The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-18
VERDICT ON PERRY BILL
Vote Showed that Local Option Had
Proved Its Value.

PROVED KS VaIue.
When the legislature OF 1916 voted
to submit the Perry statewide prohibit
tory act, We felt-and said ut the
time--that the step was unwarranted.
There had been no unmistakable de-
mand for submission. Though there
was undoubted opposition to the local
option system by those who through
principle opposed it, the public gener-
ally appeared measurably we'll satls
fed. Especially was this true OF 4
large number OF voters who received
local option in 1903 unwillngly, bat
from later observation saw its super
iority as system over statewide pro
hibition. There had been in 1916 no
special asit-tion for a return to pro
hibition. No leading political party lad
demanded it. The platfoI IN OF the
dominant party had Tor two campaigns
ignored is as determined issue. III
the face OF this, answering the. pres
sure exerted from an organized quart
err, the Legislature voted for submits
sion.
The result or last week must be eX-
tremeIy disapl olnting to the propon
ents of statewide prohibition The
nearly two-to.one majority for scal op-
tion has postponed indefinitely the
hope Of adding Vermont TO the column
Of dry states In the national movement
for prohibition. 1t has committed Yer
mont to further experience with To-
cal option, and has settled the ques.
ticn conslusiyely for the near future
From the standpoint Of those v 10
urged the trial of strength it must
now be conceded that nothing was
gained and much lost.
And Vermont's verdict will count,
for special reasons. more than that OF
states that have shifted their position
recently First, because Vermont Is
commonly regarded as the land of sob
er thinking and common sense, where
voters are not to act unadvisedly.
Secondly, because Vermont has lately
made trial of both systems, which no
other state in the union has done
within so short time. Practically
the same voting element that in 1858,
after fifty years of statewide prohibit
ton, adopted local option by fewer
than 1000 plurality, in 1916 endorsed
its former verdict by almost $4,000. 7,
This result carries more weight by far
than the action of some other state, |
which, dissatisfied with one system,
turns to the other alternative, with
which it has had no actual experience.
Though there has admittedly been
q trend to prohibition III the South !
and West in recent years, these states
still have to make their test of the |
new system and learn fer themselves |
its weaknesses, as well as its points /,
of strength.
There is no denying that the prin- !
ciple OF local option applied to the |
liquor question eommends itself to (
Vermont after thirteen years of trial |
That 1t is far from being an ideal !
method. few would deny. But the an |
nual register by the voters of all the |
several communities and the disposi- !
ton to let the majority rule in the |
matter appeals to the sense OF pride !
and importance of citizenship. And !
it has its effect in the enforcement OF /
the verdict.
One peculiar though perhaps natur- |
al, effect Of the refe. endum, is the I
slight increase this year in the number
OF license towns, following an almost ,
uniform decrease. 1t is remarkable, ,
under the circumstances. that the nun !
Der was not larger. Town after town |
voted overwhelmingly against state
wide prohibition, but by as heavy a |
vote declared against the saloon for !
themselves. The voters in most .
cases seemed TO know just what they ,
wanted and how to get it. But the
general tightening Of lines did bring .
about in q few instances a local re-
suit that, without the big stirup, ,
might not have ensued.
The voters accepted definite pro-
posal for direct primaries system by
majority that cannot be doubted or
questioned as pronouncement in fay
or of its trial. Interest in this quest
ion was less keen and the verdict is
one that may be considered in the
light of a temporary undertaking. The
operation of the system will be its real
test The law Is an honest one, true
to the intent of statewide, open pri-
mary, and the trial will be made under :,
favorable conditions-Randolph Her
aid and News.