The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-01-29
Failure OF HIGH
LICENSE.
Testimony of Close Observers of the
Practical Working of the Two Sys-
TENS, Morally and as Affect
ing Business.

my DNSlutSh.
The Waterman and Journal reprints
below the evidence of several persons
highly competent, through their in
telligence, their experience, their ca
pacity as close and accurate observ-
ers, and through their long residence
in Vermont and the States of their
adoption, to testify on the subject in
question-and their testimony is en-
titled to implicit belief
Mr. King is lawyer in Brockton,
the son of Hon. Nathaniel King of this
city His communication was pub
lished in the Waterman and Journal
in August and is here reproduced as
having direct bearing on the ques-
ton now directly at issue. Mr.. Kings
evidence should be read and seriously
pondered by the business men of Mont
pelier, and every other business COM
munity in Vermont Mr.. Kings
statements are strongly supported by
similar evidence furnished by G. S.
Howard, OF the Brockton Tilues, some
two years ago engaged in the business
Office of the Waterman and Journal.
The identity of the other writer's is
explained by their letters. Miss Fisk's
and DR.. Frost's letters were addressed
to Hon. Frank Plumley, Washington
county member of the committee of
fifteen. Miss Fisk is in charge of the
Home Department of the New Eng
land Deaconess Association, benevo-
lent and reformatory organization of
Boston. Dr.. Frost needs no introduce
ton to Eastern Vermont communities
or elsewhere in the State. Subjoined
are the letters:
G. @. KING, ESQ.
Editor of Daily Journal 1t has
been suggested to me that an account
of the experience of the city of Brock
ton in its trial of the much praised
policy of licensing the sale of intox-
icating liquors might be of interest
to your readers, inasmuch as it is
just now so warmly urged that Ver-
mont shall do as Brockton then did
namely, try the policy of licensing
after years of alcoholic drought.
Brockton purely manufacturing
city, then containing 80. 600 working
people for nearly its entire popula-
tion was of the working class had
annually decided by popular vote in
favor of the policy of absolute prohi-
bition during eleven years, by good
solid plurality, when, in 1898. re-
versal of policy was chosen. Up to
that election the merchants. manu-
facturers and IA majority of the fac
tory employees had been positive that,
under no license, the merchants had
steadier and better paying class of
customers, the manufacturers had
more efficient and steadier helpers
and the employees more money to in
vest in homes and comforts, than
under any other policy. Under such
policy the growth of the city had
been steady and very gratifying.
From 300 to 500 new houses were an
nually erected, une savings DanKS
gained steadily in deposits, and the
merchants prospered because they had
customers who were not squandering
their money on liquor.
The rigid enforcement of the Faxon
law, so-called, cause the reversal of
the policy above stated. This law
was peculiarly annoying, as it COM
PEELED every person ordering liquor
by express to cause the package con-
tanning the liquor to be labelled in
such way that the whole neighbor-
hood could inform themselves as to
who had purchased liquor and how
much and the liquor could not be
called for and quietly taken away
from the express Office, but must be
delivered by the expressman at the
house or place of business of the ad-
dressed.
The policy of license was, as we be-
lieve, fairly tried under a nearly
perfect law, as result of the vote
that year. Three well-known and
alb men were appointed as license
commissioners and were paid sufficient
salaries to ensure their whole time
and attention to the enforcing Of the