Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-24
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY.
Let There Be Fair Test Of Sentiment
Through a License Referendum.
CFrom the Vermont Standard)

The Republican party OF Vermont in this
campaign. stands on a promise to submit
the question of license, local option or
prohibition. to the Judgment of the people
OF Vermont by direct vote in town meet
ings.
The scheme might he submitted in var
ious ways, and the suggestion has sever
nj times been made that the work should
be taken upon the simple question wheth-
er the present law should be repealed and
some form of license law substituted.
The platform of the Republican party
however asks for the passage Of n high
license local-option bill to be submitted to
popular vote. so that the people may de-
eide whether they prefer the present law
or the specific provisions for license ard
local option, which the Legislature pro-
poses.
The plan OF the party platform Is best
because It would bring the matter to an
Understandable basis, while the other plan
gives no certainty Of anything beyond the
fate of the present law.
There cal scarcely be an objection to 4
referendum. on the part CT any believer in
Temperance, whether he favors restriction
of drunkenness by means Of the present
law or by some other system. The bot
tom principle of our government is that of
majority rule. Tho people constitute the
highest tribunal of law. and the people
which Is best.
| The most consistent temperance people
Of Vermont will not be all on the same side
of the license question, because 1t is simply
a question Of method: OF eXpediency; and
opinions differ as to the relative efficacy
of the two systems under discussion
Nermonters want the system that will
best restrict the abuses of intcxicants 1t
Is the duty Of the next Legislature TO
frame the best license-loca al option law
which can be devised. and then submit It.
with the present law. to the people for
choice between the two.
Representatives should be sent to thu
legislature next fall who will vote for a H.
cense local option measure 10 be submit
ted to the people, but who will not vote
for such a measure without the referun-
dunn provision A referendum Is as fair
foi the license advocates as for the profit
| bitionists and the former should not at
tempt to override 1t. The "Prohibs' have
met them half way. and now 1t Is up to
them" to prepare a law which will com
mend itself to the public as superior to
present regulations.
| THE BEGINNING OF CLEMENTS END
From the Fair Haven Era)
After having secured all that the fight
was Instituted for the endorsement by the
party convention of the issue and the In
sertinn i'm the platform Of high license
/ local opeOn plank, instead of putting his
shoulder to the wheel and using Jery en-
dcaVor to force the issue. he throws every
thing overheard. that his own name may
shine among the nominations for governor
of Vermont.
The outcome or this action on the part of
Mr. Clement will be a busy campaign, the
busiest ever seen In Vermont, and n vote
sucn as Will set a high water mark for
To
the avalanche Of ballots Percival w. Gle
ment W i'll he found, buried out OF sisnt.
| This has been done before in the history
Of the Republican party 1t seems like a
cruel fate, hut no one is more to blame
than the one that invites and brings it
upon himself.
PROSPEROUS TOWNS.
(From the Waterbury Record)
The prosperous towns in Vermont are
the ones who not only hustle after new
Industries Tut get them. Waterbury is IN
! this class.
REPUB1LCANS SHOULD THINK
TWICE.
O''cm the Waterbury Recordy
Republicans who want to be republicans
III two ears from now, should see tn II
that they support the Republican, ti"ket
that class " no have political futures. 1t Is
a question mat rcql,ics a little thought
and iCIublit ans sho aid think twice nofore
they sup crt any otl"r ticket or platform
than the che named at Montpelier.
a GOOD STATE TO BE IN.
i Nron the ST. Johnsbury Calcdonian>
Vermont Is a good Htt te to visit as well
as To- live in. Secretary Shaw and his fam
ny are on axe Chamrla'n. Admiral LARK
ara large party will visit In Montpelier
anC Rradford. his native town, and Presi-
dent Eoose.e will come to Brattirooro and
visit the Windsor horse show. Our State
never looked fairer than in the summer OF
80!
M'CU.LCUGHs ELECTION EN-
| PEtTED.
F'ron the St. Johnsi Repubican)
| We confidently exLSct that, bolt or no