Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-01-05
Former Derby Physician Writes Editor.

Mr.. Editor:
A copy of the "Monitjr' of Dec.
18th is at hand and / am pleased to
note your attitude toward the subject
of state prohibition of the. booze
traffic also "Annette's" article rela-
tive to- alcohol's place in medicine. 1t
is source of pleasure to me to see the
good old state of Vermont coming to
her senses again on the subject of
licensing the liz or traffic. even in
localities that are wet" in sentiment.
1t was step backward when general
prohibition was repealed ard local
option substituted; but in the dozen
years sinre that step was taken there
has been wonderful change in public
sentiment throughout the nation; and
coming, though Constitutional amend
mont, within very few years at far
tn :,
Vermont should place ha~s lr wel'
in the vanguard, instead Of trailing
along in the rear, in this movement for
human betterment Put the "Ver-
monters ahead" ought still to be the
order as in the days of civil ;trife.
I'm sure the old state will make no
mistake in following the leadership OF
its governor on the ISSUE Governor
Gates will never be found favo ing any
form of "License' and he is safe
man TO follow
Oregon has OutgroWn local option and
in the last election adopted an amend
ment to the constitution putting the
ban on the booze business forever !;
and at the last session Of the Iegisa
ture that body enacted the best prohibi-
! ton law yet drafted: and it goes into
effect January 1st, 1916.
Now. word regarding the use of
| alcoholics in medicine: "Annette'
has stated the case fairly but she has
not made her case so strong as she
might have done. The last Pharma
copoea put the ban on alcohol, ex-
cept as solvent, giving it no place
in medicine. knowledge Of It's action
has increased to that point that it is
| now relegated to the rear as Stimu
liant and whiskey, wines, beer, etc.
are no longer prescribed by physicians
| who are modern and up-to-d te in their
practice In the coming March meet
ing Of 1916 the sense of the citizens Of
the state is to be made known to the
nation AS loyal son of the state
hope their judgm mt will be given for
state prohibition. that done, | hope the
| legislature VIII enact a law that will
visit or the lawbreaker punishment
adequate to the enormity of his offense
| | m sorry that the state has withheld
suffrage from the women. 10 Oregon
Inc women take as keen an interest in
questions of public policy as 10 the
men; AMI the way they exercise the
franchise is proof enough that they
deSsr it 1t was to the women that
the state owes the magnificent major
ity of 38 900 votes on the Constitutional
amendment in 1916 | hope that Yer
mont toes justice by the women of the
slate when the leg stature meets in
1916. 1t is the women's vote that
1.-The Trade fears and 1.-THE Trade
is the greatest obstacle to women s
suffrage, whether IN Vermont, Oregon,
or any other state where suffrage is
an issue.
Oregon and other states prove that
there is 70 valid reason why Vermont
should not grant the franchise tC
women. ] have observed the interest
en- by the women of Oregon since
suffrage was granted them. and
assure you it is very real. There is nc
doubt in my mind that they mean al
they say when they ask for the halIot
and it is only reasonable that the mrr
give them what they have right te
demand
I quote from Charles Fl Darling
beautiful poem that hangs above my
desk:
wherever manhood fights for hon lr
Where woman shrinks at s'n,
Where health is man S best riches,
! That s where Vermont comes in
So may it be; and may Vernon
give US state prohibition, March 7Eh
, next. and the women the ballot whel
next the legislature meets.
Respectfully yonrs,
; F. w ComiOgs-
Eugene. Ore, Dec %. 1915.