Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-17

exercise care and discretion in granting
licenses. and who make frequent and
unheralded examinations Of the licensed
places licensee, who respect the law and
live UP to it's provisions; good prose.
cutting officers and a good police force
We believe that there is less illegal sell.
ing than would be the case II town
voted no." or II we had a prohibftory
law. and that social conditions are bet.
| ter. In other words the matter Of social
conditions In q community where the
sale Of Intoxicating liquor Is licensed
depends upon the men Of such a COM
munity-the men ~ho fix the amount oil
license fees and grant the licenses, the
| men who are so licensed, the men chosen
for prosecuting officers, and the person.
mel Of the police force. II these men are
Of the right standard. social conditions
1--WE believe) should be better In a town
voting YES" II they are not Of the right
standard, conditions may be infinitely
worse than II the town had voted mo-
or II we had a peohibitory law. Rervla.
ton can regulate. but perfect regulation
is an ideal difficult Of attainment. That
this ideal has been approached in certain
instances we are glad to record, but we
lament that in many other instances.
there has been little, II any, attempt to
reach It,
The present nom enforcement Of the
LIQUOR law has the same influence upon
public morality as the non enforcement of
the old prohibiitory law. Slowly but
surely 1t breeds disrespect and contempt
for all law.
The innocent observer might suppose
that when town has voted yes" a
man who pays $500 or 81 900 for a license
to sell liquor would be quick to secure
the conviction Of druggist. hotel, or
dive-keeper. who is selling without a
license The strong motive Of self-nter-
est to protect himself against an unfair
and illegal competition would, It seems,
impel the licensed dealers to secure a
vigorous enforcement Of the law. As a
matter Of fact the ordinary license holder
Is living in glass house and dares throw
no stones. II he Is not violating some
provisions Of the law by selling to minors
CT habitual drunkards. he Is afraid that a
case may be framed up" against him.
That is to say. II he 10 not consciously vio-
iating any provisions Of the law, his
method Of conducting his business Is not
sc careful and scrupulous as TO insure
him against a so-called "frame-up"
OF our prosecuting officers 1t may be
said that our town and city grand jurors
end States attorneys do not consider
themselves to be detectives. II formal
complaint Is made and satisfactory evil
dence Is forthcoming, the authorities will
act. Town grand jurors especially in
the smaller communities, are very I'M
willing to institute proceedings against a
neighbOr or fellow citizen. 1t Is to the
failure Of this official to do his duty
fearlessly that much of our present trou-
lie is due. If the States attorney is will
Ing to act, it is when some public-spirited
citizen Is willing to take upon himself the
onus of responsibility by making COM
plant and securing or helping to secure
the evidence necessary to a conviction
In the last resort 1t Is not a question Of
blaming the town or city grand jurors or
States attorneys. These officers are con-
venient scapegoats who bear away the
sins of the people. The real responsible
ity for the non-enforcement Of cur liquor
laws rests upon the small groups Of infu-
entail citizens in our communities These
leaders. social. business or religious lead
ers, may move heaven and earth in holy
CT unholy zeal for license or prohibition.
A great campaign Is carried on and tre-
commotion Is aroused to secure
a yes or no" vote In March. But once
the desired vote Is secured but little of
that same zeal is directed to secure the
vigorous enforcement of that policy
" hch their votes have made law. Your
feels that churchmen who
ere for that reason, good citizens, can do
much to arouse the public conscience.
Few, even among we'll informed men,
re alize the extent to which kitchen dives
and kindred resorts have worked havoc |
in our midst. The vigorous enforcement
Of our liquor laws means a measure Of
protection for the habitual and helpless
lrunkards and their wives and children
who need to be protected against those
who exploit them. The helpessness of
the habitual drunkard and the sufferings |
Of those dependent upon him. may we'll
excite our pity and compassion. The I'M
scrupulous greed OF those men who pan |
der to and exploit human sin and frailty |
must arouse our righteous Indignation.
THE SOCIAL EVIL.
The report Of the Chicago vice-commis-
sion has been Of great assistance n this
branch OF our work. Dean Sumner OF our |
cathedral in Chicago was at the head of |
this commission and his part in that
sreat work will add to the interest 1t pos |
sesses for all churchmen. Naturally one
cannot compare conditions ir Chicago
with those existing in small towns of
northern New England But human ma
ture is the same and Dean Summers
and report have much to
each us. If one may speak Of a reve-
alton coming from the lower regions
If society, we have in that report 1.
'evelation of what may be found under
he veneer OF a Christian civilization.
Our information from the smaller
owns Is to the effect that there are
ew If any disorderly houses AMI no
street soliciting. In Burlington and
Vinooski with Fort Ethan Allen, the
ituation Is different. 1t is a matter
II common knowledge that there are
lisorderly houses and houses of as
ignation. At Winooskr the presence
# Y. S. troops creates a situation with
which the local authorities seem ur-
lble TO cope. When the canteen was
Lbolished. the soldiers were driven
more than before. to seek their amuse-
nents elsewhere than on the reserva.
ion. Consequently these amusements
ire provided for in resorts along the
from the reservation to WI
loOs0 village. In these resorts ami
,thers of kindred nature there have
,een murders ana divers other crimes