Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-04
ad the respect of his fellow on the other

this committee tho majority bill is sign
ed by the i've democrats, the two license
men and six republicans Again If
we look at the last vote upon the sub
stitution of the referendum of the minori-
| ty bill for the one upon the majority
bill we find those voting yes, 1G2; and no
III; of this last number are the 4j
democrats voting, add to them the 81
votes cast for Clement for governor and
you have IS republicans who voted for
Mccullough voting for the majority bill
and the l02 republicans voting for the ref
erendum of the minority bill and two
democrats. I think this analysis Of the
votes upon these two bills may be in
structive.
Let us look at the two bills presented
for our consideration and one for which
we must cast our vote, or refuse TO vote.
! The plank in the republican platform
asks that this Legislature prepare Ii
conse local option bill and one of these
bills was styled a high license local op-
tion bill tho other the Battel or dis
pensary bill based upon the Norwegian
! system. The legislator must decide for
himself If a republican, which of these
two bills conforms TO the said resolutions
in the republican platform and by his oath
which will conserve the best interest of
the people of the State if it be
comes operative A license law makes the
community or the State a seller" We sec
! in the majority bill the State appoints
| Seller under restrictions for money
consderat ton; In the minority bill the
state appoints the seller under restric-
| tions upon a salary. The functionary
power in either case is in the State and
provides for the legal sale of liquor, there
| fore the same in principle. The legislator
/ is at liberty and is in duty bound by his
oath to sustain the one that in his judg-
ment will best conserve the interests of
! the people of his State, If it shall become
n law. Which one will give the least chance
! to open or secret violations, which the
| fewest temptations to man with a burn
ing appetite or the young man with an
unCreated Appetite; for those who will
drink which one the purest liquors. Eighty
four members said that the minority bill
was their choice ard that this system Of
license or sale of liquors was the more pre-
ferable of the two Then the referendum
upon the two bills, different in text and
might be widely different in results If we
look again to the resolution adopted by
the republican convention June last and
it says that I'VE request the State Leg
sature at its next session to make pro-
vision for ascertaning the will of the peo-
pie by direct vote upon the acceptance
or rejection of license local-option law
regulating the sale of Intoxicating liquors.
| The referendum attached to the maj
orty bill says if the popular vote is yes
this bill goes into operation March 1903 IL
the people by majority vote say no, yet
it goes into operation December 1904 The
referendum on the minority bill provides
that If the people of the state by maj
GRITTY say yes we want a license law, it
goes into operation, but if the people by d
majority vote say no. then it does not
become operative. The referendum on the
majority bill reminds me of n story about
a white man and Indian who went hunt
ing at night, it was found they had killed
a turkey and a buzzard. The white man
says ! will take the turkey and you may
have the buzzard or you may take the
buzzard and I'll have the turkey. But
says the Indian you no say turkey for
poor Indian once
If the popular vote is yes license law
1909. If no, license 1901.
Mr.. Editor is this the referendum call
ed for by the resolution in the republican
platform. 1t is the referendum of the
Democratic party and the Clement license
men; il is best defined by leading dem
ocrat when he said that the democrats
of the House did not favor any referen-
dun, but this was so near no referendum
they could vote for it.
Again we were met with this statement
the referendum on the minority bin is not
constitutional, we claim first it is in per-
feet accord with the resolution in the re
publican platform. 1t Is in harmony with
the expectation desire of the temperance
voters of the Republican party; ii IS il
harmony with the message of Governor
Mccullough to the General Assembly il
which he says the verdict Of the trcemer
of the State on September 2nd last was
in favor of the General Assembly fran
ing n local-option and high license Law
and submitting the same to the people fui
their adoption or rejection In closing
his suggestion upon temperance logisla
, ton he again repeats: These suggestions
may be of some value in formulating &
proper statue to be submitted TO the PEG
pie FOR their adoption or rejection
II it is not constitutional, where rest;
the responsibility with the Legislature Oh
: with the republican party Of last JUNE
I that framed that resolution and adopt
ed ii into the republican platform? anC
a as to whether this referendum attached t.
l the minority bin is constitutional or no
in its provisions We can simply say tina
a court decisions must have a logical re
, lation to each other or the decisions ar,
faulty. If the Legislature can take a sin
/ gle member of the civic body into part
, nership in Legislation, logically we cai
5 see no reason why the entire civic body
| or the State may not be thus associated II
: legislation. But leaving this question o
| its constitutionality to the doctors OF tn,
5 law, | have this to say in reference to tn,
referendum attached to the majority bill
( that If member of the General Assem-
bly, votes for it he votes for a license Law
and the saloon. He puts a license Law
r upon the statutes of the state
t and every man who votes 70
license law is confederate with the sell,
{ er, and shares his responsibility. If this
was expected of us by our constituents
, then another would have occupied oui
e seat in the hall of legislation. Again il
[ is said If the majority of the froemen OF
n the State shall vote no, then the mex
= Legislature would repeal it. Surprising tn
[ next republican convention in 1904 pdsse
Y such a resolution asking the Legislature,
n q 1901 rpDGal IL. would the demo