Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-26
HARD KNOCKS FOR LICENSE
Folly of System Shown in Force
full Arguments.
Ex-Mayor Van Patten. President Hem
ton and v. A. BuIIard Present
Good Reasons why burlington
should Wipe Out Saloons.

The biggest rally since Roosevelt was
here was held at the Majestic theatre
yesterday afternoon by the no-license
people OF tho city of Burlington
w. j. Van Patten presided with tact
and ability. and President Guy Potter
Benton made an exceedingly effective APP
peal. But the most interesting feature
OF the meeting was big, forceful speech
by V. A. Billiard, In which he explained
how he had come to the conclusion that
the license system had all been a mis-
take and why he was ready to urge tho
people of Burlington to stamp out the
legalized saloon
The rumor had been industriously
spread from certain sources that Mr..
Bullard had been retained to speak on
this side. Contradicting these insinua-
lions he explained his presence in the
following words: Il believe that every
man should stand up for those things
which he believes to be right. That is
why ! am here
Mayor Burke was not present, the re-
port that he would be there having been
due to misunderstanding of the re-
porter. Mr.. Burke when first spoken to
about this meeting had already made his
plans to be in another city on that date
and could not we'll change them. What
Mr. Burke did say was that he would
be present and say few words If any
thing happened so that he did not have
to be away.
In opening the meeting, Mr.. Van Pattcn
gave the arrests for lntoxlcation and Jail
sentences for the corresponding six
months of the years 1850 and 1865. In
tnn ii, II,,uf p,,'. nn1 drly
year since license came in, the arrests
for intoxication during six months were
l58 and the jail sentences for intoxica
ton were 70. In 1905, when the city was
wet once more. the arrests for intoxica-
ton rose to 1873. and the Jail sentences to
2S.
| PRESIDENT BE-NTON'S REMARKS.
President Benton, in opening, explained
| that ne had only returned the night be-
! fore from an extended trip, but had felt
| that he could not decline SO urgent Il
| call He admitted to n certain reluctance
to speak but said 1t was merely from
| fear lest the feeling that Ice was It COM
parative stranger and some prejudiced
! against dictation from the men of a uni
versty might harm the great cause. lie
!
longer a newcomer after his residence
| here OF nearly three years.
President Benton spoke of the ap-
propriateness of taking up a patriotic
service of that kind on Washington S
birthday. His appeal was simple and man
to man. He put forward the case OF the
young men and women whom we invite
here to get their education. lie spoke 81
the obligation which We owe to the
parents Of those young people, to sur
round them with high moral standards.
These arguments he advanced very mod
estly and tactfully.
| He told of conditions in strict proho-
ton State In which he had lived. Out OIL
80 counties in that State for several years
there was not a prisoner in the jail ana
not an inmate sent to the poorhouse' lie
told also of his experience In ONO, where
the business men of the town hrst OPP
posed the campaign for a. dry town on the
ground that it would hurt prosperity anc
after 1t had been dry year would MOI
think Of going back to the old CONDITION
of wetness. He said this change of mine
was owing to the fact that these business
men found that they had fewer unpaid &C
counts on their books and that they re
celved more regular payments of rent
also the people had more money to spenc
and there was less pauperism and crime
for the place to pay for.
| President Benton said that the office
sent here by the United States govern
lment to look over Burlington to see II !
was a desirable place for student en-
campment, liked the location and man!
other things about the city but was IN
clned to object to the place on accoun
of the number of prominent saloons which
he saw. and was only won over by the as
surance that those Interested In gettin!
this big summer asset for Burlington
would do everything IN their power t.
bring about a dry vote
President Benton. in closing. spoke o
> the sanctity of the home and OF the in5ur!
which many homes received from thes
places for the sale of liquor.
Commenting on President Benton's re
marks on the emptiness OF iails and poor
houses In the fifty counties OF prohibition
Kansas, Mr. Van Patten called attention
2 to the fact that soon after the saloons
came we had to enlarge our Jail and tina
there had never been any lack Of boarder
to fiji il. He also referred to n recen
! news stem in the Free Press to the effec
that the poorhouse was So full that 1t ha'
been found necessary to make up beds oil
the floor.
al MR. BILLIARDS. ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Billiard was greeted with prolonged
applause. He brought against the legal
ICED liquor traffic here In Burlington al
the force of his eloquence and logic, ant
III