The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-01-21
PLANS FOR FUTURE.

Burlington, jan 20. - Seven men,
bers of the committee of fifteen met
yesterday afte rnoon at the Van Ness
house TO discuss the progress of the
campaign against the referendum,
Those present were G. S. Emery of
Chelsea @. p. Smith of Burlington,
j. l.. Sewall of st. Adams, Joseph
Battell of Middlebury, G. S. Page of
Hyde Park, Frank Plumley of North
field and H. E. Wheeler of Rutland.
Satisfactory reports were received
from all parts of the State and much
enthusiasm was manifested by the
leaders of the campaign in the differ
ent sections.
The work is being organized by
practical business men and in Wash
ington, Orange, Caledonia. Orleans,
Lamoille and Franklin counties there
are complete county and. town organ
izations. Mr. Battell is looking after
the work in Addison county and work
in Rutland county will be begun at
once by H. e. Wheeler of Rutland
and prosecuted with great vigor Ex-
tensive organizations will also be per-
fected this week in Windham and
Bennington counties.
A report of progress was submitted,
in which the work of the committee
thus far was submitted, together with
the statement that the reports that
have come in during the last ten
days, including many admissions from
friends of high license is convincing
evidence that substantial majority
has already decided against this new
measure; the present task is to make
this majority as large as possible, and
see that every no" voter reaches the
polls.
Looking to study and settlement
of the liquor question in Vermont in
case negative vote is taken at the
referendum, the following petition to
Governor Mccullough was framed:
The committee of fifteen, in accept
ing leadership of the movement
against the open saloon for Vermont
took their stand upon the following
statement of principles:
In urging the defeat of the sub
mitted law we do not commit our
selves to the unqualified approval of
every provision of the prohibitory
law, nor contemplate the indefinite
continuance of present conditions. If
victorious we assert our willingness
to undertake the initiative in propos-
ing such legisl alton as experience and
study may demonstrate to be best
adapted for promoting the interest of
true temperance in Vermont.
We .recongnize the unrest conspic-
uous in the State concerning the
present law; but we are confident that
the substitution of the legalized sa-
loon as a remedy for existing ills
would be disastrous mistake We
therefore believe that the immediate
operation of the new law should be
deferred by a no" majority on Feb
ruary 8, and we hereby unite with
the committee of fifteen, in case of
such negative vote, in requesting his
excellency, Gov. j. G. Mccullough,
acting in an unofficial capacity, to
name twenty five or more citizens of
Vermont, representing different Sec
tions, interests, political parties and
views on temperance legislation and
to request them to act as committee
of inquiry, with the following duties
To receive and weigh carefully any
offered expressions of individual SEN
timent among our inhabitants; to in
vestigate as fully as may be expedient
the principles, methods and results OF
restrictive liquor legislation outside
our State; to formulate any methods
of dealing with the traffic in intoxi-
cants which may seem to them wise,
and TO report to their earliest conven-
fence to his excellency Governor, Nc
Cullough, and to the people of the
, State through the press, any recon-
mendations for future Legislative ac
: tion.