Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-02-19
VERMONT MOVES.

%
Vermont has. turned over a new
loaf For 80 years II has been IN
lawful in that state 10 manufacture
or sell. except for medicinal purposes
under restrictions. any sprtuous vim
uous or malt liquors The enactment
uf her prohtbltory law In 1859 follow.
ED similar action nf the state of
Muiue year before Every New
England state has at one time or an
other enacted prohibilory law The
pruhibitory movement was inaugural
cd by earnest men and women. Tho
great apostle Of temperance in this
country was John II Cough who dur
ing tho forlics electrified the people
with the dramatic presentation OF the
horrors which follow in the wake of
lntompcrance. and aroused interest In
measures of reform. Father Mathew.
the great Irish ngitator Of the temper
nncp question, visited this country lat
or on and induced many thousands of
people 10 join temperance societies.
Al every temperance meeting the to
tai abstinence pledges were numer-
ously signed
The Anglo,SaXon race has done It's
run share of the worlds drunkenness
In this country tho drinking habit has
abatcd greatly within the last quarter
OF century Drinking men do not,
as ruic, upplc NIL day long.
strong current of public opinion has
set In which makes The old habit of
...,..t{,., ,trr,utttnv uud Iuiurfnna Ia
those who practice IT, The young
man whose breath is perfumed with
liquor finds 1t uphllb work to secure
employment and Is not always cor
daily welcomed by his best girl.
Dinner drluldng is generally kept
within rational bounds
Prohibition has never been popular
except among its dcyotees 1t has
heon denounced as irrational. unreas-
enable and tyrannical II has been
unable to secure legislation outside of
New England. except in two or three
western states II has been impossi-
bic To enforce IL rgidly oven in
Maine Vermont or Massachusetts a
few years ago 1t was found that 200
thiIhi lNlAlA llAAl'il llANuNtN Uhtl httU
issued Tor the state OF Maine alone.
SO that at least 200 dealers found
profit In the traffic despite the state
law And yet In that very state there
was "A general agreement that the pro
hibitory law was beneficial. and men
who drank out OF their own private
bottles became reconcilcd to the in
convenience OF the prohibition law for
the great amount of eyil II sup
pressed
While the prohibition law was en-.
forced In Massachusetts It's operations
were an interesting study. Never
were people so successful in enjoy.
ing all the pleasures OF vice and all
the rewards of virtue There was
provision In the prohibltory law OF
that state creating a state police. or
state constabulary. MS It was called,
for the great cities. This was be
cause that the legislators believed
that the Boston policemen could not
be relied upon TO execute the law, and,
with that charming simplicity which
charactcrlzcs rofurmers generally.
they Imagined that men called state
constablcs' could live in Boston and
remain mcontaminatcd by the sym
plthios which might anect the police
men. one OF these state constablos
was asked by stranger in the city
how The next fail election would 20 if
thorc should be any serious attempt
Ia enforce the liquor laws on the
swell saloons His reply was that
Republican would not be able to 20
up the steps of tho state house. much
less be member of the legislature.
Al all the great hotels in Boston the
wine list was as extensive as 1t was
at those In New York. Al every one
OF these hotels any respectable look