Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-04-10
CLEMENT A CANDIDATE.
Announces His Willingness TO Hun
For Governor on High License
Platform.

1 HIS IAuAieAiAh llNAAhAd h'aS
the following letter from Hon. Perci-
val w. Clement, advance proofs OF
which were furnished the state press =
To Mr.. William Z. Aldrich and 40
Other Republican Voters OF Shrews-
bury
GENTLEMEN-In response to your
luuestions as to a license and local
option campaign this year, permit me
to say to YOU, and through you TO
other Republican voters who have
mentioned my name in connection
with the governorship, that | welcome
any opportunity to discuss the prohib-
| itOry law.
In the march of social improvement
and education upon the subject of in
Temperance, our state has been left 90
years behind the times.
At a special election in February,
1888, at the end OF a temperance re-
yival which swept the state, the pro-
hibitory act was approved by major
ity OF III votes in total OF 1929
votes cast. 1t was grotesque piece
OF legislation among the enactments Of
that day.
Its advocates, recognizing the evils
OF intemperance, undoubtedly expect
ed that the law would bring on the
millennium, but in that they were dis
appointed. \ man has never been
made temperate in what he eats or
drinks by legislative enactment, and
the law, re-enacted and amended and
made more stringent at subsequent
sessions Of the legislature, remains a
wart upon the public statutes.
1t makes it a crime to deal in alcohol,
i'm its various forms, an article of COM
merce which the rest of the civilized
world says may be properly dealt in
between man and man and used with
propriety.
1t gives almost unlimited powers, in
certain directions, TO courts and Off
GERS OF the law, which are outrageous
ly abused
It encourages the cupidity of officers
employed for its enforcement by
liberal allowances from fines imposed |
upon It's offenders, and it entirely fails |
to suppress the evils of intemperance, |
but rather increases them, and creates /
others which are greater.
There is more intoxicating liquor, |
adulterated and highly injurious, sold |
in Vermont than in any other state in |
the Union according to population. It'll
is also true that there is more NOR
phine, choral, opium and kindred |
drugs consumed in our state per cap |
ita than in any other state in the
| Union.
The whole effect of the law is per-
nicious and it has retarded the natural |
development OF our state, and rests as
a curse upon us, in so far as ii breeds
perjury and lying, evils
even greater than intemperance itself.
Liquors are sold by the towns and we
are all made parties to the transaction,
but there is little or no profit to the
town or the state
The law is drastic in its provisions
and rotten in its execution, and as
of its workings spreads, a
feeling of disgust comes over every
man who cares for the honor of our
state.
] stand with any man for law, order
and good government. ] am against
any law which relies for its enforce
ment not upon healthy public senti-
nent, but upon the large fines and fees
which public officers are able to eXtort
from their victims and put to the cred
il of their own bank accounts and
which are commonly used for The pur-
pose of blackmail.
We license advocates believe in a
aw which will permit the sale OF in
liquors, when a town so or
lers it, under regulations. which.
rom experience, we know do in other
itates reduce the evils OF intemperance
o minimum and return immense
'evenue to the towns. h
Such law has been drawn and pre-
ented to the legislature many times
within the past few years, but the
political machine which controls the
lestinies of Vermont legislation and
Vermont politicians, has every time
tut distractions in the way OF the
passage Of such an act and would not
wen permit it to be presented to the
PEOPLE OF the state for their approval
n rejection, les. in the change OF SEN
iment which must inevitably take
lace were such a measure presented
o every voter in the state for his con
liberation, it would lose the reins of
government.
For 40 years Vermont has stood for
ne principles of the Republican party ,
n national affairs, and in that no one
,lories more than /, but in state affairs /
We have had no politics.
A few men have controlled official I
and legislation and have !
raded out the various offices from
overnor down year after year, saving.
You support me this time and | will |
upport you next, and upon that plat r
Orm they have gone through the state :
With their strikers, hat in hand. beg
ing votes.
j believe that the time has come
ghen the people Of this state are anx-
)us to take hold and assume their
roper place in the government. be-
eve that the affairs of the state should j
e run on business basis. If nomi .
ated, / will stand for high license
4 a / ,