Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-01-02

range themselves under the banner of
intemperance-took possession of the
land" (Rowntree & Sherwell, page
26l.)
If the principle of private sale be a
good one, why is it that the government
of Russia has within the last decade
made extraordinary efforts to take it out
of private hands and put it upon what is
proving to be a distinctly better basis .?
Ii the sale of liquor by private indivld-
uals be a good thing. why is it that so
astute politician and statesman as Mr..
Chamberlain should have seriously pro-
posed Empowering town councils to
buy up the business of the public houses
in order that the element of private gain
might be eliminated from the traflc?"
You say that this resolution came to
nothing. 1t is true. And the fact has
grave significance for the people Of Yer
mont. 1t did come to nothing. Aud 1t
/ is not likely TO come to anything for
many years in Great Britain because the
business Is so widespread; II returns
such enormous profits that the organized
saloon or public house interest is so
powerful as TO be able to veto almost all
scientific efforts towards the betterment
of bad conditions. DO you want to in
troduce that influence which is bound to
be political influence into this state:
III time sufliced, | might say more,
stating facts drawn from the experience
of the Carolinas, Alabama and Florida
with reference to this most serious and
fundamental phase of the question. But
| believe that have said enough to i'm
peach this present bill of the folly of set
ting at naught the one clear and distinct
fundamental principle that has been
evolved out of the pain and suffering,
out of the confusion and turmoil, out of
the careful study and bitter experience
which this problem has occasoned dur
ing the last half century.
OF course, if there is a man here who
Wants the licensed saloon Just because he
wants il; If there is man here who
wants anything Just because he wants it,
and without any reference to whether il
be wise and right and accordant with
reason and knowledge. then what say
will have no weight with him. am not
talking to him. But to you who are
seriously DESTROYS of doing your best for
yourselves, your families, your town,
and your state-to you, | say, that this
bill is an unsafe measure.
Now | want to call your attention to
the circumstances in which the construc-
ton of the bill has taken place. For
here again | find reason to think this
measure all unsafe and dangerous one
Ii Is the result of a sort OF political COM
promise. | am not here this morning to
discuss politics. | do not care to pro-
nounce upon the character of this com.
promise, or to say whether it were good
or bad, wise or foolish. | do not con.
denim it as a political measure. That is
beside my purpose. But | do say, and
say with all the emphasis that | can
command, that a measure bound to affect
the manners and morals of every com
munty in the state, and liable to affect
the integrity and moral health of every
home in the state, is matter of such
profound social importance that the ele-
ment of party eXpediency ought not to
dictate a syllable in it, What think you
of measure in which political expedi.
ency has dictated not one syllable only
but the bulk of its most significant
clauses.
1t is frankly admitted by some of Our
legislators that they voted for this bill
because they conceived themselves to be
under obligation TO submit such meas
ure as this to the people. | respect the
sense of honor which | believe to have
animated many of these gentlemen, even
when | can not altogether agree with
their conclusion. Some of these meu
say further that they will oppose the
|, measure and adyise their friends 10 OPP
pose il. And here, | believe, they have
both honor and sound reason upon Their
side. But | submit to you that such al
attitude would be prima facie evidence
that the measure was of doubtful char
acter, even though nothing else could be
Immediately alleged against it,
And here, too, | want to utter WORD
of warning. There is little doubt but
that efforts will be made by some un
, scrupulous men in both parties to beat
their henchmen into the support of thi;
bill next February with the club of party
loyalty. They will say that this meas
uIe is submitted TO the people in fulfil
ment OF pledge. And that the pledge
further requires that the measure be sup
ported at The polls. | trust there is nc
, member of this company to whom
/ speak so feeble either in intellect OF
courage as to be mlsled by any sucf
! pestilent folly as that. So far as any
pledge is Involved it Is simply pledge
to submit measure bearing upon thi.
, general question to the people that lheil
free and candid "yea" or ''nay" NAV be
taken upon it. The most extravagani
claims of party loyalty can not for one
mement demand yea vote upon this
evil bill.