The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-19
mas. r. ELLEN FOSTER Salts.
FLED.


The temperance Planks In the nc
publican Platform all that should
be Desired.
Mrs. ]. Ellen Foster, the well-known
Temperance orator, arrived here yester-
day from the West to attend the meet
ing of the Republican National Com
mittee. She was seen last evening and
asked for her views on the temperance
blanks of the Republican platform;
"Planks?n she repeated, Il only, re-
cognize one. That regarding free whis-
kew, which has been referred to as
temperance plank, was not introduced
as temperance measure at all, IL Is
purely economic. and as such is entire
Nv proper and in accordance with the
protective views of the party. But it
has no significance as representing the
views ofthe committee or the Conven-
ton on the temperance question. AT
the same time, the repeal of the whis-
KEY tax is something that has been
urged for years by the best temperance
people of the country
You consider Mr.. Boutelle's resolu-
ton entirely satisfactory"
Eyes, l do, most emphatically. IL
was lust what was wanted from great
Republican National Convention. Had
II been temperance convention would
have demanded something more, for l
am Prohibitionist and come from a
prohibition State, Iowa. But coming,
as say, from National political con-
vention, it commends itself to me, pos
sessing, as it does, two important tea-
lures. These are, first-that the con.
troll of the liquor traffic is matter OF
State legislation, and not in the domain
of Congressional action. Second-if 1t
were the proper subject of National
legislation it would be unwise for a
party to declare in favor of a specific
form oflegislation when there is such
divergence of views as to what that
legislation should be. The prohibitory
states would not be willing to be com
mitted to high license, and the party IN
the high license states would resent
declaration in favor of prohibition.
think it expresses in the best form
the present attitude of the Republican
party throughout the nation toward the
temperance question. l am especially
pleased that it was introduced on the
floor of the convention after its friends
had failed to secure recognition in the
platform. 1t was a bold movement to
to ask that Convention to reverse It's
own action, to suspend its own rules
and amend its own work, and that on
the temperance question, thus making
it all the more conspicuous. There is
no mistaking the sentiment of the mass
of Republican voters on this matter.
What will be the effect on the prohi-
bition voteP"
From letters already received, be-
lieve the platform satisfies the quiet
conservative temperance people VINO
desire to vote the Republican ticket, but
who would not longer affiliate with the
party that remained silent on the tenn
perance question. or course nothing
would effect the return of large major
ity Of regular third party voters. They
have passed beyond the stage OF argu-
ment."
"Then, Mrs. Foster. you are fully sat
isfied with the temperance work done
at Chicsgo?"
Yes, indeed; the platform and the
candidates suit me entirely"
Mrs. Foster will return to Iowa today,
but will come back to New York in
few weeks and remain here during the
campaign.
Previous to the Chicago Convention
the Republican women of Iowa had or
ganized few clubs. They were natur-
ally jealous Allison women, but they
are as enthusiastic for the Republican
ticket as they would have been had the
choice of their State been honored by
the Convention. Mrs. Foster appeared
in their interest to confer with the com
mittee as TO the ACCESSIBILITY Of more
thorough and comprehensive organiza-
tion of Republican women not only IN
Iowa, but throughout the entire coun-
try. The object of these Iowa clubs Is
purely political, and simply proposes to
do work similar to that carried on by
the English women in support OF Mr..
Gladstone and the Government,-ITri-
bune.