Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-04-11
A THIRD CANDIDATE
FOR LICENSE AND LOCAL OPTION.
perciva w. Clement of Rutland An
nounces Himself Candidate or the
Governorship.

nounces Himself Candidate or the
Governorship.
m Mr.. William f. Adrich and 40 other
Republican Voters of Shrewsbury
Gentlemen-In response to your ques-
,ions as to a license and local option cam
naign this year, permit me to say to
vou and through you to other Republi-
can voters who have mentioned my name
in connection with the governorship. that
welcome any opportunity to discuss the
prohibitory law.
In the march of social Improvement and
education upon the subject of intemper-
ance, our state has been left so years be-
hind the times.
At a special election in February, 1853,
at the end of temperance revival which
swept the state the prohibitory act was
approved by a majority of III votes in q
total of $3.50 votes cast. 1t was a gro
tesque piece of legislation among the en-
actments of that day.
Its advocates recognizing the evils of
intemperance undoubtedly expected that
the law would bring on the millennium,
but in that they were disappointed. A
man has never been made temperate in
what he eats or drinks by legislative en-
actment. and the law, re-enacted and
amended ana maze more stringent
subsequent sessions of the Legislature, re-
mains a wart upon the public statutes.
1t makes 1t a crime to deal in alcohol, in
its various forms, an article of commerce
which the rest of the civilized world says
may be properly dealt in between man
and man and used with propriety.
It gives almost unlimited powers, in GER
tain directions to courts and officers of
the law, which are outrageously abused
Of off
employed for its enforcement. by liberal
allowances from fines imposed upon its
offenders, and 1t entirely fails to sup
press the evils of intemperance. but
rather increases them, and creates others
which are greater.
There is more intoxicating liquor, adul-
terated and highly injurious, sold in YER
mont than in any other state in the
Union according to the population. 1t is
also true that there is more morphine,
choral, opium and kindred drugs con-
sumed in our state per capita than in
any other state in the Union.
The whole effect of the law is pernicious
and it has retarded the natural develop
ment of our state. and rests as curse up
on us, in so far as it breeds hypocrisy,
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 it's provisions and
rotten in it's execution. and as a knowl-
edge of it's workings spreads. feeling of
disgust comes over every man who cares
for the honor of our state.
I stand with any man for law. order and
good government. l am against any law
which relies for its enforcement. not upon
a healthy public sentiment, but upon the
large fines and fees which public officers
obi fa viz inns n nd
put to the credit of their own bank ac-
counts and which are commonly used for
the purpose of blackmail.
We license advocates believe in a law
which will permit the sale of Intoxicating
liquors when a town so orders it. under
regulate which from experience, we
know do in other states reduce the evils
of intemperance to a minimum and return
immense revenue to the towns.
Such law has been drawn and present
ed to the Legislature many times within
the past few years. but the political ma
chine which controls the destinies of Yer
mont legislation and Vermont politicians,
has every time put distractions in the
way of the passage of such an act and
would not even permit it to be presented
to the people of the state for their APP
prevail or rejection, lest in the change of
sentiment which must inevitably take
place We're such a measure presented to
every voter IN the STATE LOT MS cOHSluerd-
ton, it would lose the reins of govern
ment.
For 40 years Vermont has stood for the
principles of the Republican party in
national affairs, and in that no one glories
more than I, but in state affairs we have
had no politics.
A few men have controlled official po-
sitions and legislation and have traded
out the various offices from governor
down. year after year. saying, you sup
port me this time and I will support you
next" and upon that platform they have
gone through the state with their strikers,
hat in hand. begging votes
I believe that the time has come when
the people of this state are anxious to
take hold and assume their proper place
in the government. believe that the af-
fairs of the state should be run on bus
mess basis. If nominated, I will stand
for high license and local option, and a
real retrenchment in state expenses and
honesty in the administration of state af-
fairs. I will use my best efforts to wir
out for the cause and work for the re-
peal of the prohibitory law and the enact
ment of real temperance legislation in Its
place, and for the honest and faithful adj
ministration of public affairs.
Thanking you for the interest you have
shown in this matter, I remain
Yours very sincerely.