The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-09
VERMONT AND PROHIBITION.

In treating of the election in Vermont the Boston
Globe makes these statements: The result OF the YER
mont election has answered the old question OF Does
prohibition prohibt?" a most startling manner Here
lis state where political lines have been obhterated
in spite of all anteelection predictions For the time
being Republicans and Democrats engaged in soly-
ing social problem which agitated the communi-
ties of the Green Mountain state for half century
Candidate Clement had the courage to step out OF
the Republican party the truth about the situa-
ton so far as the sale liquors concerned The
people knew that he telling the truth. hence the
verdict they rendered that all that was
requisite was for strong out boldly from
the ranks dominant political party and become
leader agitation because the people were waiting
for chance to express their real opinion of the work
ings of the prohibory law 1t has been demonstrated
beyond any doubt that license local option law is
desired
When the Maine prohbitory law was passed in 1851
the members of political parties thought that
would be beneficial the temperance and it was
therefore tried many Massachusetts Vermont
and adopted the law in 1852 Connecticut in
1854 New Hampshire New York Michigan and Iowa in
1855 It is a matter of common knowledge how the law
worked and how state after state repealed it because
OF the scandals that have occurred in conse
quence of failure to enforce it
Politically the straight prohibitory party has cut
very small figure in national campaigns. On September
1862 delegates from twenty states to the number of
500 Farwell hail. Chicago, adopted platform and
assumed the name of the National Prohibition party.
The platform strongly arragned the liquor traffic and
alleged completely of the Republican and Democratic
parties herewith and declared for entire prohibition
The national ticket twenty years later received only
$50 626 votes in thirty-four states
This was increased to 270s13 votes 1892 and fell
off to 2OS914 1900 The total popular vote for all
candidates President in 1900 13,959.5S7 It will
be noticed what small percentage Of in the forty
five states the Prohibition party muster The fulfil
y Of its efforts enforce its peculiar views
upon obvious to all observers 1t SHOULD
thought for d that the bulk of the voters
the country who ignore the Prohibition ticket do not
believe the temperance cause because they certainly
do. They simply differ from the Prohbitionists to
the method of properly controlling the liquor traffic and
preventing the spread Of intemperance.
The operations of the license local option law il
the interests of temperance well known need
any praise. The prohibitory law has become eyesoe
to the temperance advocates in all parties The exrem
would course, be satisfied with other
law Republican Massachusetts in order TO get q
license law elected Democratic governor in 1874 AZ
ter the passage Of the license law Republican go.
ernor was returned Office The people simply de
what they wanted and the Republican party had
to give it to them
1t is much better have liquor law which be
enforced than which hurts the morals Of al the
munities of because it is ignored and violated