The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-05-26
REFERENDUM ON
LIQUOR QUESTION
Vermont Anti-Saloon League Thinks
Time Has Come for State Pro-
hibition-Request of Legislature.

A referendum on the question of
state prohibition against local option
is demanded by the Vermont Anti-Sa-
loon league, of which Rev. Clifford II
Smith of Burlington, formerly Of West
Brattleboro, is superintendent In the
current issue of the Vermont edition
of the American Issue, the national
publication of the league, appears a
Statement of Facts and Policy by the
Vermont Anti-Saloon League. - 1t says
in opening:
= The legislature of 1902 referred to
the voters of the state the question of
adopting local option high license law
in place of the state prohibitory law
then in force. The local option law
adopted by popular vote, February 3,
1908, is now in the twelfth year of its
| operation, and has had full and fair
trial under all conditions that are like
| ~ TO arise, and its workings and re
suits have become familiar to the peo-
pie of the state. Many people believe
that it has not proved satisfactory
method of dealing with the evils of the
| liquor traffic.
In view of these facts we believe
the time has come when the statutory
method Of dealing with the liquor traf-
fic should again be submitted to the
people Of Vermont for their judgment
and request the legislature meeting in
regular session in January, 1915, to
submit TO popular vote the question OF
ladopting a state prohibitory law il
Eplace of the local option law now il
force, such vote to be taken nj som,
convenient date in October or Novem
tber. 1918.
Since the prohibitory features OF
the present law have been found in til,
main effective when honestly enforced
we would suggest that the state pro
Ihibitory law TO be submitted to popn
! lar vote be in substance the presen
l law with ITS local option high hcens
: features for the regulation Of the Ii
r quor traffic stricken out, and viii sucl
additions ana notifications as eXpeI
fence has shown to be needed. >
n No one wants or purposes to rctur
E to the old prehibitory law and tn
conditions that prevailed under it, tn
S statement says. and the ''question b,
o fore the house is whether the peopl
: of Vermont shall have aH opportunit
s to express their matured Judgment T,
n garding the best method Of dealin
:, with the liquor traffic.
1 In closing the statement says: 81
e it can lie demonstrated-as we think
'e can-that there is Z popular deman
= for a submission Of the question 10 ii
e voters, there ought to be little obje
he tion from any source. The people wl
= want state Prohibition viii of cour'
le favor the Referendum. And those wi
prefer local option believe in. the RI
y Of the majority. They do not want
'e law retained upon the statute boo
: which does not represent the majorit
= sentiment of the state. If local Optic
. wins, they will be satisfied, and if
80 loses, their principle of the rule Of t
= people will still be viudieated. So tn
- land on their feet in either case.
= 1.-The only strenuous objection to
u referendum must come from the frien
en- of the liquor traffic They will oppo
RS any effort ut restriction. But we a
no not trying TO please them, and we
lis not think the people of Vermont v
tic be very careful 70 consult their int
of csts. -