Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-02-13
THE PERSONAL CHOICE
WHICH wINDHAM COUNTY MUST NOW
MAKE ON LICENSE QUESTION.
New Local Option License Law Gives Oppor-
tunities for Home Control of Liquor Traffic
in License Towns or Better Enforcement OF
Law in Prohibition Towns Some Final
Views and Deductions for Ourselves.

Law in Prohibition Towns - Some FINAL
Views and Deductions for Ourselves.
Windham county's consideration of
the license prohibition question takes
its closest and most personal form next
month when the people at their town
meetings must make their final decis-
ions as to whether or not they will le-
galize the sale of liquors in their
towns Upon the question of the ba-
sic principles underlying these two
systems, our people, as elsewhere, Will
probably always be divided; but upon
present conditions here at home and
upon a strong desire to improve them,
we may certainly unite for great good.
These conditions, as regards the IL
quor traffic, are, and long have been,
far from satisfactory The prohlDi-
tory law has not been respected; 1t
has been evaded and mocked at; 1t has
been weakly and spasmodically en-
forced: drunkenness has continued un-
der it,; deceit and falsehood and per
Jury have hourished and it has cast a
most belittlIng and distorting shadow
over many worthy man who has been
compelled to take under 1T. IN pubic
position, an attitude of hypocrisy for
eign to his nature. Prohibition, what
ever ii may be in theory, has not been
a practical success with us. And when
a state movement was made last year
for change in the management OF the
liquor traffic, many of our citizens VINO
had been supporters of the prohlol-
tory law, joined it, in the honest hope
of lettering home conditions. The re-
suit of that movement is the new local
option high license law, framed with
great care and labor, but under the
disadvantage of much opposition and
obstruction, by some of the ablest and
wisest of our Legislators. Fault is
found with the measure; but it is the
best that could be produced under the
prevailing circumstances and after all
the effort expended in bringing it safe
" to this end of the campaign, IT
surely deserves the cordial support and
the hearty co operation of everybody
who wants to see reform in the condi-
tions now existing.
The new license law is designed to
afford the strict control by our people
of the LIQUOR traffic which has always
existed among US, and which, under
the prob ibitory law, has assumed such
a revolving and demoralizing aspect.
1t is designed TO prevent. as FAR as pos
sible, the evil and unhappiness that
come from the abuse of the use OF IL
ouor and to protect the innocent and
unfortunate who might suffer from the
effects of injudicious selling. 1t IS de-
signed to place the control of the traf-
fic of each town in the hands of that
towns people, who best know their
own needs and weaknesses, and to fur
nish regulations SO strict and effective
that the lawbreaker cannot escape In
community where enforcement is de-
sired, In towns where there is any
considerable demand for liquor, the
new license law holds out certain
hope of relief from the evils of the
present situation. Such towns should
avail themselves eagerly of its aid and
all citizens, regardless of temperance
theories, should unite in giving the
measure fair and unprecedented trial.
Towns where the prohibition sentl-
ment prevails and where the demand
for the sale of liquor is small, may still
under the freedom of local option,
choose prohibition. and find, in the
provisions of the new law against IL
legal selling, more stringent and SEN
sible measures to prevent it than they
had before: while they will enjoy their
share of the benefits which will come
to the whole state through the adop-
tion of the law.
Finally, after we have made our
choice as we think best for the good of
our town, let us see to it that we have
the right. sort of men to enforce the
new law; men who want 1t enforced,
not because they have champloned
it, or because its enforcement VIII
crafty personal spite or prejudices, or
for any other unworthy reason; but be-
cause they have proper respect for law
and Justice and public Improvement
and because they hope through this
means, to advance the moral and in
dustrial standing of their town and its
people.