Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-06-26

III LuS uOul Vi SUN hSNNs IVY SNN ~
in the interests OF party harmony and
welfare.
Gen. Mccullough, in his acceptance
speech, might have given word OF
appreciation for this action on the part
of Mr.. Proctor's friends without par
ticle OF offense to his own supporters.
In our opinion, it would have been
more becoming than the sarcasm and
ridicule with which he covertly as
sailed those who had opposed him
during the pre-convention canvass.
Many OF his followers were more
grateful than Mccullough seemed to
be. But let that pass, as small
affair.
The Republican party has nomi-
mated Gen. Mccullough for governor.
He was not our choice but he is now
our choice. Without recanting any
thing we have said in opposition, we
can and shall support him as one who
will bring to the chair ability of high
order and many of the qualities that
serve a governor well. We urge his
election and wish him a most success
full and creditable administration. He
will have the cooperation of a strong
acknowledgement in the Hon. Zed
s. Stanton, and the other chief offices
will be filed by men of equal ability.
More important than the candidates
this year is the platform. If, six
months ago, anyone had predicted
that the Republican platform OF YER
mont this year would favor the pas
sage OF a high license-local option law
by the next legislature, the same to he
submitted TO the voters and to 90 into
effect il ratified by them, such a
prophet would have been wholly with
out honor, Scarcely less improbable
was the prospect of a direct demand
for a caucus law. Yet both these
things do appear in the platform
adopted last week, and the explana-
ton Is one word-Clement He did
it with his six weeks campaign of the
state, his telling speeches, his special
car and his ''coon quartette." Yet
Clement was but the spark that fired
the magazine. Despite the seeming
strength OF prohibition, many persons
have doubted as to the actual hold it
had on the people at large. OF late,
for many reasons not here to be
specified, the current has been setting
fast toward local option, and Mr..
Clement, with more sagacity than
many among us gave him credit for,
was the man to step FORTH at the
right moment, and crush the egg
shell.
When the Republican party-the
staunch supporter of prohibition
shows il the door and invites license
to come in, with the Democratic mi
nority unit against it, what hope has
prohibition Why, prohibitionists at
last week were scarcer
than robins in January. The only |
stand in the convention for the exist |
ing liquor law and in opposition to the
plank adopted was made by a few
Proctor men and ended feebly. The |
plank adopted, though offered by the
on resolutions, was so
satisfactory to the Clement
men that they accepted it without de-
bate. The latter avoided the error of
asking for too much. Yet what they |
did ashland got-was just what sue
cessive legislatures, including that Of
two years ago, have always dismissed |
in contempt-a high license-local OPP
ton proposition, with referendum at
tachment
Leading prohibitionists, beginning
with the Anti-Saloon League, have dis
covered reasons-since Clement came |
into the field-why the people should |
have opportunity to say which they
prefer, prohibition or license. A
year ago they couldn't see it at all. |
Clement removed the scales from their
eyes. Now they Join in the demand |
for a popular vote on the question.
We congratulate them. 1t is the posi-
ton this paper held two years and
more ago. If it had been adopted
then, in our opinion, the prospect Of
retaining prohibition would have been
good Now it is faint. The next leg
islature will unquestionably follow the
injunction laid upon it by the late con-
yention. An act will be framed, pass
ed, and submitted to the voters provid-
ing for high license-local option. And
we say here and now that such an act, if
ratified, ought to be the liquor legisla-
fiOn of the state This docs not ip,r,I,.