The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1902-11-21
legislative Letter.
Events at Montpelier AS Seen by j. E.Harris


Montpelier. Nov. 18th, 1902.
Bro. Editor. and friends:-T
setting hen has finally come off hei
nest, and the result of her cogita'
tions is the largest surprise of the
season. Very likely this epistle will
be largely occupied in a discussion
of the rum situation, as it is about
the only subject talked of since the
Committee made it's great break.
Members speak occasionally of some.
thing else, but the greatest of these,
on which hangs all the law and the
prophets, is the liquor question. Re.
garding this matter l am going tc
give you the exact situation as l FIND
it here, regardless of my or your
preferences, and the prevailing SEN
timent as I find it.
Both houses adjourned from Fri
day afternoon to Monday afternoon,
which was a certain indication that
no attempt was to be made to rush
things for final adjournment before
Thanksgiving AS matter of fact.
it is now practically decided to ad-
journ from next Friday to Tuesday,
December first. The action of the
minority of the joint temperance
committee in forcing a bitter fight
renders this inevitable.
The first lineup of the commit.
tee was thirteen for the 1icense-1ocal
option bill, eight for the dispensary
prohibition bill and four for the
Ross Walbridge prohibition bill.
The final roundup gave the former
bill thirteen and the Battel1 bill
twelve. The committee divided as
follows: For the license bill, Sena-
tors Russell, Downer, Sibley, Nelson
and Tracey and Representatives Ell
lis of Fair Haven, Fletcher of Cav
endish, Douglass of Williston, Howe
of Readsboro, Vincent of Orwell,
Conland of Brattleboro, O'Sul1ivan
of st. Adams, and Pape of Barre.
Senators Emery, Spencer, Annis and
Walbridge, and Representative Bal
ley of New bury, Battell of Middle
bury, Dart of Springfield, Fish of
Royalton, Dixon of Hardwick, Seav-
er of Barton, Randall of Wolcott and
Vail of Worcester.
he ,0Y1
of certain stripes and factions in
the support of the Batte1l bill is re-
garded as blow below the belt at
the republican party and organiza-
ton of Vermont. The party leaders
consider the course of republicans in
opposing a 1icense-local option bill
as a distinct act of treachery. The
party is sworn and pledged to sub
NIT license bill to the people, and
the action of the minority in OBJ
structing this action is regarded as
the act of traitors and deserters.
How else, they ask, can such con-
|aiuct be explained? The Battell bill
Is not in the least carry out the
NJ of the last republican state
Invention; on the contrary it dis
tinct1y repudiates it.
The action of the minority gives
unbounded Joy, aid and comfort to
two elements, at least, the copper
bottomed prohibitionists, and the u1-
ira license republicans. Because of
the reputation of their platform and
promises by the republican minority
the erstwhile Clement republicans
are now given reason for saying 81
told you so! Those fellows meant
to deceive and swindle us all the
time. They never intended to keep
their word" And they are saying
it, too.
The prohibitionists, represented
by G. w. Morrow, are revitalized by
the action of the minority. and by
preventing the republican party
from keeping its word by the use of
all manner of filibustering and OBJ
structionist tactics hope to secure
the retention of prohibition. Mr..
Morrow has taken personal command
of the seceders and obstructionists,
and no means whatever will be
spared to bring about the defeat and
humiliation of the republican major
ity.
Under these circumstances it is
utterly useless to expect the usual
final adjournment before Thanksgiv-
ing. If the bill had been honestly
reported and honestly passed this
might have been done, but this not
having been done, the end is lost
to sight in the distance. 1t will be
long and bitter fight on the floor
of each house, and when the end
will come is beyond human ken. A
poll of the Senate is said to show a
two to one majority against the OBJ
structionist bill, and today poll of
the House also indicates a majority
against it. After some weeks of
oratory and underground work the
situation may be changed, but livery
much doubt it. The passage of the
local option bill is claimed by the
party leaders to be absolutely essen
tial to party salvation, its defeat
would be party suicide. Under
these circumstances and with sober
second thought the result ought not
to be in doubt for a moment.
have heretofore refrained from
personal notices of the Orange
County members and senators and of