The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-03-03
THE LICENSE RESULTS.

Tuesdays vote on the license ques-
ton is significant. Throughout the
State the no license forces appear to
have been materially strengthened by
voters who, a year ago, expressed
themselves in favor of license. In
some places the change in the vote
was very marked as IN Montpelier and
Barre, and-most of all-in Rutland.
In other towns the shift appears not so
marked, but at this writing not
town has been reported with an in
creased license vote. There may be
towns which will show turn that
way bat they will be few at any rate.
The open saloon, as conducted under
the license law now in force, has been
plainly condemned by Vermont free
men. One of the points about the
local option law which has been re-
garded as greatly in its favor by its
advocates is the provision by which
each municipality can say, once each
year, whether Intoxicating liquor shall
or shall not be sold legally Within its
bounds. The people exercised their
right on Tuesday and the words they
spoke were strong. and plain to under
stand. Sweeping changes in sentiment
throughout the State were manifested.
The condemnation of the workings of
the law especially in those towns that
voted "Yes' year ago, was pro.
nounced in no uncertain tone. Towns
that were heavily license swung into
the no license column, while others
remained license by majority which
will put the saloon keepers upon the
anxious seat.
This change in sentiment is the re-
suit of several factors, varying accord
ing to the town and the conditions
that have existed there during the past
year. Take the city of Rutland, for
instance. IL appears that Rutland
was so heavily license year ago that
the saloon keepers felt sure of their
ground and went ahead in their traffic
with hardly any regard for the restric-
tions provided in the law. 1t appears,
too, that Rutland's license commits !
sioners were not the right men for |
such responsible office, and that the |
law was much disregarded, even out. |
side of the saloons. Rutland people !
saw great increase in drunkenness
Earnest local option men turned, !
fought valIantly for no license, and .
they won.
Here in Montpelier there has been
general satisfaction with the work of
the license commissioners. They tried
to do their duty as they understood
1T, though one provision of the law
that relative to treating-has been re-
garded as dead letter by the saloon
keepers. There has been no pretense
of living up to that condition pre-
scribed by the law recently, though at
first it was regarded. But the people
of Montpelier have had to consider an
increased amount of drunkenness.
Drunken men have been staggering
along the streets at all hours of day
and night. The city court record 81 ows
many more arrests-and it was far
from showing all causes for arrest
These facts taken with the very evi.
dent heavy business that the saloons,
the second class places, were d
doing set public sentiment the other >
way. 1t was probably much the same
n other towns as it was here and in
Rutland. I
The no.license people can regard
tuesdays results in Montpelier as
practical Victory fer the temperance '
,ause. Those who desire to see the :
license law itself done away with can
regard the fight is acquiring we'll for y
heir future success. The majority in L
'avor of the saloon was so small on
Tuesday, IN this city and Barre, that
jhe saloon keepers will be put decided a
y ON the defensive during the coming u
year. The license law itself. as we'll y
AS the open saloon, will be on the de-
fensive. The party out of power has q
The privilege of criticising the acts of
The party i'll power. 1t may perhaps
De better for the anti -Iicense cause to
nave matters as they are.
A QUESTIONABLE MEASURE.