The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-07-07
THIRD PARTY FOLLY.

The Prohibition party has nominated
national ticket, chosen national
chairman and started in the campaign
with something of a campaign fund.
Silas o. Swallow, of Pennsylvania,
for president and George W. Carroll, of
Texas, for vice-president, are the can
didstes, presented upon platform
that not only touches on the liquor
question but has various other planks
on important questions They favor
international arbitration, a suffrage
law based on mental and moral quail
6oations, popular election of Senators.
civil service extension, reform of di-
vorce laws, the initiative and the
referendum, and the rigid application
of the principles of justice to all or
CARNATIONS of capital and labor. In
all, the platform is quite work of
art, expressing an opinion on most of
the big public questions.
General Miles, it seems, did not de-
sire to be made candidate under
the conditions that would surround
nomination on the Prohibition ticket,
for he sent telegram to John g.
Woolley, one of the leading Prohibi-
tionists, asking that his name be not
presented to the convention. The
worthy warrior is probably awake to
the possibility of securing bigger
prize, inasmuoh us there have been
renewed efforts of late to work up a
Miles boom in the Democratic ranks.
The literature that has been distribut-
ed recently was probably sent out
with the knowledge of Miles himself.
Its effect however, has as yet not
been very noticeable and the possibil-
ity of the nomination going to him is
at least very remote. Still there may
almost anything happen at st. L uis
in case of deadlock in the conven-
tion. In any case, Miles was wise in
not allowing his name to be used by
the Prohibitionist party, for it would
have done no good to anybody and it
would have seemed like belittling his
record to have set him up where he
was certain to be knocked down--and
all so soon after he had held the high
est military Office in the land.
General Miles may be ever SO anx-
ious to help the prohibition cause but
he well knows that the Prohibition
party will not help that cause materi-
ally, but instead will check the cause
of temperance. The national policy
with regard to the traffic in intoxi-
eating liquors can be changed only by
the action of one or both of the great
political parties. Therefore, if General
Miles desires to see change-if he
desires to see prohibition further in
stituued-he we'll knows that the only
way to secure what ne wants Is
through one of the great parties in
Congress. The Prohibition party can
never amount to anything. The two
leading parties will decide for or
against prohibition on government
property, in the Capitol at Washington,
in the District of Columbia. in the
territories, and in the army and navy.
Ihe efforts of temperance men could
more wisely and more effectively be
turned toward choosing Republicans.
or possibly Democrats. who would
work for temperance in Congress than
in trying to block their election. The
effect of the efforts of the Prohibition
party is dead against what it's sup
porters desire it to be.
1t is the duty of citizen to sc
cast his vote that it may have the
largest effect in the shaping of the
course of government along the lines
that he believes in. OF two good
candidates he should choose the best
of two bad ones he should choose the
best; of two evils, one of which il
sure to be taken, he should choose the
lesser. By voting that way the vote
counts for good citizenship. A vote
for the Prohibition party is practi-
cally wasted to the cause of temper
ance-it is even worse than wasted
for it may nullify the effect of thu
temperance votes in the larger parties
In Vermont and, for that matter, al
over the United States, the Republican
party is the one of the two grea
parties that stands for temperance
A vote for the Prohibition party hin
ders the Republican party just so mucl
in its work for temperance. 1t i
worse than wasted.