Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-10-14
rnE sRAIMrREg SALOON.
LurId Writer In AntI-SaIoon League
Paper Gives IL a Roasting.

4
Paper Gives u Roasting.
The Vermont Issue, the official monthly
publication OF the Vermont Anti-Saloon
league, is edited BY Rev. W. r. Eaven-
port, formerly located at Randolph while
serving Is presiding elder OF the Montpel-
| Ter district Of the Methodist conference.
He is now preaching at Orleans Barton
Landing). About month ago Mr.. Dav-
export paid flying visit to Randolph
and Braintree looking up the influence
and effect on this particular locality of
the second-class saloon at West Braintree.
The result appeared in the October num-
Der OF the Issue Is ''Editorial Correspond
ence," under big scare bead, "One
Saloon, Two Deaths" 1t is written from
| the standpoint OF bitter animosity to the
local option law and desire to discredit its
operation. as will appear from a reading
OF the article, which is given in full as
1 follows:-
Braintree. Aug. 26, 1909. Randolph
people go up to Braintree and drink and
come back here and puke. p is the way
that a shrewd Rgndolph farmer sized up
+ the Braintree saloon from the Randolph
standpoint. And that this Is a correct
4 Sthlcntut u luc Uul III
graphic way, was corroborated BY various
4 business men interviewed during a visit
OF the editor Of the Vermont Issue to the
I thriving village OF Randolph. The dis
tance from this village to the little hamlet
containing the now famous "Braintree
saloon" is but six miles, and the thirsty
denizens OF Randolph can 60 Braintyee-
ward twice day by train at very small
expense. That very many patronize
these trains for this particular purpose
was the universal testimony of all inter
viewed.
II was stated that one OF the apparent
results to Randolph was the beginning OF
the habit OF drink on the part OF quite a
number OF young men who we're not
known by the public to be bibulously in
clined before that time. In addition to
J this, statement was made that young men
who we're drinking only occasionally be-
fore Archer opened his Braintree saloon
we're now regular patrons OF the cup that
stinebriatesp as well as sometimes
'scheers."
The majority OF those interviewed said
that there was more intoxieation on the
streets Of Randolph than before the open
/ ing OF the Braintree saloon year ago last
May. One or two said that the banefuI
results bad not been as apparent as was
expected, but that they existed none de-
MED. They we're especially apparent late
Saturday nights, Shen the streets we're
noiser than aforetime, and the crowd
i more boistercus-that is, In spots.
4 Owing 10 the fact that the village con
/ tanned no regular municipal court, with
/ its records kept from year to year, no
comparison could be instituted to deter
I mine the exact number OF arrests, but it
was generally agreed that the number
was larger than formerly, and that the
number "sent over" TO the county Jail at
Chelsea WAS also much larger.
The consensus OF testimony seemed to
be that, On the whole, the evil effects Of
the Braintree saloon we're more appar-
ent in Randolph the second year than
the first. Such testimony could be, OF
course, no more than mere opinion, but
il was q noticeable fact that no one was
OF the opinion that the situation was
growing better, though some vouchsated
no opinion regarding its growing worse.
without an exception all of the busi-
ness men interviewed deprecated the ex-
istence Of the saloon IN Braintree, taking
this standpoint a. residents OF Randolph,
and as men cognizant OF its effects there.
Several told me that almost, IL NOT quite
without exception, every business man in
the entire village Of Randolph regretted
the fact that Braintree went "wet, and
hoped that the next election might re-
verse the situation, or that some Law
might be passed which would give Ran
dolph relief
When inquiry was made as to whether
any disastrous results other than intoxi-
cation and brawls could be charged up TO
the existence OF the nearby saloon it was
stated that one man, walking on the
track while intoxicated, fell into the river
and was drowned. When the body was
found, one dead hand still clasped a bot
tie OF liquor, the ruling passion being
strong even in death. Another man com
ing back afoot from 3rRintree last winter
was overcome by the cold, laid down and
froze to death near the little Baptist
church at the "Rranch." A third
drunk, :" In q state OF maudlin insensi-
bility, was pulled on from the railroad
track, and thus saved from what would
otherwise have been a third death due to
heexistsnce OF the saloon maintained in
braiutree uy waiter Afcner. lueee facts
were iterated aud reiterated, and some OF
them had been published in the public
prints. 1t was also alleged that Archer's
own brother had come to be so liberal In
his potations that he had lost most ex-
cellent job on the road, and had failed to
land another equally good since.
Various persons were asked why II was
that Braintree went for license In 1908.
One man said it was because the town
was Democratic. But 1t could have been
but little more Democratic that yess than
the previous year when the No majority
was 20, the total vote being but seven
larger Another ventured the opinion
that IL was because the liquor men went
on "still hunt" In the judgment OF
the writer this is the real explanation,
but the "still hunt probably had its in