The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-21
PROHIBITION.
c. J. Ferguson Answers Clement

Blanchard opera house was com
fortably filled on Wednesday evening
at the mass meeting called for the
purpose of further discussing the mer-
its of high license against prohibit
ton. G. J. Ferguson, Esq, of Bur
lington was the speaker. Seated on
the stage were Rev. j. Edward
Wright Rev. Guy Q. Lamson, Rev
w. h. Davenport, Gen. j. H. Lucia,
A. ID. Farwell, 7. ]. Deavitt, Albert
Johonnott and Col. A. @. Brown. Elk
cellent music was furnished by Wild
er's orchestra
Mr.. Ferguson was introduced by
Mayor j. NJ. Boutwell,, who left a
meeting of the city council for that
purpose Mayor Boutwell, said d" La
dies and gentlemen A few days ago
a gentleman friend of mine called at
my office and requested that l should
be here tonight to open this meeting
and introduce the speaker | did not
then think of a previous business en-
gagement, and l ask you not to think
it discourteous if l ask you to excuse
me after | Introduce the very eminent
speaker of the evening, Hon. @. j
Ferguson of Burlington ~
=
ceived He spoke for over an hour
giving a logical, convincing, and elo-
gent address. In opening he said that
no one would take issue with the
statement that the traffic III intoXi-
eating liquors does more to defile pub
lie sentiment and injure public morals
than any other agency now in exist
ence. At this time in the State of
Vermont considerable discussion is GO
ing on as to the desirability of license
as against prohibition. One candi-
date for the high office of Governor is
going up and down the State advocat-
ing a high license platform, and he
has awakened a good deal of interest
in the subject. Il wish, " said the
speaker, "that he would confine him
self to the truth and to statements
that he can prove. When Mr.. Glenn
ent states that there is more intoXica.
ting liquor drank in Vermont than in
any other State in the Union accord
ing to the population he is stating
something which he knows nothing
about. -
Mr. Ferguson then referred to the
distinction made by Mr. Clement be-
tween vice and crime and urged that
this point was not well taken. In the
tissues of man 5 vices are found the
microbes of crime and we know not
where to draw the line to designate
the one from the other. In this coun
try the individual is the government
and just in the ratio that the individ-
ual is demoralized the government is
demoralized. If all the individuals
were drunk we would have drunken
government.
The speaker then took up the ques-
ton of license so strenuously advocat-
ed by Mr.. Clement. Down to 1877
Vermont had a license law. In that
year things had come to such a pass
the people realized that something
must be done, In 1847 the majority
vote of the State against license was
S,09l. The next year the majority
was only thirteen votes against Ii
cense. In 1919 the majority against
license was IL, 25l, in 1850, 7, 334, and
in 1852 the basis of our present pro-
hibitory law was enacted, Changed
amended, modified. or strengthened as
that law has been during half CEN
fury the people have always decided
that it was the best law for the State
and have kept it on the Statute books.
Mr. Clement at Vergennes the other
evening read portion of the prohib-
itory law and then said Isn't that a
caulker?" 1t IS a caulker and the State
of Vermont will continue it in its
caulking process. loud applause
The speaker then referred to the ar
gument made by Mr.. Clement that the
prohibitory law does not prohibit the
sale of Intoxicating liquors, and then