Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-01
THE LIQUOR LAW FIGHT.


February.
THE LIQUOR LAW FIGHT.
(Montpclier Cor of the Boston Transcript
In the seven weeks intervening before
the referendum there is likelihood of tho
greatest activity on both sides. Most
prominent and conspicuous among the OPP
ponents of the new law will be, OF course,
the old-timc advocates of state prohibit
ton; ana II will be the effort of the friends
OF the license measure TO make it appear
that nearly all the opposition Is composed
Of men who simply wish to keep the old
prohhitory law unchanged, with all its
offensiveness and inctiicency as tenn
paramco measure. They will doubtless i've
aide, in this ny the intemperance and APP
parent bigotrY Of some who fight against
the change.
The license men have shrewdly compell-
ed the contest to take place in winter,
when the country roads are most likely to
keep from the people a large portion Of
the rural vote, which is sure to Toe against
the new law; but If it should appear that
any large number of voters were th8s
kept from the expression Of their views
next February, the manifest injustice and
unfairness of the referendum Will create
a reaction against its result.
1t is becoming evident already the new
law must meet determined opposition from
trcmc prohibitionists The agitation of
the last year has convinced many former
believers in prohibition that it is a mis-
take to attempt it in large places where
the local sentiment makes it a farce and
worse and that local option must be
honcefortL gwen to the towns and cities,
This does not mean, however, that all
such are ready to see tile saloon with all
its acknowledged evils given a free hand
in \ ermont without more study and
thought as To some other solution OF the
matter. While the Battell bill in its ori-
ginal form may not be the key to the SIT
uatiou, ii has undoubtedly suggested pos
slhillties which with calmer and moro cam
did reelection might easily issue in much
| less objectionable handling of the liquor
traffic tnan the present license law offers.
How many who believe in local option ana
II freer sale of liquor where local sonti-
nent demands it Will jump at this first
offer OF relief, and how many VIII he will
| ing to wait with patience for something
better cannot now be told but the number
/ of those who are willing to see the prohibit
/ tory law changed and yet unwilling 10 see
the saloon with all its evils made the mas
ter Of local and State politics is large
! OF the proposed one, and who may choose
enough to hold the balance of power in
! the coming contest There is also third
class, whose numbers are not yet deter
mined, those who believe in a license law,
but are dissatisfied with specific features
to see this defeated in February in the
hope OF getting a better license la" pass
ed later.
During the agitation Of the last few
months, it has been assumed by many Of
the autl-IrohihitOry newspapers mat II
once this issue could come to a popular
vote any license law would Immediately
receiCe an overwhelming vote II such
vote had been taken last September,
| han ha mo :
full force, and the horrors of prohibition
had been so yiyidly set forth, with no
special critical thought given to the ac-
tual features of license bill, that would
have been the probable result, nut to-day
40 one feels so confident. The high IL
cense tide which rose 50 suddenly last
spring has certainly reached its height
and some careful political observers dc
not hesitate to declare that 1t is now ebb-
ing. Certain II is that the definite idea
of having a saloon enter the block where
one is doing business Is repugnant to bus
mess men in our large centres; and some
who have been lOudest in their clamoI
against the prohibitory law are now eX-
pressing themselves very cautiously con
corning the new measure, There is go
ing to be ii great deal of quiet study OF
the details Of this new measure, which
was rushed through the Legislature witt
practically no thought or discussion after
1t left the committee room. Some of those
features are already seen to be open &c
grave fears even on the part of some who
had a large share in framing the bill
The division of license fees and fines
half and half between the locality anc
the State, is the fairest division feasible
but some will oppose the bill because Il
gives anything to the State and other,
because 1t does not give all to the state
and thus remove the pressure of munic
ipal avarice as favoring the introduction
OF saloons, The most unpopular feature
of the law liz likely to be that which pro
vides for the appointment of the luca
liquor commissioners by the selectmen o.
u town or by the aldermen and mayor o