Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Rev. Mr.. Chase of Derby offered the
following resolution. which was adopted /:

dlebury for the bOunfiful provisions made at
of this village for their cordial hospitality
| in opening their homes tor the entertainment
of its members, and to the various railroads
for reduced fares to those attending this
meeting.
This resolution, presented by Rev. Mr..
Story, was also adopted:
Inasmuch, rs the call for this conference has
invited all the friends of prohibition, both
| ladies' and gentlemen, to attend and partici-
pate in these meetings, aud believing in the
civil and political equality of the sexes, and
that the ballot in the hands of woman is her
r1gdt Tor protection, and would prove a pow
erful ally for the abolition of the liquor traffic
ana the execution of the law. we would at
this conference enunciate that principle and
declare for equal suffrage.
Rev. Mr.. Rhoades announced that $50
was wanted to make up the $1,000 and
asked for contributions. About SIS was
raised and Prof. Seely pledged that the
Middlebury club would make up the rest.
Prof. Dickie was then introduced. He
proposed, he said, to answer one ques-
tion-whether it was necessary, in order
to the establishment of prohibition, to
organize new political party. Prohibi
tionists ought to be able to show that the
question was of sufficient Importance,
that it is political question, that neither
of the old political parties is competent
to deal with it, and, lastly, that pressing
this question will not deter either of the
other parties from solving national ques-
tions of greater Importance. The tenn
perance problem, he asserted, exceeds all
others in its bearing on the moral, social
and financial welfare of the people. If
rum-drinking were stopped for Is months,
the money saved would pay the principal
and interest of the public debt. A ques-
ton concerning which such statements
could be made is not an unimportant one.
Intemperance is the direct cause of the
labor troubles. There is no anti-poverty
society which at all compares with the
Prohibition party. All trade would re-
vive were the money spent in rum-shops
expended for clothing, provisions, neces-
stiles and luxures. If the capital in
vested in these shops were put into legt
innate business it would furnish employ
ment for much larger number of men
and give much greater wages than now.
Mr.. Dickie claimed, of course, that the
liquor traffic must be dealt with by a po-
litical party, arguing that the question
was already in politics and must be met
on that basis. The liquor business, he
said, assumes to dictate terms to both
the leading parties. 1t is a question of
politics from its very nature; to operate
upon a thing you must go where the
thing is; the liquor question cannot be
met either in the pulpit or the prayer
meeting. 1t is said that prohibition does
not prohibit. He did not believe it did
prohibit, he added; and he contended
that it failed to work because there was
no political party behind it, No other
process than casting ballots is possible
by viii, h citizens can make themselves
heard. So long as local governments de-
pend upon liquor ballots for their exist
ence they cannot fairly be expected to
fight the liquor interest. He denied that
the Republican party was competent to
do the task the Prohibitionists had set
out to perform. A political party must
rally around one question-as the Repub-
licans once rallied around that of the non
extension of African slavery. The Re
publican party could not be made a
prohibition party for the reason that the
whole of that party is not in favor of
prohibition: because it is in the grasp of
politicians, and because it is not prepared
IN Hafaat in tho inn Jiat., f,,t
for the sake of victory thereafter. If he
belonged to one or the other of the old
parties, and believed that its perpetuity
would best further the interests of
the nation, he should advise that the
temperance question be let alone.
In a few States, he said, the Re-
publicans had done well; but he
believed the tendency of that party now
was toward some form of license. He
insisted that there was no question of any
account before the nation; and he affirm
ed that of the questions of public discus
sion there is none on which one might
not take either side and still be either
Republican or a Democrat. WhereupOn
person i'll the audience mentioned the
tariff, and in answer to questions by the
speaker insisted that the Republicans
were for the tariff and the Democrats
for the devil he ''s'posed."] Mr.. Dickie
went on trying to show that on the tariff
question the Democratic and Republican
parties are equally divided. He declared
that large numbers of voters of both
parties cannot tell why they vote those
tickets; that it is no reason for sticking
to party that it had done well in the
past. Prohibitionists, he said in conclu-
sion. had no disposition to find fault with
the past of the old parties, but take the
ground that they do not and cannot do
the work the PrOhibitionists want done
Danish the saloon from the American con-
tinent.
The conference then adjourned