The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-22
Anti Saloon League Seeks Thus
To Pave Way for Prohibi-
tion-KnoWs What It Wants.
NOTHING SHORT OF GOAL
WILL BE TOLERATED
Primaries Have Been Held and
On the Whole, Conditions In
Green Mountain State Are
Satisfactory.

Burlington, VT, Oct. 21.-Clifford
II. Smith, superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League of Vermont. today
said:
When the Legislature meets in
January one of its first duties will be
to repeal the prohibitory law passed
by the Legislature of 1915. The YER
mont Anti-Saloon League will seek
the introduction of such a bin at the
earliest possible moment and will
urge its speedy passage. -
ITO some of our friends, especially
those not familiar with Vermont
legislative methods, this will sound
like strange doctrine from the league.
We will explain presently. but first
let us say as clearly and emphatically
as We can. that the prohibition of
the beverage liquor traffic. local,
Statewide. nation wide. worldwide. is
our fixed aim and goal. short OF
which we shall never rest satisfied.
We will do OUR utmost to limit the
traffic under our present local pro-
hibitory laws, and we will work as
vigorously and wisely as we know how
for it's Statewide prohibition. And
meanwhile we will seek by all avail
able means the national prohibition
OF the traffic.
But the law passed two years ago
should be repealed at the earliest
possible moment. not because 1t Ia
not a good law--we believe 1t Is an
excellent one--but because the people
have decided against It. In the spring
OF 1914 the official board of the YER
mont Anti-Saloon League decided
that the time was ripe for move
ment toward Statewide prohibition.
and made public announcement to
that effect.
Knew What They Wanted.
I'VE knew exactly what we wanted,
and when the Legislature met in
January. 1915. we had bill drawn up
ready for introduction. After care
full consideration both in committee
and on the floor the bill passed both
houses by large matorities. 1t was
what Is called referendum law, and
was confessedly a somewhat clumsy
device, but it was the best available
means of appealing to the voters.
Our Vermont constitution makes
no provision for legislation by pop
ular vote. SO the only way in which
referendum can be had Is through
the enactment of law in regular
form by the Legislature, one provision
1t shall go into effect shall be deter
mined by the voters. This method
has been employed In recent years
not only on the liquor question, but OF
at least two other measures. In each
case the question before the voters
has been a choice between two dates
when the law should go into effect.
If majority favored the earlier date.
the law was approved. II a majority
voted against the earlier date. tech
nically the law still stood upon the
{-t~ AAF = t.r
later date.
This is the situation of the pro-
hibitory law now. 1t stands upon the
statutes to go into effect May /, 1927,
and will do so If no other action is
taken previously. But it was the un-
derstanding in this case as in all other
similar ones, that an adverse vote on
the question of the earlier date was
an adverse vote on the bill itself, and
that in the event of such an adverse
vote the next Legislature would re-
peal the bill.
Question of Good Faith.
1T is then simple question of good
faith to repeal the law at the first op-
portunity. and we hope every one
will cooperate to this end, No OPP
ponent of prohibition need think he
can make capital by posing as the
champion Of such repeal. He Will
find the prohibition forces ready to
act for themselves in the matter,
Then. when the ground is cleared,
when this bill which has been rejected
by the voters 10 out Of the way the
people who believe that the liquor
traffic is an unmitigated curse, to be
gotten rid OF as quickly as possible,
will feel ut liberty to take whatever
action seems advisable in the circum-
stances. We do not believe that the
vote taken last spring represents the
final judgment of Vermont There
was not little Misunderstanding and
misconception at that time. Unless
Vermont Is utterly degenerate and
welded to her cups. the time will
come when she will make an end OF
the legalized liquor traffic within her
borders at one stroke. and not be
content with the slow. uncertain and
pitifully ineffective method of local
option.
The primaries have been held and
on the whole the results look salts
factory from our point of view.
Some men secured nominations who
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