The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-13
Press Notes.


IT is rumored that when NJ. De-
Lesseps finishes the Panama canal the
first vessel to cross the Isthmus will be
propelled by the Keely motor.-LVe.
The sight of an old, sightless man
grinding an organ on a street corner
with placard about his neck asking
for nickels is not half so sad as the
sight of Jerry Rusk going around the
country praying for the lightning to
strike Chicago Times.
THE people of New Hampshire are
to vote on the 18th of March next
upon prohibition amendment to
the constitution, and Governor Beaver
has signed bill, just passed by
the legislature of Pennsylvania, pro-
viding for the submission of similar
amendment to the people of that state
at special election in June. Indica-
tons are that the amendment will be
defeated in New Hampshire. In Penn
sylvania the prohibition sentiment is
undoubtedly strong in the rural districts,
but whether strong enough to over
come the opposition naturally to be
expected in the larger cities and towns
is a matter of considerable DOUBT
Washington Post.
CAN the prohibitionists of Nebraska
deliberately shut their eyes to the dam
aging testimony to their cause which
comes from every city and town in
Iowa? Can they, in the face of these
facts, claim that the liquor traffic has
been stamped out in that state and the
morality of the people raised to a higher
standard? On the contrary, the evil
dence which is piling in upon them cor
roborates the public judgment as to the
condition of morals in a prohibitory
state. A prohibitory law which stimu-
lates stealth and hypocrisy, and which
familiarizes communities with law
breaking under the support of public
sentiment that such violation implies
no moral wrong, is dangerous for the
well-being of any state.-Om0ba Bee
! Repubhcan).
DIR. r. II. HosK1Ns, agricultural ed
itor of the Montpelier Waterman, has
in his day given the Vermont farmers
many good ideas. He is now strongly
urging the establishment of sort Of
freight-eXpress to take small shipments
I of farm products direct from stations
in Vermont to all the industrial centers
of southern New England at moderate
rates. He believes that such a system
would ultimately develop large and
profitable business for the railroads en-
gaging in it, while ii would save the
| succession of commissions and profits
/ beginning with the country merchant
and running through city commission
merchants and wholesale and retail,
dealers, often ggregating more than
half of the ultimate selling price, and
all coming out of the price of the
products at the farm. 1t would make
all the difference between a good profit
and serious loss, would encourage MAN.
"hO now emigrate to stay at home, and,
staying at home, so aid in populating
the state that our abandoned farms
would be reoccupied and profitably
! titled, and so be a powerful factor il
arrestiug the tide of fearful deprecia-
| ton in our farm property The idea Is
one which DIR. Ho kins has held for
several years, and there is unques.
/ tionably a cd deal in t.-BrdulebOro
| RetOrner.
TIE movement toward prohibitory
| liquor legislation seems to be gathering
strength in many states, and agitation
| for non-partisan action in this direction
is already active in various sections of
the country. New Hampshire, in its
recent constitutional convention, pro-
vided for vote on a prohibitorv
amendment to the state constitution to
he taken March 18th. Massachusetts,.
New York, Connecticut, PENNSYLVANIA
and Nebraska have either taken some
steps toward submitting such an
amendment to the people, or are Wig
orously agitating the question. In
nearly all of them it seems likely that
the people will have an opportunity OF
| voting on such an amendment within
year or two. What probability there is
of them adoptingit is hard to determine
Certainly, judging by the results of all
recent votes on this question, it does
not seem probable that the movement
will meet with success. Within the
last two years five states-Michigan
Texas, Oregon, Tennessee and West
| Virginia-have voted on prohibition,
and in every one of them it has been
defeated by maiorities ranging from
| 5000 to $4,000. A separate election for
this purpose was held in all these states
| except West Virginia. 1t may be that
/ pIOulDlllOu VIII carry III MdSSdCuuSellc,
New Hampshire and Nebraska. The
chances for it in those states seem to
be fair, but in the other three it looks
| like hopeless struggle.-Clerelond
Leader (RepubHcon).
TIE Montpelier (Vt.) Watchman
urges the establishment of a sort OF
freight-eXpress, to take small ship
ments of farm produce at moderate
rates from stations in Vermont to the
industrial centers of southern New En-
gland. 1t says that many residents of
these cities desire to get their supplies
of farm products fresh from producers
with whom they are personally ac-
quainted, and il believes that such
system would ultimately develop a large
and profitable business for the rail.
roads engaging in it, while it would
save the succession of commissions
coming out of the price of the products
at the farm, which in many cases make
all the difference between a good profit
and serious loss for the farmers. This
is an excellent suooestiOn and there