News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-02-23
A Strong Plea For No License
Mr.. EDIToR:-

when the meetings. in session. lfduring
the past year something has seemingly
gone wrong in relation to public affairs;
if someone has apparently been favored
more than another; if some have been
deprived in any way of equal rights with
Others if there are those III town who
are getting an unequal return with Others
for an equal taxation, the town meeting
is the place and time To talk over all these
matters and have them properly adjusted.
Regarding the expenditure of the public
tunds-the money obtained by taxation,
the two great items as we all know,
are for the maintenance of the schools
and the roads, and it is we'll TO thorough
study the town reports with reference
thereto.
Yet undoubtedly matter which more
greatly concerns us all than anything
else that will come up for decision is the
question of License" We can all man.
age in some way to pay our taxes, how
ever great the burden, but we cannot
always retrieve the loss (Which is not
always a pecuuiary one and cannot be
measured in money values) occasioned by
the sale of rum. If we do not care to
assume the responsibility of being our
brothers keeper we certainly have no
right to lay stumbling blocks in his way;
we have no right to tempt him, Indeed
it has been held in at least one court that
a license for the sale of Intoxicating bev-
erages as such is UNCONSTITUTIONAL We
must all admit that there are those
among us who have not the power to
resist temptation, owing either to appe-
tite or habit or both-then it becomes all
the more the duty of every voter to see
to it that his individual vote shall be
counted in opposition to placing temp
tation before his brother-his neighbor.
Agood neighborhood, made up of course,
of good neighbOrs, has a great bearing in
making life worth the living, and we can
not afford to do ought that shall tend to
make those among whom we live other
wise than good, sober, upright, honor
able neighbors and citizens.
The cause OF temperance and sObrietyis
gaining ground all over our country, not
only in Vermont but in every other state
as we'll In our own state in 1908 there
were 90 wet towns towns in which in
toXicating liquors were sold, in which
many man became poorer in purse and
degraded in the eyes ofeveryone, and other
men had that which should have gone for
the support of their families and the bet
ter education Of their children. In 1909 |
there were but 81 wet towns in our whole |
state, which most conclusively shows the |
trend of public opinion. Not only are we
affected in social, and many in pecun- |
larry way, but the worst of all is the in |
creased amount of crime resulting from |
the sale and excessive use ofardent spirits. |
Read the following story clipped from |
newspaper, then think twice before being |
a party to the placing of temptation in |
your brothers way, which you surely |
will help to do by voting for license:-
Prisoner at the bar" said the judge,
have you anything to say why sentence
Of death should not be pronounced upon
you ?"
81 have, your honor. You have asked |
me question; and | now ask, as a last
favor on earth, that you will not inter
rupt my answer until am through
81 stand before this bar, convicted of
the wilful murder of my wife. Truthful |
witnesses have testified to the fact that l |
was loafer drunkard, and wretch :;
that returned from one of my prolonged
debauches and fired the fatal shot which
killed the wife had sworn to love, cher
ish and protect.
But, may it please the court l wish
to show that am not alone responsible
for the murder of my wife.
Eyes, l repeat it, l am not the only
one guilty of the murder of my wife. The
Judge on the bench, the jury in the box,
the lawyers within this bar, and most of
the witnesses, including the pastor of the
old church, are also guilty, before AL
mighty God, and will have to stand with
me before his judgment throne, where we
shall all be righteously judged for all our
thoughts, words, and deeds.
eff there had been no saloons in my
town l should not have become drunk
ard, my wife would not have been muir
dered, and should not be here now
ready to be hurled into eternity. Had it
not been for these human traps l should
have been a sober man, an Industrious
workman, a tender father, and loving
But today my home is de-
,troyed, my little children cast out on to
he world, while l am to be hanged by
he strong arm of the state.
For one year our town was without
A saloon. was one of those who signed
he remonstrance against the reopening
IF saloons in our town. One-half of this
ury, the prosecuting attorney on this
,ase, and the judge who sits on this bench,
al voted for the saloons. By their votes
and influence saloons were re-opened, and
hey have helped to make me what am
II began my downward career at a
aloon bar, licensed and protected by the
roters of this town. Had it not been for
he license voters, the saloons which have
wrecked my life and destroyed my home 8
would not have existed. After the sa- q
oons you have established have made :
ne drunkard and murderer l am now
aiken before another bar, the bar of JUS
ice, and now-the lawpower will conduct !
ne to the place of execution, and hasten :
nv soul into eternity. shall appear be-
ore another bar then-the judgment bar &,
f God
"You licensed the saloons which made p
ne a murderer. l am the logical product =
f your own votes, and you are guilty
nth me, before God and man, for the I
iurder of my wife.
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