Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-05-29
Clement at Randolph.

| Hon. p. W. Clement, candidate for the
Republican gubernatorial nomination on
high hcense-local option platform, spoke
in Dubois & Gays hall Friday evening in
behalf OF his position. A very large audi
ence, Of which at least one-half were
ladies, completely filled the hall.
Mr.. Clement was introduced by Homer
w. Vail as a man of firm convictions on
the liquor question, who had made II a
long study, and who would be listened to
with interest even by those who, like him
self, believed in prohibition.
| Mr.. Clements address followed along
the lines Of the one given at Bethel some
| time ago, which was then fully reported
in this paper. He said that prohibition
undertook to stop by law what was in
| itself a perfectly legitimate transaction.
1t tried 10 stop mems drinking by cutting
, off the supply at the point where it passes
| from dealer to consumer. Because one
man out OF a hundred makes bad use of
| liquor, the law seeks to prevent the other
80 from drinking at all.
Drinking, carried to excess, is a vice, a
sin against ones self, but il is not crime
to be remedied by law. The state has no
right TO interfere with personal habits so
| long as society itself is not harmed there
by.
Mr.. Clement sharply assailed the opera
tion OF the present law and outlined many
of its special features. He alluded to a
number of severe penalties melted out in
| wears past, before the maximum sentence
was fixed at three years. He cited numer-
Gus abuses and instances of corruption in
the execution of the law. The town agen-
| cies, he said, were selling enormous guam
| titles for drinking purposes.
Mr.. Clement denounced the Anti-Saloon
| League and Superintendent Morrow for
the kind OF work done by them. He held
prohibition responsible for the Goshen
| killing at White River Junction.
/ He thought that license would benefit
| the state by attracting summer hotels and
soiourners who now go elsewhere. III his
/ plan were adopted he said that Randolph
would probably have about four places
where liquor would be sold openly. The
money realized from licenses could be
used for road building.
At times, Mr.. Clement dwelt strongly
on the lax enforcement OF prohibition,
saving that prohibition is a thousand
/ times worse than free rum Immense
quantities Of liquor are brought into YER
/ mont by freight and express. Barre has
i three carloads Of beer come every day,
/ Mr.. Clement spoke for over two hours.
4 He was frequently encouraged by applause
and a number Of his apt stories were
greeted with laughter. He read from
manuscript a part OF the time, but was
more effective when he left IL.
4 All shades and beliefs were represented
/ in the audience. Some were immensely
pleased with Mr.. Clements speech, while
/ others considered il pretty thin. II gem
orally depended on the hearers own con-
victions as to the issue. II was very
warm and uncomfortable in the hall, and
a portion OF the audience left before the
/ end OF the address. Clements eolored
warblers tickled the crowd and were called
back. The Green Mountain band furn-
/ ished music outside.
Mr.. Clement came in his private car,
| attended by several friends. Editor
/ Greene OF the Rutland Herald met a
number Of those favorable to local option
and steps were taken to organize a
| Clement movement in this town in prep
aration for the caucus next Saturday.
(Other locals on next page.)