WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 93, 2 December 1911, Page 5

WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.

The witnesses for the prosecution and defence have been heard, and the day comes when yon, ladies and gentlemen, of the jury, must give your verdict' as to whether License is to pay the penalty of proved misdeeds or go forth without a stain on his character. There is before; you no question of mending, it is one of ending or continuing. A word as to the evidence that has been put before you by either £ide. In the heat of such a controversy it is to be expected that there should' be some tendency to exaggerate and distort. Such may be pardoned. But there has been on the side of License such glaring falsehoods in matters of fact, lies that have been exposed and branded as such by impartial referees, that every statement made on that side lies open to the gravest ■ suspicion. It is not surprising that such has happened. The Trade is fighting for a huge money stake, the profit on an annual turnover of £5,000,000 in a very lucrative business. On the other hand, those who are advocating No-License cannot possibly have any direct money interest in the result apart from the general benefit of the country. Whatever errors excess of zeal may lead some into, it cannot be said that the motive is tainted with lucre. Voters should never lose sight of this aspect of - the matter. There is, however, another class of evidence admissible in this case, that of the jury’s own observation and personal knowledge of the working of License. There are many facts quite well known, and the subject of common talk, that cannot bo put in print, or commented on from the platform, because of their personal natures. These facts ought to, and will, influence the decision. Every writer quoted by the Trade admits that connected with it are many and great evils. To counteract these evils regulation (that is partial prohibition,’ has been tided in many ways and for many years. The net result seems to have been the building up of a huge and wealthy monopoly, strong enough to control where it should be controlled. The ultimate remedy may possibly not bo Prohibition as we now understand it, but of one tiling we may be certain, no adequate reform will come until the present licensing system is swept clean away. The ground must bo cleared. To vote continuance now is to postpone for another three years at least any diminution of those, evils which all admit to be prevalent. The voter who fails to strike out the top lino says in effect: “I am satisfied with the existing state of things in relation to the drink trade, arid with it to continue.” It is impossible to believe that any considerable number of voters are, on reflection, so satisfied.*