Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-02-12
yes" or mo 2"


The local option act having become law,
Randolph, like other towns, is confronted
with a condition.
Shall the town vote "Yest at the coming
March meeting, thereby authorizing the
issuance of licenses for the sale OF liquor
as a beverage, or shall it vote "No" and
forbid the sale thereof.
The town gave a good, clear majority OF
14s against the act on the referendum, and
az first thought il would seem altogether
improbable that Randolph would turn
around and vote license the next month.
Yet il is true that certain influences are
at work which bid fair TO land the town
on that side.
Since the act passed, many voters have
been studying as 10 how it would affect
this town. They find that il Randolph
votes "Non the sale OF liquor will be limit
ed to what is dispensed by the druggists,
all of which must be in conformity with
regular prescriptions written by practising
physicians. These prescriptions must
specify "the ailment for which the pre-
scription is given"
Now it is apparent that this kind Of SER
vice will not satisfy great many of our
people, among them some who oppose
liquor selling and drinking ON principle.
Ii does not cover even the necessary uses
for which liquor is required. There is no
provision by which il can be purchased
for mechanical or chemical purposes. IL
you want a pint OF alcohol to run a spirit
lamp or to cut camphor, or to do scores of
other things that do not even suggest in
temperance how are you going to get II Z
II you want brandy or wine for cooking,
will you get the doctor to prescribe for
your And how can he prescribe, stating
the ailment from which you suffer, in or
der that you may get alcohol or whiskey
or other spirits to keep in the house for
use in future emergency, like sickness or
accident?
From these considerations, a good
many of our temperance people-and
most Randolph people are OF that kind
feel that necessity demands other sources
OF supply than the drug stores. The town
has been very well served for the past
eight years through its liquor agency.
+. II. Joslyn, agent, has handled the
business with unusual good judgment
and discretion. There have been very
few complaints and no scandals. Mr..
Joslyn has positive way OF saying mol"
to persons who he knows would use
ough knowledge of bis customers in his
long experience. He keeps a clean place,
where any lady is perfectly willing to go
at any time.
MIR. Joslyn ls willing to take out a
second-olass license, il the town votes
ayes" This would give him the right
''to sell intoxicating liquors Of any or all
kinds, not to be drunk on the premises"
The fee is $500. In practical operation,
there would be very little difference be-
tween this and the agency system, except
that Mr.. Joslyn would buy the liquors
himself would be responsible and under
heavy bonds to conduct the business
properly, would realize the profits him
self, and patrons would not have TO
.'sgn the book" There would be no
liquor in sight, no selling by the glass
and things would go on with little actual
change from the present.
This town will not stand for open sal
oons. A great many who voted for local
option viii draw the line there But il
some safe way Of handling the traffic, like
that outlined above, can follow a "Yes"
vote, under the necessities of the case,
many who have worked against a change
in the law will be willing to give it a
years trial. One second-class license
would answer all purposes for this town,
aside from the druggists licenses.
There is no direct way of deciding this
matter, as a town. IL Randolph votes
"Yes,m the selectmen will appoint three Ii
cense commissioners whose duty il is to
say how many, what kir OF and to whom
licenses shall be granted. II is probable
that some understanding might be arrived
at in advance Of town meeting that would
be clear to the voters and govern their ac-
tion.