Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-07-08
That Liquor Law Plank.

There is likely TO be serious misap-
prehension among the people of the
state in regard to the platform prom
ises of the republican party in con-
nection with the local option license
law now in force The liquor law
plank of the platform as written by
the Hon. O. NJ. Barber and as given
out for publication in the newspapers,
reads as follows in its last clause
I'VE therefore recommend to the gem
eral assembly that, having been so
amended as to give force and efi1-
caev to the fundamental principles
upon which the law itself rests, the
same be further continued in force.
This was the stand that public senti-
ment plainly demanded of the party
that the new law be continued in
force. its weak points strengthened by
iudicious amendment, for a thorough
trial-and this is what the people
generally believe the party has prom
Used.
But the truth is that the clause
quoted was amended before the plat
form was adopted and made to read
as follows: I'VE therefore recon-
mend to the general assembly that
this law be amended so as to give
force and efficacy to its Fundamental
principles"
What was the object of this amend
ment? Why drop the recommenda-
tion to further continue in force?"
What loophole for action may 1t offer
to the enemies of the present law!
These are questions for the friends OF
the law to consider.
The platform admits that the law
should have fair trial. but there are
many in the party that declare 1t mas
already had that; and it calls FOR
amendment to give force to the laws
fundamental principles-the licensed
sale of liquor at local option. That is
all. On this platform, what is to pre-
vent an amendment of all save the
local option feature of licensed IL
ouor- selling, by the substitution OF
an entirely different system?
The Middlebury Register says that
the signs of the times in every part of
the state indicate that the people
want local option with state control
and that they want to try it at once.
1t thinks the party ought to meet the
wishes of the people by adopting such
a system at the earliest opportunity.
Will this amendment offer the oppor-
tunity? And was that it's purpose?
It will be seen, after a careful study
of the liquor law plank as finally
amended by the convention that the
republican party platform is exactly
that of the so-called passive local OPP
zionist" of the caucuses-it tolerates
the new law temporarily for reasons
of policy 1t promises nothing but
amendment of a vaguely inclusive
sort
Friends of the new law should not
be misled by any groundless conclu-
sions in regard to what the party
may or may not have pledged itself to
in the matter of the retention of the
measure. They should see to it that
the members of the next legislature
go to Montpelier fully instructed in
every case as to the wishes of the
communities they represent and pre-
pared to fulfil those wishes if honor
ably possible.
The sentiment of the people OF
Vermont is preponderantly in favor of
the continuance of the new law with
spch amendment only as experience /
under it has seemed to prove desir-
able That even the enemies of the |
law know this is evident by the crea-
ton of the ubiquitous passive local
optionist."