Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-02-23
LOCAL OPTIONS PRODUCT-THE
SALOON.

A great contest is in progress in
Vermont between the advocates of
statewide prohibition of the local
option saloon drink traffic, and the
avocates of local option in relation to
the Perry prohibition law and the pres
ent local option liquor law.
The contest is over the difference
between the two laws.
What is the only difference between
the two laws which either side really
cares? 1t is the possible liquor saloons
of next year and the years to come,
Impossible under the Perry act. but
humanity speaking. sure un!er local
option, AND of great revenue TO the
local option liquor dealers, both in and
out of the state. who are fighting for
revenue regardless of results 1t is
the highest good of the state and
humanity that the prohibition forces
desire. with no revenue. That is the
boiled down difference between the
i7snirine motives of the two sides.
Tn- PRO i:q.ui leaCers uf i,ta' or'ion
have befogged the issue and led some
good men who vote Mp on license to
believe that local option represents
beneficent governmental principle of
great benefit to the state.
What and what only, does local
option in the present law represent?
Local option saloons, nothing else
except druggist licenses. All that can
be done to any town under the local
option provisions of our law is to vote
saloons into the town. Unless voted
in by majority vote, the town under
that p4rt of the law in tie Perry act
remains prohibition Local option was
int 1or ho
pose of making saloons possible in
Vermont, 1T is all it can do The
Perry act makes saloons impossible
The liquor interests want saloons in
every possible town and are all for local
option. giving to the public press VOL
luminous fine elocutionary correspond
ence regarding the benefits of Zoe al
option that might almost deceive the
very elect
The only benefit that ever came to
the pu lie from he present law came
from hat part of The law which con
stitutes the Perry act.
AS wei! look to q pestjlence for gdod
health as TO local option saloon for
public benefits.
In the light Of present day knowledge
alcoholic drink. the only output of the
10 al saloon is proven to not only
poison the drinker. but. injure his
descendants Will the electorate of
Vermont continue to sustain the saloon
policy?
What is local option legally?
First, it is not an inherent or conSti-
| tutioGa! right of any town or city
Second, it is power. subject to
repeal without violation of any right.
| volunta lily granted by the legislature
| OF Vermont to every town and CITY
having a majority of voters sufficiently
! Indifferent to the public good to estah-
lish in that town for one year, great
destructive pubic evil, for the financial
gain of the local option liquor traffic
! that among other things. breaks w
| homes, pauperiZes families, disturhs
tia peace, creates criminals, and haII
to fill the poCr-houses, the hospitals, the
asylCmS, the cutters. the courts, the
jaiIs the prisons and the graveysrds
After he ret enue is secured. the
above is what the policy so mistakenly
gives us and is what we will vote fl
if we vote against the Perry act
If the Perry act is adopted, will i
mostly prevent illegal liquor selling?
That will depend upon the efficiency
and integrity of the sworn officials
entrusted with the enforcement of the
law but is sure to give better result.
than any form of license
| To continUc u5y charge that 'probi
bition don't prohibit" as was done
regarding the old law, is not an indict
ment of the law but an impeachment
of the administration of the law il
violation of official oath.
| The legaljZed saloon could not exiS
under the old law which. at its worst
in hostile hands. gave far better results
than the present law During the las
four years of its existence only PIT!
mtn went to Jail in the state 70
drunk eDness, far too many. but durin.
the first four years Of local option sos.
went-an increase of 155 per cent unde
local ortion. The local option saloons
furnished the victims. The appearance,
Of saloons in any town Immediately ant
g'eatIy increases the drunk and disor
derly' element and fills the jails a
state expense.
Can | vote against saloons for n,
town because they are not good for tn
t WD, cOnseuentle not good for tn
ate and vote aga nst the Perry &C
nd IN reby help keep the saloons tina
are not good for the town or state il
Vermont and have the two votes har
monte with my freeman's oath to vot
''as in nv conscience ] shall judge will
~"st rnnGuce TO the b-st good of tn
state
T. < very highest type of the citizen
ship of Vermont. those who are work
ing for the re test good of he natio
Of the sta =, y, humanity, for the go J,