Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-08-30
HOWE ANSWERS
HIS CRITICS
TO the Voters Of Vermont

Of September visiting az many towns d'
possible, that the voters might become
better acquainted with me and be IN
position TO decide for themselves whe-
Their or not they would support my can
didacy
The best,laid plans often so astTay
Since the first OF August, ! have been
confined to the bed al lleaton Hospital
Montpelier suffering from severe
attack OF grippe and bronchitis To-day
| am allowed TO sit up few minutes
for the first time, and am promised that
! shall be released from the hospital
within few days, but al the same time
am told / must take the best possible
care OF myself for at least two weeks
This means that ! must limit personal
activity for the remainder OF the cam
paign, For this reason ! am compelled
10 request my friends and supporters to
look after my interests IN the various
sections OF the State ! know that, under
the circumstances, they Will do this
gladly, and | appreciate the willingness
to aid that many Of them have so cor
daily expressed,
During the past three weeks | have
not been permitted 10 read the news
papers or TO attend 10 my correspond
ence ! have been able TO see visitors
only at rare intervals, and then only for
a moment OF course, some things have
come TO me by indirect report although
the details are as yet far from complete,
j understand that Judge Darling and
some OF his satellites have attacked me,
questioning both my honor and my
honesty and accusing me OF varied and
sundry wickedneSs, II ! am guilty, |
am not aware Of IT, ! served two terms
in the House OF Representatives, one Of
them as speaker the people have hon
ored me by electing me lieutenant gov
ernor and president OF the Senate; !
served as chairman OF the commission
that drafted the workmen's compensa-
ton law and have been member Of
other state commissions, Governor Ora.
ham appointed me member OF the
Vermont public safety and citizens Of
Bennington made me member OF the
local war service committee spent
several months and several hundred dol
lars OF money, earned by my own head
and hands, recruiting for the First Yer.
mont regiment, have been called on
to aid in every patriotic activity in Yer
mont since the war started. Yet now
comes Judge Darling and ISLANDERS me,
He says that | am a dangerous charac.
ter and attempts 10 prove II by certain
clippings twisted and distorted out Of
the relation in which they were used
edited untruthfully and misinterpreted
to do me harm am comiorted though,
that in past campaigns, Vermont voters
have not been misled by personal Wilt
fcations
Mr. Clements candidacy indicates a
very earnest desire to be governor, for
this is the fourth attempt, Three times
repudiated by the voters OF Vermont in
the past he hopes to win this year by
opposition to the National prohibition
amendment. His candidacy has ten
dency to mislead his own followers into
thinking that by voting for him they
are helping prevent the ratification OF
the amendment Ratification depends
fully ninety-nine per cent upon the leg
islature elected, and only Slightly and
indirectly upon the governor, Mr.,
Clement is merely using the issue in an
effort to be governor, He will talk Wig
orously of other things, but his chief
reliance is on the pro-license sentiment
in some of the larger cities and villages
OF the State.
Mr.. Clement and his lieutenants seek
to make the voters believe that the is
sue is the same as that over the Perry
bill two years ago. The two are no more
alike than daylight and darkness, The
Perry bill was an attempt to impose
state prohibition in Vermont while all
around us was license territory. The
present proposal is to stop the manufac-
ture and sale OF alcohol as a beverage
throughout the entire United States.
With the patriotic example Of three mil
lion American boys giving up all COM
forts Of home and pleasure, undergoing
rigid mental and physical training and
prepared to make any sacrifice, | think
we should be willing to give up the use
of alcohol as a beverage, because of the
harm it does to a part of our people.
Vermont has more than ten thousand
sons in service and five thousand more
awaiting call, Practically every home
in Vermont has furnished a soldier or
a sailor and many homes have sent
more than one. The interest and energy
of Vermont people are engaged in a
cause of worldwide Importance. 1t
seems to me poor time for a man, who
for years has profted even indirectly
from the sale Of liquor, to seek the Office
of governor of Vermont on an issue
which even partly, has in mind the pur-
pose of continuing the right to sell IL
quor in this State.
l do not dispute Mr.. Clements right
to seek the Office. He is now past y
years of age and, in the natural course
of events, his opportunity to seek pub
lie preferment is limited; but in view of
the grave crisis that faces the world, the
chief plank of his platform strikes many
people as trile unworthy.
About the state scandal now under
l do not yet know enough TO
speak with authority. Personally / do
not believe in much loud talk before the
facts are fully and officially established.
When the legislature meets. l believe /
that every man in public life in Vermont