The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-07
MIR. j. S. Stiles.
West Derby, Vt
DR.. l. A. Russlow,
Randolph, Vt.
NJ 1Aor Gin.

West Derby, Vt
DR.. L A. Russlow.
Randolph, Vt,
My dear Sir
In reply To your letter of the 18th inst
] am perfectly willing to state to you
frankly my position in respect to the pro-
hibitOry law. ] am and always have been
in favor of it, and have always SO voted
when i'll the legislature. | believe that it
is better suited To promote the welfare
and sobriety of our state than any scheme
of license.
Yours very truly.
(Signed) FLETCHER ID. PROCTOR
Proctor, Vermont. April 16, 1902
1t will be seen, on casual reading
of Mr.. Stiles letter, that he asked a
direct question, which could be an
swered by simple yes or no: Would
Mr.. Proctor, as Governor, veto high
license or local option bill, or would
he not?
1t will be seen further that, instead
of replying directly to a direct ques-
ton, Mr.. Proctor refers Mr. Stiles to
Mr.. Proctor's letter to Doctor Russ
low of Randolph, in reply to an in
quiry regarding the candidates posi-
tion on the license question Mr.
Proctor says his answer to DR.. Russ
lows letter "covers my position
fully
Referring now to Mr. Proctor's re-
ply to DR.. Russlow the reader finds
simply a statement that Mr.. Proctor
is, and has always been, in favor of
the prohibitory law, and the express
sion Of his belief that it is better suit
ed to this State than any scheme of Ii
cense. One seeks in vain in this letter
for the suggestion of an answer of any
kind, direct or indirect, to Mr. Stiles
direct and simple question, framed to
permit an answer of Yes or No. 4"
Mr.. Proctor does not touch the matter
of Mr.. Stiles inquiry. He sends him
round Robin Hoods barn for the in
formation sought which the candi-
date had in his possession-but when
the inquirer has completed the circuit
of the reply so graciously vouchsafed
he finds that the candidate has sent
him on FOOLS errand, and being an
intelligent citizen honestly seeking
light on matter of grave public in
terest and Importance he is naturally
surprised, if not indignant, at the can
didate's want of candor and attempt
to bamboozle him.
If the frantic license advocates who
are supporting Mr.. Proctor deemed
Gen. McCullough's letter defining his
position on the question of the regu-
lation of the liquor traffic "strad-
die, " dodge" and all else it has
become under the perverting process
of the Proctor high license local OPP
ton partisans, what terms shall ade-
quately describe Mr.. Proctor's reply
to plain question that goes to the
very heart of this whole matter of
temperance legislation?
The question put to Mr.. Proctor
was asked with an honest purpose to
eliminate buncombe from the consid-
Grafton of this matter, to get down to
the bed rock on which must rest any
policy, any legislation, affecting the
regulation of the liquor traffic that
shall accord with the wish of the
largest number of the people of the
State, and hence shall have the high
est attainable degree of efficiency. 1t
is to be deeply regretted that Mr..
Proctor, whom his partisans have
been loudly extolling for his frank, 1"
manly, " fearless, |setc., etc, dec
larations on the subject of prohibit
ton, has utterly evaded the one ques-
ton of fundamental Importance, has
dodged-out and out-the one inquiry
appertaining to his power and duty,
under the laws and the Constitution,
as Governor, to impress himself upon
legislation affecting the temperance
question.
He has fully confirmed the belief
that his reply to the DR.. Russlow let.
ter was for political effect only, was