Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-04-11
CLEMENT IN THE FIELD.
WILL STAND FOR GOvERNORSHIP IF
NOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS.

To- NCmlNhlEU
(. Hon. P. w. Clement of Rutland Announces
a Himself as a Candidate for vermont's Gov
. ernorship, if Nominated by the Republicans
/ on High License Platform Some Truths
: Brought Home to Vermont.
TO M. JVilliom Z. Aidrich and 10 other
Republican Voters Of .Shre,csbury:-
. Gentlemen In response to yourques-
tions as to license and local option
+ campaign this year, permit me to say
! to you. and through you to other Re
,, publican voters who have mentioned
my name in connection with the gov
ernorship, that l welcome any oppor-
tunty to discuss the prohibitory law.
In the march of social improvement
and education upon the subject of in
temperance, our state has been left 30
years behind the times.
At special election in February,
1853, at the end of a temperance revi-
val which swept the state, the prohib-
itory act was approved by majority
of |, III votes in total of 43, 259 votes
cast. 1t was grotesque piece of leg
islation among the enactments of that
day.
Its advocates, recognizing the evils
of intemperance, undoubtedly expected
that the law would bring on the mil
lenium but in that they were disap-
pointed. A man has never been made
temperate in what he eats or drinks by
legislative enactment, and the law, re-
enacted and amended and made more
stringent at subsequent sessions of the
legislature. remains wart upon the
public statutes.
/ 1t makes it crime to deal in alco-
hol, in its various forms, an article of
commerce which the rest of the civil
lied world says may be properly dealt
in between man and man and used
with propriety.
1t gives almost unlimited powers, in
certain directions. to courts and Off
GERS of the law, which are outrageously
abused.
1t encourages the cupidity of officers
employed for its enforcement. by lib
eral allowances from fines imposed
upon its offenders, and it entirely fails
to suppress the evils of intemperance,
but rather increases them, and creates
others which are greater.
There is more Intoxicating liquor,
adulterated and highly injurious, sold
in Vermont than in any other state in
the Union according to population. 1t
is also true that there is more NOR
phine, chloral, opium and kindred
drugs consumed in our state per capita
than in any other state in the Union.
The whole effect of the law is perni-
cious and it has retarded the natural
development of our state. and rests as
curse upon us, in so far ASH breeds
hypocrisy. perjury and lying, evils
even greater than intemperance itself
Liquors are sold by the towns and we
are all made parties to the transaction
but there is little or no profit to the
town or the state.
The law is drastic in it's provisions
and rotten in its execution, and as
knowledge of its workings spreads,
feeling of disgust comes over every
man who cares for the honor of our
state.
4 stand with any man for law, order
and good government | am against
any law which relies for its enforce
ment not upon healthy public senti-
ment, but upon the large fines and
fees which public officers are able to
aXtort from their victims and put to
the credit of their own bank accounts
and which are commonly used for the
purpose of blackmail.
We license advocates believe in law
which will permit the sale of intoxi
,ating liquors. when a town so orders
{, under regulations, which, from ex-
oerience, we know do in other states,
reduce the evils of intemperance to
minimum and return immense revenue
o the towns.
Such a law has been drawn and pre-
ented to the legislature many times
within the past few years. but the po-
itical machine which controls the des-
inies of Vermont legislation and Yer
mont politicians. has every time put
in the way of the passage
# such an act and would not even per
nit it to be presented to the people of
he state for their approval or rejec-
ion, lest in the change of sentiment
which must inevitably take place were
uch a measure presented TO every vot-
r in the state for his consideration, it
,ould lose the reins of government.
For 10 years Vermont has stood for
he principles of the Republican party
n national affairs. and in that no one
lories more than |, but in state af
airs we have had no politics.
\ few men have controlled official
ositions and legislation and have trad
d out the various offices from govern
r down, year after year, saying, You
upport me this time and | will sup
ort you next" and upon that plat
orm they have gone through the state
18th their strikers, hat in hand, beg
ing votes.
| believe the time has come when the
eople of this state are anxious to take
old and assume their proper place in
ne government. | believe that the
fairs of the state should be run on
usineSs basis. If nominated, | will
and for high license and local option,
nd a real retrenchment in state ex-
enses and honesty in the administra-
on of state affairs. | will use my
est efforts to win out for the cause
nd work for the repeal of the prohib-
DRY law and the enactment of real
legislation in its place, and
,r the honest and faithful administra-
on of public affairs.
Thanking you for the interest you
ave shown in this matter, | remain.
Yours very sincerely,
perpiVal " Clement