Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-04-24
CLEMENT AT BETHEL
High License Candidate For Govern
or Begins His Stamping Trip.


nation for the governorship at the hands
u of the Republicans of Vermont, spoke in
y Bethel town hall Monday evening in be-
half of high license and local option, as
opposed to the present prohibitory law.
Mr.. Clement came in his private car, at
taehed to the O'Clock express and left
Tuesday for White River Junction, where
he spoke Tuesday evening, going from
there to Brandon.
; A large audience, including many ladies,
filed the hall. Prominent business men
: occupied seats ON the stage. Mr.. Clement
was introduced by L. A. Markham and his
+, talk OF two hours received close attention.
i Many of his points were greeted with APP
d plause and his stories, of which he had
several good ones, won laughter. His
speech was mostly written, but he branch
ed out frequently, and was most effective
when he left his manuscript.
t Mr.. Clement said in part
The first agitation for prohibition was
? in Windsor county fifty years ago and
: take great pleasure tonight in appearing
J before you suggesting plan that think
! better than prohibition.
The real agency of government is to
prevent drinking intoxicating liquor as
beverage as much as possible, and in order
to do this, as it cannot prevent the drink
ing il tries to prevent the sale. The sale
of intoxicating liquor is not wrong in it.
self. Prohibition makes wrong what in
itself is not wrong and what in some
states is entirely proper
If state can make such laws, it will |
next say what you shall eat and drink. |
! This is simply because a majority are /
| trying to impress their views forcibly up /
/ on a minority.
The true function of government is to /
control the individual as little as possible, /
and to let him alone as long as he does I
not interfere with the rights Of others.
In Rutland county prohibition has be-
come a mass of corruption, In 1898 nine
men were arrested, charged with offences
against the liquor laws, and eighteen cases
were disposed Of in one day against them.
In the way OF fees m those cases the
states attorney received $50, the city
judge S151 and the officers s9i. The states
attorney drew pay for IS miles travel and
did not leave his chair.
When man in Rutland county goes by
a nice house be inquiries, "What states
attorney lives there Y Often in Rutland
county the officers charged with the en-
forCement Of the law approach liquor
dealers and ask them to lend them $500 or
to sign notes at the bank with them,
which the liquor dealer has to pay.
Bankers in Rutland see these notes. /
have seen them.
As a result OF LuG severe pIONiHlOUb OF
the prohibitory law, out OF all proportion
to the remainder OF the criminal laws,
man 80 years old was sentenced to 66 years !
and woman in Rutland county for nearly
80 years, But the worst feature of this
part OF the law has now been changed SO /,
that three years is the limit.
Capital is being driven out of Vermont
by prohibtory laws. A hotel ON the |
western side of Lake Champaign, costing 7
100000, would have been built in Burling- !
ton but for the prohibitory laws In the
case OF O'Neill, carried up to the u. 5.
supreme court, the respondent was SEN
fenced to pay fine of $1,000 or "a years /
The justice in this case f
gave a sentence of 70 years, a punishment y
three times as great as could be imposed b
for manslaughter. e
II would be a great thing for this state ?
to encourage the sale of beers and light
wines in place OF whiskey and alcohol, and
that is one Of the effects OF high license.
Each town would establish its own law on
the liquor question and public opinion II
would be behind the law.
A license law has been introduced in the :,
legislature for each session for the past ~
ten years, but the machine has opposed it.
] was in st. Adams six years ago and / s.
then understood there was an offensive
and defensive alliance made between d.
smith and Proctor, that the former should
come in in 1898 and the latter in 1902, a A,
sort of sons-ot-governors' society.
The machine has been opposed to any =
agitation of this question for fear that it -
you'd result in the overthrow of the Z
Neither Mccullough nor Proctor stands "
or any issue. / am inclined TO think that la
I Mccullough had to vote he would be in
avor Of high license. II Proctor stands
or anything it is for prohibition.
IL you nominate me for governor, the OF
anne sentiment that dominates me will Sa
end legislators who will repeal the pro- 10
libition law. c.
Some say my canvass was a spite can ID,
ass, but have been in favor OF high su
license for fifteen years. | was originally ca
prohibition man, for / had not studied LEI
he question. They say, why didn't you W,
ome out earlier2 Because / knew Webb /
vas high license man, though he was a III
title timid about coming out for fear of A
osing some of your votes. don't come CO
nut under any false colors. Br
Why the papers that were for high
license support Proctor is a problem. II
lie stands for anything, il is prohibition.
Have they sold out2 Principles are
bandoned only for money or the promise :,
I office. am not looking to the polit- ~
ians for support but to the plain people
o you. est
There is a man at the head OF the Anti
aloon League by the name of Morrow nj,
Sho writes Rev. IN front of his name, v hy,
don't know. He listens at your kew o.
loles, spies, is a sleuth peells into win III
lows. II YOU are called out to your barn
1 night YOU may find him between the gu
.itchen door and the stable. What is his Su
ibiect2 He has come in for a share OF the
ines gu
Why do we want an Anti Saloon League Sa
I the end Of 90 years OF prohibition This
leHgue is responsible for the murder OF a
nan in this county and for his indictment
or manslaughter instead of murder. Why
s Il necessary for a spotter to carry guns =?
The Rutland liquor agency sells $4,000 70
worth OF Intoxicating liquor per year. fla
600 drinks per day-400000 per year. be
We have had 50 years OF corruption. CHI
,laekmail, perjury. Stand for the right.
or law, order and good government and q,
We viii repeal the law. ke
Candidate Clement is evidently no ora W
or when reading from his manuscript He be
ppeared at his best when he dropped his we
and told some story or brought
nut some idea offhand Many OF his arfTu- in