Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-02-07
Wants a Change.

To the Editor of the HERALD
To determine and adopt the best
method for the restriction aud regulation
of the sale of liquor is the most moment
Gus and insistent question that now con-
fronts the citizens of Vermont. A many
sided question, intimately affecting thu
morals and the prosperity of our citizens
and of generations yet unborn, it is
worthy of the most candid and thorough
discussion. Legislation should he based
upon the sound principles of right and
Justice, and in accord with the ideas and
opinions of our best citizens. in order
that it may receive the support of intel
ligent public sentiment in its enforce
ment. Is our present high license law
based upon right principles? Is it in
accord with advanced public sentiment
Is it decreasing drunkenness If so it
should remain; if not it should I've repeal
ed, after fair trial of nearly five years,
and by a referendum, better law be en-
acted. 1t is in theory local option law,
based upon the very small unit of town
choice. The local option which is the
mounting the broad platform of Prohibi
ton is county local option. On the town
system of local option if "A small town or
"A large town votes for license by one
majority it means license and free sale
to the residents of all adjoining towns,
| although they voted no license. Little
East Haven votes license for Island Pond,
| Lyndon and burke; Morrisvile votes Ii
cense for Stowe, Hyde Park, Wolcott
and Hardwick. If we are to have real
and not sham local option let it be by
County as in the West aud South. Is
our present law based upon sound prin-
ciple and in accord with intelligent pub
lie sentiment With our present COM
plicated law, with its half dozen diff
ferent varieties of license, the state gov
ernment for the sake of a paltry revenue
authorizes the appointment of men to
engage in gainful traffic which confess
sedly fosters crime, wastes and misapplies
the earnings of its citizens, largely iu-
nreases the expense of local and state
government; is subversive of the govern
ment itself, of the principles of self con-
troll and ordered freedom on which self
government is founded. The open sale
Of liquor as beverage is countenanced
and protected by state laws and made
respectable by attractive surroundings,
while premium is offered to the licensee
to sell as much az possible to pay his
high license fee and liue his pocketbook
The structure rests on two legs the
greed of the seller and the appetite of the
,irinker--rather ilimsy foundation.
Investigation made in Massachusetts,
by the bureau of statistics under the di-
rection of the Legislature demonstrated
that "a per cent of crime, As per cent OF
pauperisln, and 30 per cent of insanit,
was due to intemperance. Is this un
natural and unholy alliance of law and
liquor of the government with lucrative
traffic which confessedly nurses crime.
insanity and pauperism to continue in.
definitely? We pray LEAD us not into
temptation" and license so called re
spectacle crime factory where every maj,
afflicted with an appetite for liquor who
passes it is tempted by the sight and
smell of liquor and by the presence OF
some OF our smart and reputable citizens
Ind then we square our consciences b,
putting the victims 10 the cooler and dis
gracing his wife and children by fine
and public report iu the papers. Aud
the friends and benefciaries of this sys-
tenn have the monumental cheek to as.
sert that less liquor is sold aud less drunk.
enness caused when it is made a staplt
article of commerce in high places. thai,
when it is stamped as an outlaw, and
sneaked out of dark alleys and bootlags
on the sly. BY their theory the best way
to promote trade is to make it unlawful
aud difficult. There is no evidence tina,
the bootlegger sells less because the IL
icepsee cells more, under the forms OF Ii