The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-08-21
THE PERRY BILL
Under 1t Liquors May Not be Brought
Into the State

Under 1t Liquors May Not be Brought
Into the State
Editor of The Banner: Now that a
statewide campaign has been launch
ed in Vermont | wish to ask space in
your columns for few words.
have studied the causes of the pro-
hibition movement generally and
have seen something of the after
math.
One point has stood out clearly
above all the others. Despite the eff
forts of both sides, the general pub
lie has. as a rule, gone to the polls
in states that have voted prohibition,
in ignorance of exactly what the real
issue was
Some have assumed that the pro-
posed legislation meant real prohib-
tion, with all liquors banished. 9th
ers have voted for prohibition with a
wink, assured that it meant merely
the exclusion of the local dealer and
confident that they would get theirs
no matter if the state was supposed
ly dry
The idea of the anti-saloon leaders
seems to have been word amend
ments so as to enlist both classes re-
ferred to behind the prohibition ban
ner The result has been that the
aftermath has been a surprise for one
set of the citizens or the other.
A case in point is Arizona, where
a ~, Ht,o ant roccnH laGt fall
worded so as to indicate that it
meant real prohibition and where
officials have set out to enfore
that idea. Supplies on hand evident
ly have ameliorated conditions up to
the present time, but now come lead
ers in the recent prohibition move
ment who object to the prohibition
of shipment of liquor into the state
for personal use.
The Bisbee Review, which helped
carry the amendment has had repeat
ed editorials saying that it favored
prohibition with the distinct under
standing that there would be no inter
ference with liquor for personal use.
The Review confesses that its great
objection to the liquor business is to
the saloon as conducted in Arizona,
but alleges that it is a restriction of
personal liberty to deprive one of
liquor for his own use.
In its issue of July Is. 1915, The Re
view gives an even stronger kick"
from a prohibition leader, A. r. Buck
nam general secretary of the Temper
ance Federation of Arizona. The Re
view introduces Mr.. Bucknam by say
ing he will be recalled as the temp
erance leader who formed the Politi-
cal Victory clubs in Cochise county
and otherwise contributed to the vic
tory of the temperance movement in
Arizona" 1t adds, further, 1T was
the heavy vote for temperance in
Mr.. Bucknam's field which turned
the tide for the "drys" In recogni-
tion for his success he was promot-
ed to the general secretarysihp.
Mr.. Buchanan. like the Review,
wants liquor let in for personal use"
In his letter. he says;
Ilt lulci pItldllOn SlFtH W iHt
law by those in power to enforce the
same, makes it very important that,
if found necessary, the law be amend
! ed so that the railroads may ship in
to the state, under strict regulation,
alcoholic liquor for legitimate use in
and | contend that legitimate use in
cludes personal use"
Mr.. Buchanan adds that he believes
the courts will interpret the law to
allow such importation of liquor into
the state.
The case of Arizona Is of interest
in view of the fact that it brings out
plainly the situation in many states
that have adopted prohibition under
misapprehension. 1t should suggest
To Vermont that when her amend
ment is submitted, it state plainly,
in so many words, whether it calls
for real prohibition with all liquor
banished or for the mock prohibition
of Kansas and Maine, which means
Punishment of the local dealer. who
pays taxes at home in order to pat
ronize the dealer in another state
who contributed nothing in the way
of taxes to Vermont
II. NJ. Gilmore.
President National Model License
League.