Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-10
THE FRAMING OF A LICENSE LAW
Some Questions That Must be Answer
ed before Liquor Legislation Is
Enacted.
or of the Messenger:

To the Editor of the Messenger:
Your editorial one day last week on
"Who Should Frame it," was marked BY
much good sense. If all the newspapers
in the State should enter upon temperate
discussion of the liquor question, they
would make timely contribution to the
public good.
This question whether it is stated. The
| liquor question" or the temperance ques-
| ton means the same thing. 1t
means the restriction by lawful meas
ures. of the sale of Intoxicating liquor. to
legitimate uses. There is difference
among equally good and equally thoughtful
men, as to what are legitimate uses
| Hence there arises difference AS to what
| these lawful measures should be, which
are designed to interpret and control such
uses.
| take it that in Vermont most men want
| to see those laws enacted which in their
| enforcement will best promote sound NOR
| ais, honest conduct, and temperate lives.
| There ought to be no difference in respect
of the fundamental principles which should
| underlie and govern human thought and
human action. The difference arises IN
the application of those principles to con-
| crete subjects.
You wisely counsel moderation in the dis
cussion of this question. No good can
come out of any heated debate. On tho
u question OF the regulation of the sale OF
\ liquor, the republican State convention
made two declarations:
u First. THAT material modification of en-
listing law on that subject should be made
only after thorough discussion and mature
) deliberation by the people" and
Second, I'VE request the State legisla
! ture at its next session TO make provision
for ascertaining the will of the people by
? direct vote upon the acceptance or rejec'
ton of a license local option law regulat-
! ing liquor
The first recommends the kind of discus
: sion which The Messenger proposes ano
J. implies a modification Of the existing Law
which Is most desirable. The second makes
: a direct request Of the next legislature
Only in thorough discussion and mature
> elaboration by the people will be foun-
, the accurate solution of the problem stated
> In this request.
t When radical change is proposed in any
, existing law-either in its functions, or II
the machinery for its eXecution-modera
ton and wisdom should be the controlling
factors in the case.
; What legislation on the liquor question
. or the temerance question, (whichevel
] phrase one may use) is tolerated in New
, York city or New York State, is not neoes
Y sarily the best legislation for Vermont.
r Vermont is a rural State, an INLAND
4 State, a State of small towns and small
: cities a State of small wealth and small
y industries. and State OF individual
: homes.
. A license act for Vermont should b.
: framed to fit her conditions as State anC
h people-an act which, II adopted, viii
Z best promote sound morals. honest con
duct, and temperate lives, Some OF thu
!. questions that would demand considera
n ton in framing license law are these:
Should towns be asked to vote ever,
I year or only once in two years whethe
they want license or rot?
Should they vote at the March election
a or at a special election held for this pur
nose? In most towns there is no strife "A
a the March election. and because OF thi
II fact and because of bad roads. compare
q lively few voters so to the polls. Woul
a special election attract more voters. and
therefore the result be a fairer expressio
, OF the popular choice? In our sparsely set
!. tied towns would once in two years. an
" at the September election, be the more de