Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-09-12
BRATTLEBoRo, FRIDAY SEPT. 70, 1902


those classed as Prohibitionists a larg
part. perhaps a majority. profess SUI
port of a local option bill subject to
referendum. generally of the bunc
kind promised by the Republican plat
form. Those classed as Local Optiol
men are about two-thirds Democrats 0
Clement Republicans the rest ar
styled Local Option Republicans,
some of them supported by both Nc
Cullough and Clement men and ever
Democrats, but all believed to be sin
cere advocates of the local option idei
and to have occupied that position
prior to this campaign. The classiti
cation is made on that basis and fairly
represents what all the voting has in
dictated. that two-thirds of the people OF
Vermont want local option.
This being so, that sentiment should
not only control the House, but as nee
essary to that end, should organize it.
The machinery of the legislation should
be in the hands of its friends, not its
enemies for machinery counts much.
especially in a body like the Vermont
House where the mass Of the members,
we'll meaning but unacquainted with
the tricks and traps of parliamentary
procedure. are so apt to be outdone by
a few leaders and especially also. up
on so complex and perpleXing a sub
iect as this where the most important
work must be done in committee. The
danger is three fold { / that a refer
endum will be attached, such as the
Republican platform promised, that
will make the whole law invalid: -
that a bill will be framed that will be
so bad in its provisions as to insure the
early repeal of the law, if adopted.
and e g. that it will entail such a tan
gle of objection and counter objection
that either no bill at all will pass or
that it will be in shape to satisfy no
one and under which no civilized com
munity will live.
Are not these all dangers to be appre-
hended if the prepare ton of the bill is
left in the hands of known supporters
of prohibition, either those who want
to continue to fatten on its plumber or
those who sincerely believe that it is
the only right and justitable method
of dealing with the liquor question and
who want or hope nothing else from
local option than demonstration that
it is all wrong: In short, the question
is whether at the birth of this child of
legislation, the attending nurses shall
be those who desire nothing so much
as its death.
The one sensible thing, therefore, 20
do is for the Local Optionists of all
shades to unite and elect Eli H. Por-
ter of Wilmington speaker. OF the
other two gentlemen mentioned on that
side, DR.. Conland of Brattleboro, be-
cause of the state of his health, will
not allow himself to be considerable
was with the greatest reluctance, for
this reason, that he took the nomina-
ton for epresentative-and Rev. tr. /
O'Sullivan of St. Albans, most able .
and accomplished and high-minded .
man, is without experience in that line
OF the suggestions on the other side.
it may be generally said, as of Mr..
Merrifield, though most conscientious
and worthy man, who would no doubt
strive to deal fairly with the matter, that
his strong prohibitory bias would make
it difficult if not impossible to handle
the matter in the right temper and the
intensity of his party allegiance would
place committee control in Republican
hands where the chances are at least
two to one that such control would be
to local option. Besides, Mr..
both slower and more ner ,
vous. would have no such faculty for
despatching business as Mr.. Porter, :
The latter has had several terms, ex- !
perience in the House, where he was
recognized leader and where he has =
learned the ropes thoroughly. He is a 5
broad minded. widely informed man,
quick and assimilative in his mental
processes, independent, straightfor- I
ward and courageous. whom no one and l
40 interest could own or swerve one /
hairs breadth from what he believes to 5
De right: yet courteous and fair. prompt i
md business-li like, never ''rattled'i and d
winning of address. Best of all, his C
belief in local option and in all other
Kings for the good of the state that
his Legislature ought to do, is not of
his springs Matching but of lifelong =
belief and the fruit of long thought and :
eflection. =
1t is a rare combination of needed Il
qualities. of which the state ought to "
lave advantage, in Eli H. Porter as
peaker. His election is quite possible
f the matter is taken hold of Alright Y
nd at once. h
J. ". ketchum's book. A Wrecked