The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-09-10
THE FLYING SQUADRON
Concluding Sessions of Two Days in
Bennington.

/.
Thursday was the last day of the
Flying Squadron's visit to Benning-
ton and two interesting meetings
were held at the court house in the
afternoon and evening. w. b. SHIELD
on presided in the afternoon and Rev.
w. +. Meyer acted as chairman for
the concluding program. At both
meetings enjoyable vocal selections
we're given by w. A. Best of the
University of Vermont.
The first speaker of the afternoon
was John b. Lewis, former mem
Der of the Massachusetts, legislature
who gave the audience some interest
ing statistics concerning the liquor
traffic. Each year the country loses
100000 persons, directly or indirectly,
by drink. In the state of Massachus-
etts the conditions were studied
scientifically for one year and some
interesting conclusions drawn.
Eighty-two per cent of all the Grimm
ais were under the influence OF drink
at the time they committed their
crime; 81 per cent of the insane
were addicted to drink as were rs
per cent of the paupers; and rs per
cent of the crimes came from homes
where the parents used liquor. The
speaker declared that the liquor traf-
fc cannot be restricted, restrained,
or regulated but must be prohibited
and closed his address with the re-
quest that the audience might aid
the prohibition leaders in putting
through their work.
After a vocal selection by Mr.. Best.
the chairman introduced II. E. Kersh-
ner of Wichita, Kans. Mr.. Kershner
opened his remarks with the declara-
ton that there were three essentials
necessary to be good reformer, be
radical, be optimistic and be bellig-
erent. The names that go down in
history are the names OF radicals not
of conservatives. The optimist is the
one who achieves while tn pessimist
accomplishes nothing. We should be
neutral concerning the war in Eur
ope but should be belligerent in the
war against liquor traffic. The right
policy is the policy of prohibition and
what is right can be accomplished.
The first speaker of the evening
was Mr.. Lewis, who took for his top
ic "The Bottle Bank" Taking an
empty whiskey bottle as the subject,
he said that it was the place where
many people deposit their money
From this place they receive no in
terest in return except loss of posi-
ton, hope and love. We must have
national prohibition preventing the
manufacture and the sale of intoXicat
ing liquors since regulation has fail
ed. What the ssalopplhas done in the
past, it viii continue to do in the flu
ture unless steps are taken to stop
the traffic. Mr. Lewis closed his talk
by asking for contributions to furth-
er the work of the Flying Squadron
and cards We're also passed around
on which one could pledge himself to
support candidates favoring prohibit
ton.
Mr.. Kershner then spoke on the
major premise that Prohibition Isl
the most important political question
before the people of the United States
at the present time" We have been
fighting the liquor question for 80
years and the climax has now been
reached. The constitution of the
United States is for the purpose of
protecting life, liberty and property
while the liquor traffic destroys life
in every sense of the word. In New
York city GO per cent of the children
in the schools are abnormal in some
way. and, OF these, 80 per cent are Of
drinking parents.
The speaker declared that the liqu-
or problem is unsettled but capable
of settlement. Every political party
in the country should state its stand
upon this question. The task before
the citizens is to change the policy
of the government so that national
prohibition will result.