Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-02-17
THE MEDDLER.
"u ne ooat ffs yon fm u on"

That license In Brattleboro has been
a fnotor In reducing the town tax can
not be denied by anyone who Is VIII
Ing 10 view the question from an un-
prejudiced standpoint After one
year under conditions resulting IRON
a yes vote the selectmen last Febru-
airy recommended n reduction OF nve
cents In the town tax and stated that
II they knew the town would 80 IL
cense another year they would advise
still further reduction. Tomorrow the
selectmen meet TO formulate their re-
port for the past year. and there Is
small doubt that their estimates VIII
warrant another five cent reduction,
bringing the tax down TO 25 cents. A
tax reduction of 10 cents In two years
means something TO every taxpayer
I'm town, and the most rabid prohi-
bitionlst cannot get away from the
fact that license has been at least
partially responsible for this welcome
state of affairs.
whether the town will continue
under yes regime is n matter that
will be settled at the March meeting
There are many people who believe
that the no vote will be In the MAORI
ty this year. not because conditions
have been such as to warrant any
change but because the town ought 10
try n season Of the strict prohibition
that is supposed 10 come after no.
license vote. But do these people
stop TO think that Brattleboro cannot
give the law any sucn trial? In this
town 1t is not question of licensed
liquor selling versus out-and-out pro-
We're that the case there is
no question how the vote would re-
suit. II is question of whether
will have the liquor sale
under its control or allow II TO be
by those who are subject
to no authority from within the state.
What Is the use OF mincing matters?
The New Hampshire liquor interests
have moved their place of business
as near as possible to the edge of the
own limits, and are no doubt plan
hing for a year of ''unexampled pros
)erity" In case Brattleboro decides |
o turn trade their way.
Shah we do that thing? Shall we
educe the towns revenue by a sum |
II $4,000 or so for the purpose of put
ing ourselves on record as being a
now that such a course will not help
he cause of temperance one iota but
ather tend toward unrestrained traf-
&c In liquor? Those people who say
hat there are many men who will
urn total abstainers rather than go
ut of the state for a drink do not
lace sufficient weight upon the hold
'hich the drink-craving has upon
lany II is the moderate drinker, he
Tho now and then takes a glass OF
Ger. that will not go out of his way
,r II; the man who cannot drink in
federation (and IL Is he for whom
emperance people are working) will
OF let little matter of a few rods
and between him and his rum. II Il
u people were so constituted that
ley coud indulge in alcoholic bev-
rages without fear of over stepping
lie bounds of propriety, the temper
nee question would not be difficult
solution. Unfortunately such a :
ate of affairs is not and can never
:. II is the weak ones, therefore,
Iat we have in mind when we take
the liquor question, and If we can
u Keep the stuff from them alto
liner ought we not to see to ii that II
ey are kept as much under restraint
possible?
How citified we are getting with :
ue-coated and brass uttoned DO =
'eman patrolling our streets in
Dad daylight. Some people pretend
be shocked by such an ostentatious ]
spiay of authority and say that the
-lage Is throwing money away. They
on the principle that 1t is better
wait until the horse is stolen be-
re buying a paddock for the barn
or, Uncle Samuel doesn't think that
~ He is maintaining a cracker
* navy which at present hasn't as
zen to do as our new copper, but he
ar-sighted enough to realize that
ounce of prevention, though its
ce may be high. is well worth
und of cure.
The Meddler.