Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-25
THE REFERENDUM CONTEST.
Forces on Both Sides Now Well
Arrayed.
Surprising Change Shown in Sentiment
OF Leaders -Mauy Saloons opened
Since Referendum Act Passed
and What It Means-A
Close Fight.

The St Adams correspondent OF the
Boston Herald writes his paper as follows:
Though but a week has passed since
the adjournment of the Legislature winch
passed n high liccnsc-local option liquor
law to he submitted to a vote of the peo-
pie on February 2, the forces arrayed on
the two sides of the proposition are al
ready beginning to line up and there Is
every probability Of one of the ivcliest
campaigns Vermont has ever had.
The license bill has been thoroughly
read by nearly every one. and the as
tonishing condition has developed that
people who have always been considered
az in favor of license law are coming
out in violent opposition to the measure.
The prohibition element wants nothing
but prohibition: many who are not pro-
hihitioniets do not like the idea OF an
open saloon. and those who want to sell
liquor do not like the provision which
prohibits creating"
About week prior to the adjourn
ment of the Legislature the men VINO
are opposed to a license law met in
Montpelier and formed an organization
to fight the measure which is to be SUD-
mittcd to the people. This organization
selected a committee to take the work
IN hand, naming ono member from each
county. The committee is made up OF
some of the leading men In the State.
which only goes to show that the fight
against license is to he carried on with
vigor. An analysis of this committee
brings ont some interesting facts.
C. p. Smith of Burlington, who really
selected the committee. is the president
Of the Burlington savings bank. the
largest institution Of the kind in the
state. and which pays the largest State
tax a little over $4,000. He is a former
State senator IL n close friend of Sec
retary Of the Treasury Shaw, and was a
prominent worker in the interest of Gov.
Mccullough during the recent cam
paign
Joseph Battell of Middlebury gained
prominence by the introduction of the
Rattell bill. providing for a dlspensary
liquor system. which received strong
support In the Legislature. He is n
wealthy bachelor. the owner of the MID
dlehury Register, proprietor Of summer
hotels. breeder Of horses and withai a
man of many interests. He is a brother
in-law Of ex-Gov. James w. Stewart,
the referendum plank. which was
adopted by the State republican con-
vention last June. He has said that he
would contribute literally to carry on
this crusade.
Ex-Gov. Carroll S. Page. the million
aire hide dealer Of Hyde Park, is con-
sidered as one of the most astute poll
and fun of resources. Two years ago he
led the field for the nomination to Con
gress in the LIST district against five can
ddates, and ii was only through the
combination of these forces that he was
defeated. He supported Gov. McCul-
| Tough in the recent campaign.
Frank Plumlcy OF Mortified is a re-
publican campaign speaker of nationa
reputation, who was the only opponent
Of Congressman Kittredge Haskins wher
nc was nominated two years ago. and
who was only defeated after severa
hours Of balloting. During the recent
campaign he took the stump for Gov
Mccullough.
Arthur f. Stone Of st. Johnsbury, edi-
tor Of the Caledonian, is nephew OF
ex-Gov. Horace Fairbanks. His paper
supported Fletcher y. Proctor for gov
ernor in the campaign.
| Judge John V. Carney IL former mu.
| nicipal Judge of Bennington.
Porter II. Dale of Island Pond is a sor
~ former Lieut.. Gov. George \. Dale
who recently resigned the consulship a
| Coaticook, Can.
The Rev. John l.. Sewall of st. Adams
| formerly of North Brookfeld. Mass, ha:
taken the leading part in interesting tn,
clcrgymen of the state in the crusade.
! Juan Robinson OF South Hero is chair
man OF the Grand Isle republican coun
| ty committee.
Senator Curtis 5. Emery of Chelsea
| was the only member OF the upper Hous
to vote against the license bill when i
| came VI for passage in that body. H.
has always been prominent in State poll
tics and for a time was clerk of the Sen
ate agricultural committee, of which
Senator Proctor is the chairman. In tn
recent campaign his county (Orange) re
| fused to support the republican platform
which declared for license.
C. F. Ranney is a leading business maj
and politician Of Newport.
Marcelus E. Wheeler is a milionair
manufacturer and philanthropist of Rut
land.
Ex-senator II. W. Walker Of Wood
stock and \. C. Williams of Below
Falls are others who are active in op
position.
1T this time the odds seem tn be 1,
favor of the acceptance by the people o
the measure passed by the Legislature
but it will not be done without a sever
struggle, and no one realizes this bette
I than the members of tho Local Optic
! League who are CARRYING on the Ggh
Tor the adoption of the law At meet
ing held at Rutland Thursday, this or
sanitation voted to conduct a vgorou
campaign.
strongest against the chances OF the 10
cal optionists is the wholesale openin
i Of saloons and drinking places in ever
4 city and large towns in the State sine
the passage of the license bill by the Leg
isla ture. Every old-time law-breaker q
this class and many others have sprun
up, to the CONSERVATION of the advo
Gates OF license, who see the tide of pull
lie opinion on the part Of the sober, con
sentative element of the State slippin
away or turning against them
/ In this city there are to-day probabl
not less than 30 wide-open drinkn
: places, and in burlington the number wi
far exceed 100 This condition prevail
practically throughout the State at tn
present time In this city there have bee
: several arrests but in every case tn
> offender has appealed from the findin
of the court and gone on with his illeg;
selling.
The local option league is considerin
= the advsability of instituting rrosecl
tons and endeavoring to secure the er
forcement OF the prohbitory law Will
, It remains on the statute books.
) That p, w. Clement is wrong In his ca
Q culation that the democrats will sur
, port the bill unanimously will be under
e stood when it is known that Felix v
$ McGettrick OF this city, the democrat
, candidate for governor this year
l strongly opposed to the bill, and is ser
S ousy considering the matter of takin
l. the stump against acceptance. He
= opposed To the referendum, and think
= that the bill should have contained SON
provision to prevent the men who HAY