Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-01-16
They Are Going to Beat the Bill"

They Are Going to Beat the Biz
Ex-Governor and Congressman Stew
art, confessedlv one of the ablest men of
the State, and one of the most astute in
perceving the sentiment of the people,
said before leaving for Colorado for the
winter, and within less than week
after the passage of the high license bill,
that the people were going to beat the
bill. Very seriously, and evidently with
satisfaction, though mingled perhaps
with some surprise, he reiterated several
times, "They are going to beat it; they
are going to beat IT," And he was right.
They are. But they are not going to
beat it because they want to retain old
conditions. They do not want to retain
them, and they are not going to retain
them. They are going to beat 1t because
it isn't what they want, and because
they have good sense enough to see that
they would better get what they want
now, than to get something they don't
want and then have to change it. They
are going to beat it because they have
confidence in themselves that they can
get what they lwant next time. And
they are right They can. and they will.
In all the history of the State, State
pre-eminent for its courage and indie
pendence, there is no more touching eX-
ample than this of first, its level headed
ness; second, Its self reliance; and
third, better than both these, though
they are splendid qualities, its conscience.
For the peoples hearts have been
touched. Their attention has been called
to the evils of the open saloon, which
Mr.. Clements, pastor from Georgia,
wildly described as the road to hell
and they are not going to have it,
1t isn't alone those that are, known as
prohibtionists that are not going to have
it. though of course they are opposed to
it, but they are not in "A majority to-day.
1t is also the men of different views on
this subject, or of less defined views. 1t is
those whose attention is not generally
particularly called to a question of this
kind. 1t IL the men who work; it is the
men who sometimes drink; of every ma
tionality and all religions, who are rally
ing now to save the State from a great
threatening peril. because they are loyal
and true, and wish TO do their duty 1t is
these men that are rising in their might
all over our beautiful State in every town
from the extreme north along the Cana
4 io,, In, 20
sets; from the Connecticut river to the
New York line and Lake Champlain,
God bless them, that will snow high
license under so etlectually that it will
never trouble the State again.
1t is understood, too, throughout the
State by these voters. and practically by
all others, that this is to be followed by
the best state control law for the regula-
ton of the liquor traffic the next session
of the legislature can devise. and a
law upon which both prohibtionists and
high license men and those that are
neither, can cordially and consistently
unite. But, as we think, it isn't only
that we are going to escape the perils of
tnc open Saloon lnat Is cause 1OT rtlOlc-
ing; for we believe that from all this
agitation and discussion the State will
be aroused and advance as it never has
before in developing its resources and
improving its conditions. For both
wealth and industry are always respon-
sive to good morals.
1t ought to do this it certainly can do
this. Nor do we believe that it will fail
to do it. With democrats and repub-
licans united, with prohibitionists and
high license men harmonized, let the
wealth and the labor unite in every city
and in every village to increase the rev.
enue, improve the beauty, and advance
the prosperity of our State.