Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-16
Two Points OfNieW.

1t was inevitable that developments in
Middlebury in connection with the open
ing OF the first licensed drinking places
IN Vermont would provoke varied com
ment on the part of both advocates of
license and the champions of prohibition
under the local option law. one point
Of view is taken by the esteemed Barre
Times which has been moderate in its adj
Vocacy of license. 1t holds that an opin-
ion of the operation of the law should
not be formed from this one case alone
and argues that it will be only fair for
the public to suspend judgment until the
act has fair trial under normal condi-
tons. 1t continues:
For two reasons the conditions were not
normal in this instance. In the first place
there were the usual attendant circum-
stances following any radical change,
the tendency to immoderation. 1t makes
no difference what the nature of the
change Is. it is generally accompanied
by Just such an extreme as charac tcri2ed
the opening of the saloon in Middlebury.
The friends of the law expected it, Then
again the conditions that obtained for II
month or more prior TO the opening Of the
saloon were unnatural in the State of
Vermont. Never before had there been
30 near an approach TO absolute proh.bi-
ton from the time when the licenses were
first granted, That was strong factor
IN the unusual conditions that followed
the beginning Of the license law in Mid
debury. And Tor these reasons friends
and foes of the law should suspend iudg
ment for n while.
An entirely different position is taken
with reference to the situation by the
Rutland Herald which comments as fol-
lows:
The new local option law of this State
contains this provision: "A license may
be revoked by the board for IA violation
of any OF the provisions Of this act"
Upon the face of 1t somebody in Middle
bury must have violated the provisions
of the act if the stories circulated as ia
The disgracefu scenes of Saturday night
are founded on fact. We have heard of
no denials; while the numerous arrests
indicate that Middebury did not end the
week absolutely sober. In a way Mid
dlcbury has disgracod itself in the eyes
of the State. There is but one thing ia
do. and that course is pointed out in the
new law. The license commissioners
should make a prompt investigations and
those dealers who insulted the good PEG,
pic of Middlcbury Saturday night by rank
and demoralizing violations Of the law
should promptly lose their licenses Mid.
dlebury cannot afford to pass this mat,
ter by in silence. The town is now under
cloud of disgrace The State expect,
her to redeem her good character.
No one will dream of charging the
Herald with being prejudiced in favor OF
the prohibition element, but its position
In some respects is well taken. TO allow
the law to he violated in the most ruth
less manner at the very outset without
rebuke would be likely to usher in sucl
a saturnalia in other license towns rs
would make certain the repeal of the Law
10y tho Legislature one year from next
October.
No true champion OF the cause Of tenn
perance and good government will wei
come scandals and lawbreaking as q
means to the success of his preferred
method Of restricting the traffic in intoxi
eating liquors Good citizenship comes first
and methods of solving various problems
of this character second. and good citi-
zcns will ever champion the cause Of law
and order. whatever legislatures may do
No intelligent man will judge the new