Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-04


such an arraignment comes. In this case
we are called to account by one who dur
ing the canvass preceding our State cleo
ton opposed the prohibitory law, in both
public and private utterances, and was
hailed and quoted as an ally by the Glenn
ent pro-saloon speakers and papers.
Brought to face the consequences, In part.
of his own influence and action, he now,
like some other temperance men who had
lost faith IL they ever had 1t. in the eff
cacy of as stringent a restrictive statute
as our Vermont law. Inquirer does not
enjoy the prospect, and sees At to hold as
largely responsible for tho existing stua-
ton the journal which had done its ut
most to avert 1t. We accept no such re-
sponsibility.
Inquirer" must allow us to correct Some
misconceptions of the attitude of this
paper which as expressed by him amount
to misstatements
The FREE PRESS has not merely
printed the Battell bill. Its provisions
have not been as fully discussed in our
columns as they would have been IL we
had supposed that it stood any chance of
passage; but our readers have not been
uniformed In regard to its main features.
Certainly no legislator has failed to grasp
them by reason of any omission on the
part of the FREE PRESS. This paper has
provided in the license bill We have said
that either the direct vote, or the indirect
method under which the existing law took
effect, would be n referendum, and that
either method in our opinion, would an
swer the purpose. If the constitutional
objection is not insurmountabls, we should
prefer the direct vote.
you call this (hurrying up Of the refer
endum) thorough discussion and mature
elaboration" says Inquirer" We have
not called it anything of the sort. Fur
thermore the FREE PRESS has not said
that the three parties were represented in
the temperance committee by their strong
est men," Some of the strongest men in
those parties were not members of the
Legislature" II is not true that the FREE,
PRESS "disparages the work and impugns
the honesty of the straight republicans on
that committee 1t does nothing of the
kind We respect their opinions and honor
their conscientious performance of their
duty. OF course this paper has not allied
itself with the Clement men and the demo-
Gratis. Inquirer knows better: and the sug-
gestion that the FREE PRESS may be aid
ing the Messenger to read out of the
Gcpublican) party all anti-saloon repub-
leans would be slanderous If it were not
so ridiculous.
We will not follow further Inquirer's in
genious and disngenious misrepresenta-
tons; but will try to answer some of his
questions.
understood as insisting that a snap vote
at a date less than month after the pas
sage of the act, and taken at an unfavor-
able time OF year, is demanded by the
plank Of the republican platform which
declared that amy material modification
of the existing law should be made only
after thorough discussion and mature de-
liberation? OF course not. This paper
has not insisted on anything of the kind
In our opinion the first Tuesday in March
Is the earliest date at which it would be
fair and proper to take the vote. Three
months for discussion and mature delber.
alton by the people is as little as can be
decently allowed. and as little as would
fairly comply with the republican plat.
form.
DO you believe" he asks. that this
proposed saloon bill is in harmony with
the Republican party's expressed belief
that the unrestricted traffic in intoxicat-
ing liquors is public evl?" AS the pro-
posed bill is not one for unrestricted
traffic, this question is not particularly
pertinent.
Does the FREE PRESS wish to see the
saloon entrenched in Burlington? In
quirer knows that 1t does not. We be-
lieve that the opening of saloons in any
city in Vermont will be followed las has
been universally the case in Massachus-
sets, by a heavy increase in the sales
of liquor. three or fourfold increase In
the amount Of drunkenness; a large in
crease in pauperism and crime. and a
serious decrease In the value of rea
estate. 1t will probably be more damaging
to Burlington, as an educational centre
than to any of the other cities in oul
State.
Does the FREE PRESS wish to banisf
the principle of State control from con
sideration? 1t does not. We wish to banisf
no phase Of the subject. We do no.
hesitate to ray that as between the two
II the State must choose between tn,
saloon bill and the State dispensary bill
we should prefer the latter
Why does the FREE PRESS oppose tn,
postponement of the vote till next March
Inquirer must be dreaming, or have som,
other paper In his mind. Tho FREE
PRESS would hold up both hands fo
such postponement; and we are not with
out hope that a number of the legisla tors
= when they return to Montpelier, will hav,
had their eyes opened to the essentia
wrong of that and some other features
of the majority bill. as passed by thu
House and will agree to modify the bill
in several important particulars On
friend Inquirer once understood an,
o approved the position of the FREE
: PRESS on matters of temperance Tha
Q he does so no longer is owing. as w
c must think to some distortion of vision
on his part. The change Is in him. not IL