The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-09-15
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.


The Journal prints elsewhere an
other article regarding prohibition
and temperance legislation, to which
the attention of the readers is called.
The writer takes issue with the Jour-
nal on several important points on
which many people honestly differ. 1t
ought not to be necessary, probably
1t Is unnecessary, for this paper to say
that it is quite as anxious as the writ
er of the letter for the advance of
temperance, the growth of sobriety,
/ and the adoption of those measures
which will most effectually restrain
the terrible evils that grow out of the
excessive use of intoxicating liquors
The territorial unit in New England
has been the township for so many
years that it would be well nigh i'm
possible to substitute therefor the
county. The town meeting is an in
stitution so firmly established, and out
of which so much that is good and
! wholesome has sprung, that it would
be difficult to persuade our people that
any county unit of government could
give the same measure of freedom and
'of satisfaction. Il VI t.'4
The Journal objects to the county
option system for the same reason
that it objects to State prohibition be-
cause county option usually would
amount to State prohibition. Today
Mon pelier and Barre, for example,
are ro-license cities. by voluntary
vote their own citizens, but if the
vote Gepended upon the whole county,
which undoubtedly would be against
license, many of the people of these
cities would resent having their local
affairs regulated by the voters of War
rem, Woodbury., Calais, or any outside
towns. With the voters of the coun-
ty responsible for law enforcement
there would be less disposition, this
paper believes, on the part of the cti-
zens of Montpelier and Barre to en-
force the liquor laws in their respec-
tive communities than there is at the
present time.
Probably such law would be still
more difficult of enforcement in ] uni
cipalites like Burlington, ST. Adams
Rutland, and Bennington, where re
voters usually declare for license
There would be a bitter feeling of re
sentiment against the country districts
i provided county prohibition We're Sc
I cured, as very likely it would be voted
j. With hostile local sentiment in these
large centers the law would become
Z more and more difficult of enforce
l. ment, and violations would become
Il more and more open and scandalous
The probability is that eventually
I some leader would arise who would
: raise a standard of revolt similar t.
t the movement led by P. w. Clemen
t and the law would be repealed.
e The Journal believes that there are
i a good many men who vote no" und
: er a local option law, who would vot'
: yes" under a county option law, be
U cause they feel that it is a matter fol
{ the town or city to settle.
e People who are familiar with con
{ ditions in Montpelier. Burlington, st
II Adams and other large communities
in Vermont know that under prohibi
{ ton open bars were maintained wher,
II liquor was sold without any legal re
e striction. Such state of affairs tend!
j to bring all law into contempt.
{ Our correspondent says that hardly
! temperance man desires to reviv'
the town agency" Overlooking his ev
: ident intention to make the terms
: temperance man and prohibitions
synonymous he must realize tina
II some provision must be made for thu
" sale of liquors for medicinal and me
chanical purposes and under compul
sorry prohibition it is exceedingly diff
: ficult to prevent illegal sales at sucl
places.
The record of the Journal is hardl!
such that it deserves the insinuatiol
% that it may furnish editorial ammuni
: ton for the liquor interests. Thi
paper has fought earnestly against thu
~ saloon in Montpelier as the liquor In
,. terests will testify. 1t would be gla'
y If every town and city in Vernon
would vote not to license the sale o
= liquor, but it must maintain the belle
. that under existing conditions a loca
option law is a better temperate
:. measure for Vermont than prohbi
ton.