Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-18
ENDORSE PROHIBITION
Well. KnOwn VermOnters State
Evils Of Local Option.
decreases Drunkenness and Crlr
Voters Urged to Vote for
Prohibition Next March.

issued by the Vermont Anti-Saloon League
containing Facts. Figures and Argu-
ments for Statewide Prohibition" II
IL to be circulated among the voters Of
the state and gives In condensed form
much valuable information concerning
this question which will be so widely
discussed during the next few months
The booklet gives the main points in
the law and explains the method Of vot-
Ing upon It.
1t also gives variety Of atotistics on
he subject from which 1t appears that
commitments to States prison during
twelve years under local option have been
As per cent. more than during the similar
preceding period under prohibition. Com
mitments to the house of correction for
intoxication have been three times as
many under local option as under pro-
hibition, In spite Of the fact that the law
has been changed three times to relieve
the pressure on that institution.
Vaifcus arguments are adduced for pro-
hibitlon and objections are answered
Special attention is given to the question
of druggists licenses, showing that there
is II very small demand for them, Only
seven no-liccnse towns of 232 granting
them, that In many cases they are sub
ject to :hc same abuses as the old town
agencies, and that they are not nece,
snry. Many Of tho large towns OF tho
state are well satisfied to get along with
out druggists licenses and many reput-
Hble physicians do not prescribe intoX!-
eating liquors incidentally.
Perhaps the most significant and in
teresting thing in the booklet is the
statement ITO tho Voters of Vermont"
signed by twenty. four representative men
of the State, After referring to the
enactment Of the law by tho last Legis-
lature. and calling attention to the fact
! that it is not the old prohibitory law
but the present law with its prohibitory
features applied to the whole State, the
statement goes on to say:
Twelve years experience has demon
strated that here in Vermont as every
where the licensed liquor traffic is al
ways demoralizing influence. greatly
increasing the amount of drunkenness.
crime and suffering 1t costs the people
directly and indirectly enormous sums OF
| money and entails many grievous Ills
upon individuals and the public at large.
Moreover under modern conditions Of
easy communication one license town, in
which the majority for the licensed sa.
| loon may have been very small. tends
to debauch all the surrounding towns.
even though they may have voted strong.
ly against license.
I'VE believe that the adoption OF this
new law by the popular vote will operate
towards temperance. sobriety and a
cleaner civic life in Vermont. 1t will tend
to the increase OF prosperity and happi-
ness In our State. and will be in har-
mony with public opinion the world over.
I'VE, therefore. most earnestly hope
that the Statewide prohibitory law will
be approved by an overwhelming ma
jority at the polls next March. and we
most strongly urge our fellow -citizens
without regard to politics. religion or
nationality to support 1t with their in
fiuence and their votes.
This statement Is signed by the follow
Ing well-known men. representing all
sections. the different political parties.
and varied interests Of Vermont:
Frank Plumley, Northtield Guy Potter
Benton. Burlington; John A. Mead, Rut-
| land; John NJ Thomas, Middlebury; w.
w. Stickney. Ludlow: Charles p Smith
Burlington: Olin Merrill, Enosburg Falls;
Egbert c. futile. Rutland Frank c.
Partridge Proctor; Frank II. Brooks. ST.
Johnsbury: F. Thomas Kidder, NJ. D.,
Woodstock Newman X. Chaffee. Rut-
land; Willis N. Cady. Middlebury; Red
| field Proctor. Proctor; Austin w. Hewitt
Plainfield; Henry o. Carpenter. Rutland
| Chauncey s. Skinner, Orleans; Thomas c.
Cheney, Morrisville; Frazer Metzger.
Randolph; w. B. Howe. Burlington
George l.. Durham. Bratteboro; II. W.
Varnum, Barre: p. T. II. Pierson, Ben
nington; Kyle T. Brown, Lunenburg