Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-26
THE OPEN SALOON.

2 We believe a candid consideration
of the license law proposed VIII re-
sult in a decisive NO vote, helped
even by some of those who on general |
principle are favorable to license, and
some of the reasons for this belef
are these:
First, the local option feature. This
appears fair on the surface but 1t Is
one of the worst features OF the DILL
1t is admitted by the license party
that probably not more than twenty
or twenty five towns will vote for IL
cense. There are two hundred and for
ty-six towns in the state and because
of the desire for the selfish indulgence
of thirty the other two hundred and
sixteen must submit yearly to the
annoyance of liquor campaign,
regular fight against the lawless ele-
ments in order to preserve their
social order as self-respecting towns.
But admitting that towns can control
their own affairs land we shall show
later that they cannot) the existence
of thirty license towns will spread
moral contagion all around them, as
the improved means of travel we now
have permits the easy access of one
town to another. Newport, with sa-
| looms. will draw to itself the rum
drinkers of no. license Coventry and
add to the pauper and police expense
of that community, while at the same
time depressing its own business by
| the amount of that money which
should go to grocers and clothing
men, dropped into the bartender's
till. Local option is CLEAN OF rehef
for a state that is rum soaked from
end to end, bat fearful relapse for a
state which has known nothing of the
open saloon for fifty years.
Second, local option through this
bill is such only in name, for by it 20
per cent. of the voters in no-license
towns are DISTINGUISHED. Section 81
of the law says that in towns voting
| bu0 6CICCUhCh
petition of five per cent. of the voters
and majority of the practlclng
physicians issue fifth class licenses
and there is no restriction as to the
number they may issue. This woulo
mean the multiplication of drug
stores as fast as the registration Law
could be met, and the evils of towr
agencies will oe increased Thousand
fold. While the majority Of thu
physicians are self-respecting men
there are always few in the profes
= sion who lack moral fiber and for fit.
cents would easily write prescription
d: for liquor. Any prescription, by an
physician, may be filed at any dru
= store. Is the druggist, who is a
~. anxious as most men to make money
- going to question prescription whic
; comes to him from whatever source
p If be has violated the present law be
cause of the profit, will he be les
likely to violate the new law, whe
!; he has the protection of his licens
for so doing?
a Third, the element of personal gal
i; makes the new law one which is mo!
pernicious in its operation. 1t is til
S. object of all men to make money.
d the last analysis the profits come OF
N of the consumer. Prices charge
I'd must include all expenses of rem
g. interest, clerk hire, freight, hea
- light, living expenses, &c, as we'll
profit if one is to do successful bus
. ness. Now you add to these legit
mate expenses a license fee of $12
and no man in the average communi
can make money unless he violat
m; the law. A license law is an invit
ton to lawlessness. The hcen
holder is encouraged to sell all
M can, to create appetite, in order
m; make money, and he will do it,
the law says he may. 1t should
N' remembered that it is not the salo
keeper that pays the license, but
and patrons. The money simply pass
Igs, through his hands, and those W
", should be paying their honest bills
. the living expenses of their famil
are diverting it into the Golfers of
state and the saloon keeper. ]
y state in no other way takes bic
for money from the poor to build roa
eur and it ought not in this.
lis. Fourth, the adoption of this law
pecting that it will thereby dimin
VT. the evils of intemperance is too cos
=. an experiment to try. We have
records of other states which have
cense laws sufficiently numerous
- that we do not need to try the exp