The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-12-27
Ferauson,s Views

To the Editor of the Montpelier
Journal: have just read your edi-
torial on What Is temperance" an
sweringin the only way possible to
swering in the only way possible to
Standard regarding the temperance
situation in Vermont and the part the
Brewers association" and the state
press of Vermont are taking in the
matter
The attitude of the state press on
the question of the liquor law is such
as to elicit widespread comment of
tn people of the state. Papers which
in the past have taken strong position
in the matter have become so nom
committal that there is continual in
quiry as to where they stand now, and
no one seems able to answer the
question. The best that can be said
Is that the editors are of such unques-
toned character that when the stir
ring emergency arises 1t is consider
ably different in view on the question
of come out on the side of real tenn
perance. They have heard so much
said by Tom Dick and Harry to the
effect that I'VE have got better pro-
hibition now than ever before" that
they are half mind to believe ii in
spite of the facts. There is no good
reason for calling names because one
differs in view on the question OF
which law Is more conductive to TEN.
perance but everybody ought to be
prepared to back up their conclusions
with the evidence of facts which have
! forced them to the conviction. What
! use is 1t to say we have more and
better prohibition In the state as a
whole now than under the old prohi
bition law when every record Is Ia
the contrary. The writer will agree
with the Journal and others who
claim that some Vermont towns now
have an improved condition. but we
will have to differ on the question
as to the number of those towns and
the reason for the improvement. Tc
the license towns which nearly every
I one comedies have large number
Of contiguous towns which are innoc
\ ent sufferers, the number would pro
baby be conservatiyely estimated al
two to every town granting license
We have 20 yes" towns this year
but only % of the 20 have actually
granted licenses. The above basis
would give the state &C whiskey
struck towns or cities in the state, 2.
because of choice, and A in spite O
choice. Therefore at least one-fourtl
OF The state has q worse condition un
der local option and two-thirds o
the towns are thus because an adjaC
ent town has optioned 1t for them
VIII the Journal in the face of Mont
peliers experience deny the above
Now as to the other three-quarter
OF the state which may furnish basil
for the statement OF more and bet
ter prohibition | desire to ask tn
Journal II II has closely scrutinlze,
for the reason for improved condII
ions In such towns as have II. Thos
towns have prohibition the same q
under the old law, the statutes in tn
old law were much the same as {
the new. What reason, other tina
theory, has the Journal for saying O
claiming that the local vote has am
thing to do with the change? Doe
the Journal think that the would-h
violator of the law now stops to thin
that the people have said MOI" Al
the officers inspired by the mandat
OF the March meetings? subm
that such is not the case one VIII
more than II all the people of III
state had by substantial vote d
creed that the open saloon should M
have place anywhere In the state.
think the Journal editor sat at III
table and noted some OF the remark
OF the hotel men at the hearing
week ago on the "lnn Keepers III
ense bill and will remember whit
one hotel keeper gave as his reasc
for not furnishing liquor to autom
bile parties lodging In and out
Vermont Does the editor rememb,
any mention OF the "vox populi as
reason? On the contrary he will.
am sure, remember mention OF
5000 fine as a little too stlff a pr
position to trine with | submit, NJ
Editor. there is the secret OF your b
ter condition In Montpelier al
wherever such Improvement obtall
In the state. A $500 fine for first {
fence Is just as possible and prop
with statewide prohibition as wi
local option prohibition. Keep pr,
ent penalties and do away with pre-
ent opportunity for the resident al
nonresident liquor interests, q
Brewers association" to come
and buy up from 20 10 30 towns ca
year and we would come nearest '