The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-06-25

its submission to the vote of the peo-
pie.
The recognized Republican leaders
formulated their views of this matter
of the regulation of the liquor traffic
and embodied them in the platform
proposed for the conventions consid-
Grafton.
The floor manager of the license
forces promptly on the organization
of the convention presented his de-
mand which was promptly tabled, not
withstanding the movers further de-
mand for its instant consideration.
Later the resolution embodying the
demand for license law was taken
from the table on the motion of Hon
j. w. Stewart, the chairman of the
resolutions committee and the leader
of the delegates representing the pol
icy of restricting the traffic in intoXi-
eating liquors. Mr.. Stewart moved
to substitute the resolution incorpor-
ated in the resolutions of the commit
tee which provides for a referendum
and is here republished
Resolved That the Republican
party of Vermont adheres to its long
cherished belief that unrestricted
traffic in Intoxicating liquors is pub
lie evil, and that material modifica-
ton of existing law on that subject
should be made only after thorough
dicussion and mature deliberation by
the people, and we request the State
| Legislature at its neXtfsession to make
provision for ascertaining the will of
the people by direct vote upon the ac-
ceptance or rejection of license and
local option law regulating liquors,
and further providing that upon pop
ular vote in favor of such law, duly
ascertained, the same shall be and be-
come a statute law of the State in
force.
The leader of the license delegates
asked for recess during which the
substitute resolution was considered
by his principal and accepted. 1t was
adopted by the convention and became
the expression Of the will of the dele
gates on this much mooted subject.
| iilAS 10 WIG u uN SSllCoAS VI OllO lClCl-
endum resolution. From it, it would
appear that the section of the Repub-
lican party of Vermont "adhering to
its long cherished belief that unre-
stricted traffic in Intoxicating liquors
is a public evil'' was successful in
| getting the endorsement of the con.
vention and that their course was
/ the free and spontaneous action of the
representatives of those Republicans
who have for several years favored
the reference to the people for dis
cussion and decision the question Of
the policy of the State in the matter
of the regulation of the liquor traffic
1t is not quite clear that any one
man, or any part of the Republican
party, can claim to be the sole and
only mover or inspirer of the refer
endum, or that the party was forced,
or any element in the party was fore
ing. the party to adopt the.referendum.
Republicans who have long cherish
1 ed'' the existing policy of the State,
but possibly not all the provisions OF
the law embodying that policy, equal
ly with the reigning apostle of H.
cense, have long supported written
and argued for the referendum.
Therefore let us rejoice that this
measure is on the way. The matter
of sending it forth, like the dove from
Noah's ark, is not the monopoly OF
any individual Republican or organ
ization of Republicans-nor yet of the
Democrats. 1t is not matter of any
very large Importance, but it is wei
enough to maintain the truth of his
tory.