The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-07-09
CLEMENT A CANDIDATE.
THE REAL ISSUE.

real issues in the pending political
canvass. Before the convention was
held they grew and fiourished like
Jacks famous bean stalk. But the
convention determined just what
should be the issue in the canvass fol-
lowing its adjournment. Aside from
national affairs, which are not now
in dispute, the State issue was thus
declared;
Resolved, That the Republican par
ty of Vermont adheres to its long
cherished belief that the unrestricted
traffic in intoxicating liquors is pub
lie evil, and that material modifica
ton of the existing law on that subject
should be made only after thorough
discussion and mature deliberation by
the people and we request the State
Legislature at its next session to
make provision for ascertaining the
will of the people by direct vote upon
the acceptance or rejection of license
and local option law regulating the
sale of intoxicating liquors, and fur
Their providing that upon popular vote
in favor of such law, duly ascer-
tanned the same shall be and become a
statute law of the State in force.
This resolution was considered with
the nearest approach to deliberatlon
that the combustible materials i'll the
late convention permitted A recess
was taken that the delegates whose
leaders had made the asserting action
of the convention on the question en-
bodied the resolution a sine qua non
of their abiding in that body might
give this plank in the platform the
consideration they desired On re-
converting these delegates, through
their spokesman, directly representing
their supreme chief outside the con-
vention, expressed their satisfaction
with the resolution and the eXplana-
ton of its true purport made by the
chairman of the committee on resolu-
tions, Hon j. W. Stewart of Middle
bury, and the resolution was thereup-
on adopted without dissent.
In respect of legislation regulating
the liquor traffic the question now be-
fore the Republicans of the State is
the question embodied in the resolu-
ton. Without the suggestion of a
reason therefor Mr. Clement and his
staff, that is to say Mr.. Clement him
self-for he is the autocrat of the sit.
uation his candidature presents-pro.
fess to doubt the sincerity. to discredit
the good faith, of their associates il
the late convention who presented and
approved the foregoing substitute fol-
the Clement resolution, which was Civ
en- the preference over that resolution,
the delegate offering the latter and
his following asserting to this pref
erence.
This apprehension of bad faith, OF
professed doubt of sincerity, equally
with any other reason alleged for Mr..
Clements bolt, has not leg to stand
upon. The Republicans who "adhere
to the partys long cherished belief
that the unrestricted traffic in in
toxicating liquors is public evil,
should, and undoubtedly would, abide
by the strict letter and spirit of the
request the resolution makes-tht
reference of the question of the means
of regulating the traffic in intoxicat
ing liquors, with a license-local op
ton measure attached, to the people
for the purpose of and in the manner
described in the resolution. The coun
ty conventions have approved the res
olution, and in the selection and cleo
tion of Representative later this pre-
cept will be enjoined upon them
The Republican members of the
General Assembly, though adherinl
to 1.-THE long cherished belief" the res
olution expresses, ought, and Repub
lican party sentiment will admonisl
them, to vote for the enactment of the
license-local option law the support
ers of this manner of providing the
public with liquors shall frame, anC
the people the issue will be joined
the argument will begin and tn,
Judgment of the sovereign people vii
be taken 1t would not, however, h'
incumbent ON members believing in ex
listing restrictive legislation, or in
direct State control to participate il
framing a license.local option bill
and it could not be expected that the,
would. That would be the bushes
of the members who favor license
local option. That would be tn
opportunity of men who have hithert,
been conspicuous as critics to exhibi
their capacity for constructive states
manship.
Newspaper editors should be o.
ii thnt,rne .ln L.,