Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-02-12
THE MEDDLER.
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Two weeks from Tuesday It viii be
up to the voters Of Brattleboro to de-
eide how the liquor question VIII be
met during the coming year; whether
the present method Of controlling the
traffic viii be continued or "A season OF
prohibition under the new law be CIV
en- trial. The matter IN one In which
every voter should be interested for the
question Is of vital Importance to the
town. Since last year the conditions
have changed considerably In that the
brewery" so-called Is no longer an
outlaw establishment but licensed un-
der the laws of New Hampshire. The
proprletors of the island resort are
practically sure of having their licenses
renewed and there is even some talk OF
their erecting n hotel at the east end
of the new bridge. A vote against H.
cense. therefore. would not put Brat
tleboro on n strict prohibition basis;
1t would simply turn the tide Of the
liquor traffic across the river where
It's COHtTOi WOuiu DE Hlore uiiiItui''
This phase of the question will no
doubt have its effect on the settlement
of Brattleboro's course at the March
meeting. Absolute prohibition, n con-
dition which would be welcomed by
many people, is out of the question.
The issue resolves itself into the best
method of handling the liquor traffic.
Certainly 1t would do Brattleboro no
good to decide against license when
this course would only take the control
of the traffic entirely out of its hands.
As long as liquor Is to be sold In the
neighborhood 1t seems to The Meddler
that the better course would be to have
as large n proportion as possible dis
pensed by licensed places which are
subject to the strict regulations of the
Vermont law. No one who has watch
ed the working of the law In Brattle-
boro during the past two months can
help being convinced that there are
advantages in having license retained
provided the licensees live up to the
which are imposed upon
them. Since last December the num-
Der of arrests for intoxication has been
exceedingly small, and there has been
no perceptible decline in the moral
standing Of the community as a whole.
A saloon, the least mention of which
formerly brought visions of crime and
degeneracy to many, has so far proved
the best kind of a liquor dispensary.
Its open method Of doing business
makes 1t easily watched and keeps its
continually on the lookout !
against breaking the law.
These facts should be considered by |
every citizen before his vote is cast !
on March 1. II the majority decides
in favor OF no license then The Med |
dler will do what he can toward en- |
forcing the new order of things, al
though such a decision in the minds Of |
many would be a hindrance rather than |
4 help toward the cause Of temperance |
In Brattleboro with conditions as they |
are The old proverb that "clrcum-
stances alter cases" Is decidedly APP
plicade.
All true sportsmen will be interested
m the recent action of the Greenfield
Sportsman's club in deciding to pur-
,hase a quantity of grain for distri-
1ution among the cartridges and quail
n that portion of Franklin county.
There Is no better way to assist In
he preservation Of the game bird. This
winter has been hard enough on the
nan who gets his three squares day
o say nothing of the feathered crea-
ures which are obliged to forage for
heir daily sustenance. Hunters here
bouts were disappointed by the
carcity Of birds last fall but few of
hem think of the matter again until
he beginning Of the next open season.
Z game birds were given attention the
ear round this scarcity could be done
way In time.
Speaking of birds recalls to The
feddler that the trout season Is COM :
ng again Already rods are being re-
arnished and tackle overhauled in
of the good time that ev-
~ fisherman hopes will be his this
pring. Every year, however, the num-
err of anglers to each trout grows {
lrger in windham county. One
eason for this increasing proportion
because the streams hereabouts are
OF stocked often enough, Plenty OF \
-out fry and fingerlings can be had
.om the state hatchery every fall up !
n application to the state fish !
commissioner, but the fact that the \
pplicant has to see that the young !
.ers are planted properly prevents =
ANY people from sending for them.
a few sportsmen would get togeth- =
at the close of the next open season n
nd make themselves responsible for '
lie proper distribution of fish, their :
.ward would be forthcoming in the H
purse of a year or two. !,
P
The Meddler is reliably informed b
lat the Thompson will, to which he Z
llled attention last week, specifies n
lat the attention of the people of s.
rattleboro shall be called to the pro-
sions of the will three times during B
e year. through the medium of the :,
cal papers The statement that the N
md must be advertised emiannually 81
as not accurate. although the facts "
not particularly affect the criticism. 3,
he advertising man, however, who +
i'd that no such notices had ever APP g
Jared in the Reformer was wrong, +,
the notice has appeared two or three T.
mes previous to this issue. in which y
appears again. The Meddler is not r
pig-headed as to be unwilling to X
himself in the wrong. =