Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-08
THE VERMONT ELECTION.

The recent gubernatOrial campaign In
Vermont has been the only one in many
years that has created any excitement at
home. or attracted any interest abroad.
This was because it was the only recent
political contest i'm that state, the result
of which was ever in the slightest doubt.
This Vermont contest was nOn-political.
The issue that overshadowed all the 9TH
ers was whether the state should continue
its system OF prohibition or adopt local
option plan similar to that Of Georgia.
General Mccullough was the regular Re
publican nominee for governor. Mr.. Gle
ments also another Republican, bolted his
party's nomination and ran on a local OPP
ton platform.
These two candidates polled more than
50 per cent. Of the vote at the election
which was held Wednesday. The Demo-
Gratis and the prohibitionists each had
a candidate. and while their combined
vote was ridiculousiy small 1t was still
large enough to throw the election into
the legislature. as neither Mccullough,
nor Clements received a majority of all
the votes cast Mccullough had about 2S.-
OOO.-CIements about 3 600 and the other
two candidates combined about 5000.
Clements pulled vote that surprised his
opponents. The local option strength is
mainly In the cities and larger towns, the
rural districts and smaller townships be-
ing overwhelmingly for prohibition.
Under the Anticipated system OF borough
representation the advocates Of prohibit
ton will have a large majority in the leg
islature and Mccullough will be elected
governor when that body organizes next
month.
The election shows that the opposition
to state prohibition has become very
strong in Vermont and il win probably
prevail in the near future.
In that state. as in the others that have
that policy, prohibition is ineffective
where it is not backed by popular senti-
ment.
Intoxicating liquors are sold, abundant
" and denantly i'm all the Vermont cities.
Prohibition is such a farce here that
many persons who are opposed to the
sale OF liquor are in favor OF trying the
local option plan.
The ST. Adams Messenger. a leading
Vermont newspaper said in a recent is
sue:
IN Il N0MU1 OA NEENlOAAAs nEAAAk AAAE
only ones having legally authorized liquor
agencies. there was sold during the last
fiscal year S25l. s23 worth OF liquor. or what
was equivalent to s1.3S worth OF liquor for
every man. woman and child living in
these Il towns. Burlington. the largest
city in the state and a town the popula-
ton OF which is hardly more temperate
or healthy than elsewhere in the state,
was not included I'm the list. A little fur
tner calculation from the above figures
win show that there was enough liquor
sold in these n towns mentioned TO supply
every man. woman and child In the whole
state OF Vermont with % cents worth OF
liquor for medicinal, mechanical or
chemical purposes" In some towns in the
list the medicinal needs for liquor were
quite large as shown by the fact that
nearly 81 worth was consumed per capt.
ia, while the average runs between this
and ST.. the majority being above s.. All
I'm all. over One-quarter of million dol
lars worth OF liquor was Legally required
by a population of 1S2. $50 people for med
icinal purposes. and the health reports
show no epidemic or undue prevalence of
disea ser'
The local option idea Is gaining strength
in all the prohibition states and the re-
cent Georgia primary shows that II is
losing none of its popularity in this state.