St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-11-19
OUR MONTPELIER LETTER.

Mr.. EDITOR AND FRIENDS:
The setting hen has finally come off her
nest, and the result of her cogitaton is
the largest surprise Of the season. Very
likely this epistle will be largely occupied
in discussion Of the rum situation, as it
is about the only subject talked OF since
the committee made its great break.
Members speak occasionally of something
else, but the greatest of these, on which
hangs all the law and the prophets, is
the liquor question. Regarding this mat
ter | am going to give you the exact sit.
uation as fnd it he e, regardless Of my
or your preferences, and the prevailing
sentiment as find it.
Both houses adjourned from Friday
afternoon to Monday afternoon. which
was a certain indication that no attempt
was to be made to rush things for a final
adjournment before Thanksgiving. As a
matter OF fact, it is now practically de-
cided to adjourn from next Friday to
Tuesday, Dec 1. The action of the minor.
ity OF the Joint temperance committee, in
forcing bitter fight, renders this inev.
table.
The first line up of the committee was
thirteen for the license localoption b IL,
eight for the dispensarv-prohbition bill,
and four for the Ross, Walbridge prohibit.
ton bill, The final roundup gave the
former bill thirteen and the Battell bill
twelve.
1t is fact that the combination of Ger.
tain stripes and factions in the support
of the BattalI bill is regarded as blow
below the belt at the republican party
and organization Of Vermont. The party
leaders consider the course Of republicans
IN opposing a license local option bill as
a distinct act OF treachery. The party is
sworn and pledged to submit a license
bill to the people, and the action of the
minority in obstructing this action is re-
garde1 as the act of traitors and desert.
ers. How else, they ask, can such con-
duct be explained? The BatteI bill does
not in the least carry out the pledge Of
the last republican state conventions; on
the contrary, 1t distinctly regulates it.
The action OF the minority gives un
bounded Joy, aid and comfort to two
clements, at least, the copper bottomec
prohlbltonists and the ultra.license re
publicans. Because Of the Reputation O
their Platform and promises bv the re
publican minority the ersrtwhile Glenn
ent republicans are now given reason TO
saying II told you so, Those fellow
meant to deceive and swnde US all TIN
time. They never intended to keep the
word And they are saying it, too.
The prohlbltionlsts, represented by G
W. Morrow, are rtvita'ized by the actor
of the minority, and by preventing th
republican party from keeping it's wore
by use of all manner of fibustering ant
obstructonist tactics hope to secure tn
retention OF prohibition Mr.. Morrow
has taken personal command of the Sc
ceders and obstructonsts, and no mean
whatever will be spared to bring abou
the defeat and humiliation of the republi
can party.
Under these circumstances it is teri
useless to expect the usual final adjourn
ment before Thanksgiving. Ii the bill
had been honestly reported and honestl
passed this might have been done, bu
thus not having been done the end is los
to sight in the distance 1t will be Ion,
and bitter fight on the floor of each house
and when the end will come is hevon
human ken. A poll of the senate is sal
to show two to one majority agains
the obstructionisfs' bill, and today DO
OF the house also indicates a maiorit
against it. After some weeks of orator
and underground work the situation ma