in its original form, may not be the
key to the situation, it has undoubtedly
suggested possibilities which with calmer
and more candid reflection might easily
issue in a much less Objectionable hand
ling of the liquor traffic than the pres
ent license law offers How many who
believe in local option and a freer sale
of liquor where local sentiment demands
it will jump at this first offer of relief
and how many will be willing to wait
with patience for something better can
not now be told; but the number of those
who are willing to see the prohibitory
law changed and yet unwilling to see
the saloon with all its evils made the
master of local and state politics is large
enough to hold the balance of power
third class, whose numbers are not yet
determined those who believe in a Ii
cense law. but are dissatisfied with spe-
cifc features of the proposed one, and
who may choose TO see this defeated in
February in the hope of getting a bet
ter license law passed later
During the agitation of the last few
months, it has been assumed by many of
the anti-prohibitory newspapers that II
once this issue could come to a popular
vote any license law would Immediately
receive an overwhelming vote. II such
vote had been taken last September
when the Clement movement was at its
full force, and the horrors of prohibition
had been so vividly set forth, with no
special critical thought given to the ac-
tual features of license bill, that would
have been the probable result; but today
no one feels so confident. The high IL
cense tide which rose so suddenly last
spring has certainly reached its height
and some careful political observers do
not hesitate to declare that It is now ebb-
ing. Certain it is that the definite idea
of having a saloon enter the block where
one is doing business is repugnant to
business men in our large centres; and
some who have been loudest in their
clamor against the prohibtory law are
now expressing themselves very eau
tiously concerning the new measure.
lItft Is BOlnB 10 DE a great deal or
quiet study of the details of this new
measure which was rushed through the
legislature with practically no thought
or discussion after 1t left the committee
room. Some of those features are al
ready seen TO be open to grave fears,
even on the part of some who had a
large share in framing the bill.
The division of license fees and fines
half and half between the locality and
the state, is the fairest division feasible;
but some will oppose the bill because
II gives anything to the state and others
because ii does not give all to the state,
and thus remove the pressure of munic-
ipal avarice as favoring the introduction
of saloons. The most unpopular feature
of the law is likely to be that which pro-
| vides for the appointment of the local
liquor commissioners by the selectmen OF
a town or bv the aldermen and mavor of
a city for terms of six years each, one
going out of Office every two years. This
| means that any two men on a board OF
| selectmen or a mavor and three out of a
board OF six aldermen can absolutely con-
| troll the giving of all licenses for four
wears to come hy the first Appointments
| of commissioners. who are practically
| fixtures. rnremovahle for malfea sance In
office. This means that local nolitics viii
| he dominated sirnlv and solely bv the
struggle after saloon licenses in many
nIaces: and It also affords reason to fea,
| that If such law once goes into efec'
! the saloon element will so comnIetely
control countv nolitics as IN make II DIFF,
| hcult ~ not innnossihle for a Senate tC
| he elected which viii allow anv changes
| in the law except by the permission OF
| the rumsellers.
| Palnitatin NJ the heart nervousness