Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-16
THIRD PARTY PROHIBITION.
Letter Of Acceptance Of the Nomination
for Governor.

Chairman prohibition State committee
Dear Sir:-HavinE been Unexpectedly
nominated by the prohibition state con-
v~ention as It's candidate for governor. I
did not have the usual regulation speech
of acceptance in readiness and take this
method of expressing my appreciation of
the high honor conferred and of present.
Ing a few of our personal and party
views.
The Prohibition party Is second to
none in its loyalty to State and nation.
1t Is in hearty sympathy with the
great wave of reform, that is purifying
The inner life Of our country, and APP
preciatcs the part our President Is
taking therein. The Prohibition party
has been a potent factor in the aglta-
ton that has resulted in the political
revolution in some States, notably in
Pennsylvania.
We believe, however, that the affairs
of our W fair state have been as
honestly and efficiently administered
as those of any State in the Union. but,
we do not approve it's inconsistent posi-
ton in regard to the liquor traffic.
We are in favor of good roads, good
schools. good courts, economy. but not
parsiinony. in State expenses. official
honesty, an outlawcd liquor traffic. and
whatever makes for the highest type of
citizenship. We do not believe the local
option lcinse law needs any further
trial. Thrice. In succession, the citizens
have pronounced against license by an
increasing majority. Wherever license
has been tried in Vermont. as elsewhere.
the results have invariably been baneful
what consistcnce is there in asking for
the continuance Of a law that produces
degraded citizenship? The republicans Of
Maine, including its candidate for gov
crnor. stand souarcly for prohibition
with special officers for its enforcement.
they have a moral issue quite in con-
tfaSt With the same party in Vermont.
We believe it is right mud necessary to
llcohso certain occupations as physic-
ians, dentists, pharmacists, and teachers.
but we do not believe II Is right. or
even polite. to license an evil business.
1t is the constitutional duty of our law
makers to make laws that shall be for the
best interests of the people of the State
of Vermont. and no rightminded person
viii claim that a liquor saloon is any
benefit to tho people of the State of
Vermont or any other part of this earth.
Exceeding doleterlous influences flow
'''' 'N'f WV VI llflI, ana no hood. III
does not relieve the legislature from any
responsibility for passing such n law be-
cause the republican convention
of 1902 declared for II. Our legislators are
not sworn TO act according TO the resolu-
lions Of the political conventions Of their
respective parties, but for the best in
~terests Of the people of this State. When
a representative or senator votes for a
| measure that bo ,oI;,ou o. +
commits perjury, no matter if his party
has declared for It. Referring that law
to the people did not relieve that lecisla-
ture of the responsibility for the law.
1t Is not necessary TO go beyond Mont
pelier and Barre for our next Legislature
to find ample evidence to condemn the
present law or that end Of it that gives
permission to a majority Of tho voters.
which always Includes the worst ele-
ment. to infict the licensed saloon upon
any community IN the State. Nevertheless
the Republican party and its candidate,
no less than fusion and its candidate, de-
clare for a further trial of this law that
desrades our citizens. 1t is no argumen
for the continuance of n local option
lcens" law to claim. even II true. which
we do not admit, that less liquor is con-
stunned under that law in the State
than under tho old prohibition law. 1t is
the prohibition part Of this law that
controls liquor selling. and that only
in no-license places, while in license
towns conditions are much worse thar
they ever were under the old prohibit
ton law. We admit that the dominant
party. as a common condition, ignored
the enforcement of the old law TO n
great degree. and so far as the law was
not enforced, that party has tho honor
of neglecting it's duty, and. so far as II
has enforced the prohibition features of
the presenA law It demonstrates what
it might have done under the old ,au,
Should the dominant marty neo,ac, ard
ignore it's duty in enforcing tho nrosert
law as IL did the old prohihitorv Law, co,-
ditions would be worse tina, they ovor
were under that law. as indeed ther -
now in license towns
The republlcans aha rdored rrob,hi.ior
In 1902 through n%oliticaI fripbt ana ,ro
continuing the license ,,u. urdor A..
place of giving t, a fair trj,, rnowina
that every saloon tb,. bos h.o, e.. ..tI
tence in Vermont sinca III. ,ou na..
ed has been n public col,nitv 7, loo.
option is such n desirable - IN ron.
ulate evils, WHY no, subni, tho mo,,o.
of lotteries. gambling bousa, o.t,..
Joints. indecent shows. houses a. ;nfan,.
nv ,,y o,bar door,1i,u ~