Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-03
License and the Next Campaign.

II seems to be a difficult matter for
some people to discuss the local option
license law without going to one extreme
or the other; it is all right or it is all
wrong. Some of the radical supporters Of
the present law take deep and lasting
offence, if any champion of State prohibit
ton or other substitute criticlses any
feature of the system formulated at The
last session of the Legislature. and yet in
the next breath they may speak Of various
changes in the law which should be made
by our lawmakers next year.
A marked diversity of opinion exists
with reference TO the course which should
be pursued in connection with liquor leg
islation in the next Legislature. Champ
ions of a change in the last campaign
have in some instances changed their own
minds though naturally this class is con-
fined practically to those who believe in
local option and town prohibition. Those
who believe in license are either satisfied
with existing conditions, or they want the
law amended so as to meet their own
views or interests.
The opponents of license are also di-
vided in relation to the course to pursue
in the next campaign. The more radical
prohibitionists favor movement to re-
peal the license law at the next session
of the Legislature in any event. They
hold that the change of sentiment has
been such as to warrant the belief that
the small margin by which the referendum
was carried could be wiped out while in
the next House as in the present body,
large majority Of the towns would be
represented by opponents of license, and
the result would depend upon the Senate.
Then again in tine event OF a change there
would be contest between the advocates
of State prohibition and of some system
of State control of the sale of liquors as
a beverage
Another class of prohibitionists are in
clined to look at the matter from more
practical standpoint, considering future
results as well as the present; and some
of the leading champions of State prohibit
ton are included in this category. They
say that even If the present law could be
repealed by the next Legislature, it would
be mistake on the part of the opponents
of liquor traffic for beverage purposes to
take that step next year. 1t is urged In
this connection that the repeal Of the
| license law at the next session would in
evitably be followed by another swinging
of the pendulum in an opposite direction
as was the case in other States under
similar circumstances. 1t is held that in
the event of the repeal of the existing
system next year, the cry would be raised
that the law had not been given fail
trial as no system could be adequately
tested in two years; and that there would
be consequent danger of another reversa
in the following Legislature. 1t Is urgec
that at the end of four years on the othe
hand the novelty would have had oppor
tunity to wear off from the license sys
tenn and repeal Of the license law woult
tend to be more conclusive and enduring
than would change next year.
The suggestion has been made that
might serve an excellent purpose to S
amend the existing law at the next SEES
sion of the Legislature as to make it pos
sible for towns to choose between tn
licensed saloon as 1t now exists and som
system that would remove the element O
personal gain from the trafIlc IN intoxicat
! ing liquor as a beverage, thus affordn
the people an opportunity to compare tn
different systems that have been consider