Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-04-08
Letter from P. Fleming Regarding the
Rum Traffic in Brattleboro.

Editor
Since signing the recent petition for
the calling of special town meeting for
the purpose Of determining the kind Of
licenses to be granted in Brattleboro for
the coming year, ! have been approached
and somewhat annoyed by several citi-
zens regarding my position on this ques-
ton, therefore ! take this opportunity of
publicly declaring myself in the matter
1t has even been suggested that | am in
the employ of Messrs. Gale & Co. and am
working in their behalf in the promotion
of this petition. 1t has not yet been my
lot to let money control the courage of
my convictions and l am not now going
to succumb. | think it is the duty of
every voter, regardless Of the few dollars
or few political friends he may lose. to
| lend not only his name but to cast his
vote for the best interests of the com
munity What business man, what faith
er or employer can canddly say that
whiskey and rum are a necessary com
modify to have in our community? The
town of Brattleboro. by the small ma
| Jor1ty of sixteen votes, unfortunately
went license. 1t is therefore impossible
to suppress the sale of liquor but we can
| by our efforts reduce to minimum some
of its evils, 1t has also been suggested
that Mr.. Laughton had hard work to Sc
cure the necessary six names on this pc
tition and in this as a business man of
your town, | fail to agree The reason
why many merchants might refuse to
| sign such petition is because they are
afraid that by doing il would interfere
with their business. GroCers furniture
dealers, clothiers and all other merchants
might take this view of the matter but
| in my opinion the best interests of our
community should not he considered in
this light While | have been for many
years past engaged i'm the plumbing bus
mess in this town, rum and public policy
I my I 10
not propose that ii shall at this late day
II is rumored that negotiations are now
under way for the lease of the Brattleboro
House. If this he true. the lessee no
doubt, has in view the application of "a
license, which, if granted. will constitute
one more rum hole in our streets, and if
granted to the parties suggested will bid
fair to be the worst Brattlehoro has had
yet to contend with. My attention has
been called to the fact. and substantiated
by proof, that on Monday last. there were
by actual count Il drunken men ON our
streets. y week ago last Thursday four
drunken men We're tied with their hands
behind them to a post on the Island to
await the arrival of n Hinsdale officer.
and i'm my opinion most of this drunken
ess was caused by rum and whiskcy.
Under such n condition of affairs | deem
ii the duty of every man to do all I'm his
power to suppress such an evil and pro-
tcct not only his own family but that of
his relatives ana friends and save them
from disgrace and restitution In my
opinion the rum business of Brattleboro
is now largely conducted by outside money
ana influence, Why will it not be better
to have the larger part of it conducted
outside of our village and our state.
also wish to call the attention of the
wives and mothers to these conditions of
affairs and urge them to use their in
lluence on their husbands and sons in
suppressing the sale of rum and whiskey.
Were / to have my way not a drop of
liquor of any kind would be sold.
Respectfully,
p. FLEMING.
Brattleboro, VT, April I, 1904.