Valdez daily prospector., 1916-10-31
Why Vermont Voted
 Against Prohibition

Throughout the entire United States the leading phase of the wet and dry question discussed by the edi- torial writers in newspapers is the tremendous defeat of the prohibition forces in Vermont.
 Numerous newspapers venture the opinion that the downfall of prohi- bition in the Green Mountain state is a forerunner of the breaking of the "dry" wave, and a positive indication that the sentiment of American peo- pie is against national prohibition.
 Some writers declare that Vermont CTS cast their ballots after careful consideration of the present status of the present nineteen "dry" CD states. It is stated that inasmuch as boot logging, moonshining and the opera tion of blind tigers and blind pigs in prohibition territory enable citizens to beat the dry law, there wasn't much use in putting a prohibition law that does not prohibit on the statute books
 Why Vermont voted against prohi- bition is explained as follows in the Cincinnati Enquirer:
 Vermont's declination of the invi- tation of the Anti-Saloon League that had caused the passage by the legis- lature of the Perry Law" to join the column of prohibition states has oc- casioned surprise in various direc- tions The emphasis of 1t as shown in the figures of the vote of the. ques- tion as submitted to the voters is surprising to even the Green Noun tain people.
 In the special election early last month on the liquor question there was total of 50,606 votes. of which 32,131 were against prohibition and 18,475 were for the measure.
 At the same time there was an cleo tion on direct primary which carried by small majority. The election of prohibition drew out 5000 more votes than on the outside primary Only 45 out of the 246 towns as the voting districts are called, gave the prohibitionists majority. Most de- cidedly Vermont has concluded to re- tain the local option law of 1903 which was indorsed by a majority ot 729 in the whole state to take the place of the original prohibition law following the Maine liquor law oi 1S46 and 1851, to which this state in 1852, gave a majority of 1,17O votes.
 Considerable interest attaches to the course of this State in soml things. Vermont was the first state admitted to the Union under the Fed eral Constitution-in 1791-and was the first state not only to abolish wha, little African slavery there was with, in it's own borders, but was also the first to oppose that institution in other states.
 Significance connected with this election and the positive result of il lies in the fact that there was nc special effort on the part of the liquor interests in opposition to that of the Anti-Saloon League. Only one cOun. ty out of the fourteen, that of Or. leans, which touches the Canada line gave a majority for prohibition. Xvi. dently the large majority of the vot. CTS believe in home rule by towns ol counties in the business.
 The people of Vermont were gen erally moderate in the use of stimu. lants. but under prohibition they were inclined to wink at infractions of the law. Many of them believed in per sonal liberty in the use of rum brot in from the United States and of tho white whisky from Canada. Lager beer was unknown to them in those days. On certain occasions the stur dy farmers managed to get their egg nogs, tom and jerry or something straight, as at county fairs or towr meetings, but without much excess And today in the districts wet by To. cal option, there are not to be seen many evidences of overindulgence.