The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-18
The License Vote

AS a result OF Tuesdays election %
out of 246 towns and cities in Yer
mont voted not to license the sale of
intoxicating liquor This means that
practically 81 per cent Of our towns
and cities will have prohibition back
ed up by the direct and immediate au-
thority of the people. 1t is probable
that out of this twenty-five license
towns and cities that at least five or
six will not contain saloons as the
towns are too small to make 1t pro
fitable to take out q license.
Last year six license towns did not
open saloons and in one town, Fay
ston, the license was revoked before
the end of the year. If five Of the
twenty-five license towns should not
grant licenses that would result In
prohibition in SO per cent OF Vermont
municipalities.
A study of the license returns since
the local option law was passed will
show a steady decrease In the mum
Der of towns voting license. For hve
years the number has been less than
thirty and the time seems not far
distant when 1t will be below twenty
This year the number Is lower thar
ever before under the present law
For the first time Washington county
Is dry. Nearly half the counties oil
the state-six out of fourteen-wil
contain no saloons this year and two
counties will have only one license
town each. There are only six lie
ense towns on the east side Of the
state. Surely this is an encouraging
outlook for the friends Of temperance
who realize that temperance reform
like all great reforms, must come
slowly by a process of evolution. In
cidentally 1t may be remarked tina
the results of Tuesdays elections jus
tify the policy of the new superinten
dent of the Anti-Saloon League, c. II
| Smith.
But many good people say II 1t Il
such a good thing to have prohibition
in 81 or SO per cent of our towns an'
cities why shouldn't It be better L
have 1t in 100 per cent, or in all o
| them. From the point of view OF thi
paper II would be a good thing /
public sentiment would stand behinC
such law and enforce II, but In large
towns and cities like Bennington. Bur
lington. Rutland and st. Adams, al
attempt to enforce prohibition agalns
the wish of a majority of the people
would be likely to result as II always
has resulted. in making the law {
farce. Probably IL Montpelier, which
votes mo" more than half of the
time. we're told that II must be dry
irrespective OF the wishes of its peo
pie, the sentiment would be hostile tC
prohibition.
The liquor problem is an exceed
ingly difficult one to solve wisely. 81
far the local option method seems L
be the best method for dealing will
1t. This paper favors II because Yer
mont is getting under local optioT
more real temperance than was oh
tanned under a prohibiltory law.
There needs to be great vigilanc,
In the enforcement OF the law. II mus
be admitted that there are instances
where the present law is not we'll en-
forced, although these instances ar,
fewer than In prohibition days. |
unlicensed places are permitted 4
flourish in Montpelier the law will b.
brought into disrepute and the cit,
may be expected to vote yes" mex
year. II violators OF the law are pros
ecuted, then the will OF the peopl
as expressed by their vote. will be ca
ried into effect Let us have a thor
ough and earnest enforcement OF tn
law.-Montpelier Journal.