The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
MONTPELIER CAUCUS.

we nave met bne enemy ana we
are theirs. " This was about the size
of the situation the Mccullough men
were up against at the close of the
caucus Wednesday evening.
A short horse is soon curried, and
the explanation of the result of the
caucus is not far to seek. In the first
place it is proper to say, for it is true,
that a majority of the Republican vot-
ers of Montpelier-so large as to APP
proach close to unanimity-person-
ally favor Mccullough. The point of
departure from this personal prefer
ence is right here; a large number
of Republican voters, it is we'll I'M
derstood, favor the regulation of the
liquor traffic under some form of
with local option attachment.
With many voters this preference is
dyed in the wool, coming down
from the times of earlier temperance
agitation. To another class the IL
cense system powerfully appeals
chiefly those who remember not the
evil times when license was the law,
who have been born or have arrived at
voting age since and have knowledge
of no other than the existing laws
relating to the sale and use of liquors.
This latter class, since the time they
arrived at manhood's estate, have
heard the liquor law called prohibi-
tory denounced as the propagation of
crimes of all sorts, the promoter of
drunkenness, the cause and fountain
head of all that goes wrong in society,
in the body polite, in the earth below
or the heavens above.
These two classes are strong be-
levers in the policy and possibilities
of license and local option as a means,
under the law, of regulating the traffic
in liquors and their use. The Proc
tor supporters injected the liquor ques-
ton into this campaign-where it had
no proper place. Finally, Mr.. Glenn
emf came in as a candidate for Gov.
ernor on straight license and local
option platform. Under somewhat
sensational circumstances he began
to stump the State'-in private
car, a spiketail coat, with coon
quartette" to attract the crowd. The
temperance issue suddenly became
acute 1t overshadowed all others.
The license element had found a
prophet. They had an exponent of
their doctrine. They focked to hear
him. They took him seriously Or
binary personal preferences disap-
peared from consideration, and license
Republicans in large numbers began
to follow this eXpounder of their doc
trine in.respect of the traffic in intoxi-
eating liquors This view of the
| situation seems to account, in some
large measure, for the election of
Gle ment delegates at the Montpelier
caucus.
Another cause, explaining i'll part
at least the fervor of the Clement men
for their candidate and their present
| COuISci bHcJ lay az buo uOOl VI tllC
Legislature. They concede that the
liquor issue is out of rational place
in this canvass But they complain
that the Legislature is responsible fol-
the presence of the issue in this out
of the way place. They say that all
they have cared for is the reference
of the question of license or prohibi
tion, after the lapse of fifty years
back to the people for discussion and
"a popular vote thereon. By that vote
they would abide. This desire the
Legislature has repressed by denying
the referendum at two consecutiv,
sessions. This action the license mel
seem to resent. So they say if thu
law makers would not turn the STREAM
of discussion and action into its natu
raj channel it's waters must seek anoth
er spillway, and Mr.. Clement, who ha
been an apostle of the referendum, b.
taking the field at this time, has pre-
sented the opportunity the Legislator