Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-05-29
Mr.. Clements Position Discussed

As the great apostle OF nlgl license
has done Randolph and is making an
attempt to force the issue into State
politics this year, it behooyes all low
ers of the present law to rally
around the true standard and guard
the strain that is being brought to bear
upon il during the present campaign.
The temperance people welcome this is
sue and are willing to carry it out on
educational lines.
Mr.. Clement is a radical speaker
and argues on the extreme verge OF
the question, and no doubt he will Gre
ate a constituency to follow hard in
his footsteps in some respects. He is
great man, but true greatness is a
public trust and woe unto him who de-
faults or misuses it. Now let us dis
cuss few points in Mr.. Clements adj
dress and see if his magnanimity will
impel his capacious mind TO plead in
the interests OF the common good.
Mr.. Clement says that only when in
temperance exists in a community
TO such an extent as TO become a bur
den upon society against which soci-
ETY. has a right TO protect itself, can
prohibition be justified. This is an
old-iashioned free rum argument.
Il is well known and acknowledged
that the sale OF intoxicating liquor Is
responsible for more predatory crime
than all other agencies combined, and
is continually leading men 10 habitual
drunkenness and poverty.
The ideals we worship, the propen-
stiles we indulge. the habits we allow
10 grow up among us are the founda-
ton and manifestation Of all society.
Our prohibitory law has and win inn
prove these social conditions, while
Mr.. Clemens would introduce the open
saloon 10 degrade our citizenship and
weaken our wealth-producing activi-
ties, and lower the social and indus
trial status of the state.
Society has perfect right TO protect
itself from the results OF predatory
crime, and to prohibit the illegal sale
OF intoxicating liquors is legiti-
mate and effective method 10 accom-
plish il.
Mr.. Clement, in urging a referen-
dun, said that the town Is the unit of
Now a referendum is
and uncalled for. and would
establish a precedent that would lead
TO endless trouble when called Tor to
settle other questions. Our State con-
stitution gives the freemen right to
instruct their representatives on all
important questions. This can be
done next fan and settled in the legis-
lature without referring the question
back TO the people The license ele- |
ment can stand the inequality Of repre-
sentation on this question as well as
on others.
The best reason for not submitting |
this question to referendum vote is |
the non-thinking class that constitute |
the majority of the voters in the large |
places in the state. who will cry as OF |
old, Cruelty him Cruelty him -
No, Mr.. Clement, we propose 10 hold |
this question 10 a representative vote |
where it belongs
Let me make this appeal to the
voters OF the state, that You let no man l
you next fall that is willing
10 submit the license question TO a
popular vote, because local option will |
permeate the state with free rum, and
he towns that vote no license will
simply get the .'puken end OF il.
II Is inscrutahle from a moral stand
point why man should say that TO
rink and sell liquor is not wrong in
Itself. Would Mr.. Clement suppress
he manufacture and sale OF burglar
ools In the state on the ground OF their
uses But rum has caused
lastly more crime than the burglar.
Would he protect the sale of rum and
lunish its depredations Let a boy
hrow mud and slush into the windows
d the Rutland Herald Office and see
low many times Mr.. Clement would
lean the window before he would 90
or the boy.
The fraud and corruption in the adj
OF the license law is in
proportion as its restrictions approx
mate prohibition. They are having
perfect scandal in some places in
,eT York trying 70 enforce the pro-
.ibitory restrictions OF their infamous
license law.
A few years ago the license men in
his state called prohibition a dead
- tA+.AA 0stAA AZ ADAAA not Nt enc
orced. Now they cry fraud and cor
upton because we can and do enforce
(. The way to have peace is to give
hem free rum.
ANY student of economies. bv a few
ours Of investigation. could probably
nd the same corruption in the admin
'tratlon OF some other state laws as in
rohibition. Better have a little cor
upton to enforce a righteous prin-
.ple than a righteous administration
law that allows cess-pool OF cor
option.
Don't say rum doesn't cause crime
the natural world it Is a fact well
nown that the choicest fruits can be
rown with less care and labor than
le inferior sorts. Human nature is
ose parallel II costs vastly more To
row and care for a criminal. than to
-ow and care for a law-abiding citizen.
The crying need Of the ace is the
'siematic education OF the intellectu- =
, moral and spiritual nature Of man. r
IA a EEn sHraH