Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-07-03
THE THEME OF THE HOUR.

~ - ~ - W. - ~ AfH- ~ SNhs
From now on, the burning question
in Vermont viii be, what liquor legis-
lation shall the state adopt and settle
down to, as a definite policy? An ex-
perience of fifty years with prohibition
has not been wholly satisfactory. In
fact. within recent years, there has
been growing disafection with it,.
This has eliminated in the present de-
mand, by the dominant political party,
that the voters shall be given a chance
to determine directly whether they will
continue the policy OF prohibition, or
whether they will adopt a system of
| license-local option, to be embodied in
an act that the next legislature is re-
quested to pass and submit to them,
Tor acceptance or rejection.
We anticipate that the legislature
will pass such an act, and that it viii
come before the people for their judg-
ment. There will be opposition,
doubtless, while the measure is before
the general assembly. Some earnest
prohibitionists will not feel themselves
bound to be controlled by the party
convention, and will do their utmost
to prevent action OF any kind. Some
members, indeed, may be elected BY
their towns Tor this very purpose, after
the issue has been clearly drawn. But
we look to see a good-sized majority
in both houses ready to give their as
sent to local option act, with referen-
dun attachment.
But all will not be smooth sailing
for our friends OF the license persua-
sion. They will find constructive leg
islation very different from eaptious
criticism. 1t will not be an easy task
for them to frame a measure that will
even command the support Of all those
members who believe in the abstract
policy of local option. This was clear
~ shown at the last session, when, af-
ter repeated sittings, the bill that final
" made its appearance under the aus
pices OF the local optionists did not
begin to satisfy all Of them, and many
who might have voted for a moderate
measure along these lines rejected it
in disgust. The trouble was it was
framed at the dictation of the radicals,
who seemed DESTROYS ofopening things
as wide as possible.
The same danger is liable to con-
front the next assembly. The license
question is being pushed to the front.
and will be the issue on which most of
the members will be chosen. Ii the
prohibitionists win, they may either
ignore the mandate of the party en-
tirely, on the plea that they were
chosen under more direct commits
sion, or they may present to the peo-
pie a measure so generally objections
able as TO insure its defeat, which
means the continuance OF prohibition.
And on the other hand. if the local
option forces control the legislature. as
now seems to us probable, they may
rush to the other extreme and pass an
act so distasteful to the people that it
may fail of acceptance, or ii it should
succeed, would be short-lived.
What Vermont wants and needs is
some settled excise regulation that
shall be generally acceptable to a |
large majority Of its citizens. and shall |
be given the support by public senti-
ment that such laws require. To
swing from ultra-prohibition to
the other extreme is not, in our opin-
ion, what Vermont should DO at this
iuncture. The whole question should |
be gone over in calmness and without |
prejudice. by those TO whom the i'm
portant matter viii be left. and we be-
lieve that a more lasting and better
operating system can be found in this
way than by forcing the fight to the
finish. which i Sure 10 leave a larra