Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-08-27

dates have made haste to deny theil
alleged intentions, and it looks as il
a real draft would be necessary tC
bring EN- out. However, there's nc
danger that the choice will 90 by de-
l1ault to some unworthy man.
IN LICENSEES OWN 5AlLIwlck.
Ifthere are any of our readers labor
ing under the impression that the
license system in Vermont is working
smoothly and successfully, let them
read the following editorial from the
Rutland Herald, the original. simon
pure advocate Of local option, owned
by the Hon. Percival w Clement. last
years high priest and apostle Of
license, which is certainly not open
to the suspicion of undue prejudice
against the existing system, dealing
with conditions as they prevail at
present in Rutland. where, if public
sentiment is a true gauge, the law
ought TO be faithfully observed.
Not long ago the Herald expressed
the hope and expectation that the
license commissioners of this city
would do their sworn duty. This
was perfectly natural hope and eX-
pectation, but we made the remark
because down to that time the CON-
mission had accomplished nothing
worthy OF mention. Kitchen bars
were in full blast, and quite a num-
Der OF persons holding licenses were
not conducting business strictly ac-
cording to law. Aside IRON one
nights unsuccessful raiding and one
raid and conviction, the commission
had nothing to show BY way of 4
proper administration OF the license
local option law in this city. That
had increased there was
no doubt. That the local public had
become nervous over the license
situation was equally true. The
commission seemed to be hitched to
a post. Disclosures in open court /
We're promptly passed over to the
commission by the grand Juror. and |
We're lodged by others. (
The commission claimed that these 4
were not put in legal form. /
and 50 nothing was done.
Finally the Local Option league took
he matter up. It appealed to the
sheriff department to 20 to the very 4
places where the commissions officers I
bad raided unsucessfully. and the
sheriff and his deputies had no trouble
At all in finding as much liquor as
hey could lug away. This was sun
lay evening last. 1t was thought
hat the evidence obtained during
.hese River street raids would be
sufficient TO unhitch the commission
from Its post so that il could lay the
manner before the states attorney in
he matter prescribed BY the local
option law. Monday and Tuesday
forenoon went by and the commission
lid not inform the states attorney of
he evidence OF illegal selling gathered
BY the sheriff department. No war
'ant had been issued Tor the arrest
u the River street offenders, who
we're still at large. The Local Option
eague had no choice in the matter
/ was compelled 10 90 ahead and
hand its evidence over to the states
attorney. On his information four
persons were arrested yesterday and
srraigned in the city court, and the
rial OF their cases was set for Thurs
lay morning.
"But, it should be remembered. the
eague was organized to advocate a
aw and not TO administer it. This
after junction rests, in the first
Instance, with the license commission.
The commissions all over the state
understood this and in nearly every
place but Rutland they are doing their
iuty admirably.
I'VE DO not despair of our commits
'ioners. From photographers stand
point they appear like Eastwood
images; but possibly they have un-
assumed that appearance
rom their deep contemplation of the
ntricacies of the new law. That
hey have been silent and solemn and
mp0tent goes without saving. We
till think that they have the spark
i life in them. They can gather
violence OF violations OF the liquor
rattle in this city like picking berries
rom a bush. We even think that
'efore the year is through they will
* the states attorney to file an in
ormation. Such a show Of energy
nav shock them at first. but we pre- /.
let that they win DO it,
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