Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-01-29


most places. License means the
legalized saloon--a place where men
congregate, learn to drink and to fol-
low the devil in his worst forms.
The present question is not, Shall
prohibition continue as it is indef-
initely? but Shall prohibition give
way to license-local optionp Now if
the voter really believes that under
the pending act Vermont will be better
off than under prohibition it is his
duty to vote for the act otherwise he
should vote against it. If he is not
suited with either system, he should
exercise his own judgment in deter
mining which has the more merit, or
rather the less demerit.
1t is apparent that a large majority
of what may be called the naturally
neutral at this time have made up
their minds to oppose the license act.
Weighing the question from every
point of view, they have arrived at the
conclusion that prohibition with all its
ills is more desirable than license.
Forced to make choice, they prefer
the drastic and sumptuary system that
we have to an era of licensed saloons,
run by men of the standing that com
monty secure licenses, with the ava
rice of their species, intent primarily
on their own gain. They choose the
plan which, rigidly enforced, means
the total extinction of liquor selling for
beverage purposes, rather than the
scheme which virtually allows it to
run riot, to what they deem the seri- |
GUS injury Of our state and people.
This is the position of the advocates
of state control in this juneture, and
we claim it is not inconsistent Stop
ping short Of acceptance of the pro-
hibitory theory that all liquor selling
except for necessary purposes is
morally wrong and should be punished
as a crime, we who hold that a safe
middle ground is yet obtainable are
even more adverse to accepting the
extreme of practically free
selling which this act would surely
We believe that the fatal defect of
license is not in its theory, but in its
operation. The motive of self-gain is
so strong that it breaks away from all
bounds that law may seek to set to it.
Give us a law that will permit the
liquor traffic under very restrictive
and place its administra-
ton in the hands OF reputable men
who are compensated without regard
to their sales-in other words, strike
out the element of personal gain-and
you viii suit us exactly. Place the
traffic directly under the control of +
The state, with men of character and $
to conduct it, strictly ac-
and directly responsible for
is management, and you will have a +
,ystem that has worked well wherever Y
ried and, as sentiment now exists in 5
Vermont, promises very superior re- !
suits over either of the other plans.
1t is clear that this kind of law |
will come sooner if license is defeated I
han if it is enthroned. Should it I
win, whatever the results, we should :
hear the appeal, Give the new law a /
chance; don't change it until it has
had fair trial. Every person hold
ing license or hoping to hold one
would strive nightly to continue the ,
system. These would be aided by all
those elements that can be so easily
handled in that direction. A victory
now for license would give it immense
prestige. 1t would be established, and
the initiative would have to be taken
by its opponents. On the contrary,
If this act is defeated, all signs point
toward an adoption of the state con-
troll theory. Erstwhile prohibition
lists are more amenable to reason now
than formerly. They realize that their
system has grave defects. They have
shown a disposition to unite with the
moderates for better law. The Com
mittee OF Fifteen, who are leading the
fight against the pending bill, recog-
nize the urgency of reform and have
taken action that should lead to re-
suits, in case the act is defeated. Pro- /,
hibition received an amazing rebuke
last summer and fall that has not been
forgotten. Its supporters will not
claim the defeat of local option as a
reversal and a vindication Of their
theory, but will join in what should
manifestly be the just conclusion. that
Vermont wants neither the present
brand Of prohibition on the one hand 1
nor the licensed saloon on the other