The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-04-26
LIQUOR LICENSES.
Montpelier's Position, According to
Montpelier Journal.

mOulpciCl JVulhai'
In few days the places licensed to
sell intoxicating liquor in this city will
open for business For some time the
matter Of granting these licenses has
been one of the principal topics Of
conversation and the manner fn which
the licensed places are conducted is a
matter of interest to all our citizens,
whether they voted for or against Ii
cense.
Without intending to advocate any
Utopian ideals it seems to the Journal
that the matter of awarding liquor
licenses, from the day license was voted,
has not been considered in the proper
spirit by some of our citizens. We
pride ourselves and Justly so, on the
fact that we have eliminated PARTISAN
ship from our municipal affairs. We
do not inquire whether man is a
Republican or Democrat when we con-
slider him for Office, but We inquire in
to his fitness for the position That
being true there is no excuse for bring
ing politics into the consideration of
the license question. No man should
be appointed to any Office that has to
do with this matter, because of his
political opinions, or because he seeks
the office, but simply and solely be-
cause he is the best man available for
the position
In the awarding OF licenses the com
missoners should select the men who,
in their opinion, are best qualified to
haze 70 IL IN
temptations to the abuse of its privi-
leges, in the safest and best manner
possible. No man should be granted
license because he needs the money"
The law does not legalize the sale of
liquor primarily for the purpose of set
ting up any individual in lucrative
business No man should be granted
license because Of his personal popu
larity, or because he has pull"
There has been altogether too much
horse shedding and wire-pulling and
intriguing; too much playing of a very
small kind of politics, and so far as
the Republican party is concerned the
Journal is frank to say that in its
opinion the party has been distinctly
weakened by the activity of some of
us uleulneIh III COHHeNJlOH Win the
award OF licenses The Republican
party ought to be kept entirely clear
of this business. If il has friends to
reward, or enemies to punish there are
other and more desirable ways of tax
ing care of them
Every man who is granted liense
deserved fair treatment. He should
not be subjected to petty persecution,
but he should be given to understand
that the law will be enforced without |
fear or favor. The quality of the |
liquor sold should be tested frequently |
and the vile stuff sometimes dispensed |
should be thrown out, if offered for
sale
If a man asks for pint Of liquor
he should get pint, and not frac-
ton of that quantity. Bottles should I
bear a label showing Just how much
they contain. The quantity and the
quality sold should be kept rgidly to
the prescribed standard So far as /
possible, our streets should be kept /
orderly and free from the offensive
features that too often accompany I
open saloons. This should apply to
railroad trains and trolley cars
The law-abiding public is entitled to |
enjoy decent and wholesome conditions. /
The commissioners and the police de- /
partment will find that the public will |
stand back of them in policy of \
square dealing and an honest enforce
ment of the law Montpelier Journal /