The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-07
POLITICAL MUSINGS.
Correspondent Not Wholly Pleased with
Republican Candidates.

Mr.. Editor; The adoption or rejection
Of the Sheppard amendment to the fed
eral constitution Ia under discussion P.
W. Clement and his associates of the
| Local Option league are out with big
guns and much ammunition to over
throw the white ribbon brigade of the
state.
The people ought and probably wish
to hear from the other camp. / venture
to say at least five-sixths of the voters
Of the state have already firm eonvic.
tion, either for or against the adoption
and are so nearly even up that the small
remaining fraction hold the balance Of
power and are the real sugar" sought.
Both sides are proud and pleased to
| claim real Americanism, loyalty, patriot.
ism, war measures first, fair play, no
mud throwing, public and personal bene-
tits, facts not fiction; but actions speak
louder than words; much depends upon
point of view; it is sometimes hard TO
prove TO others what one knows to be
facts; and there are none so blind as
those who won't see.
Local option" so called, has won
| twice in this state and remains the dark
est spot upon our history and injury to
state pride May God grant that future
light may dispel the darkness!
In the first place, let me repeat and
emphasize the fact that local option is a
missioner. The evil effects of a license
majority reach far beyond the locality
so voting. The great claims for a better
enforcement of law have not made good;
is in no possible sense temperance
measure.
Every intelligent person should know
the advantage Of personal habits of tenn
perance and sobriety, and / do not ask
space for its discussion.
But to resume; in legal and critical
investigations, the motives are very i'm.
portsnt, and justly so. What are, or
may be, the motives of the adherents of
local option and prohibition?
IT is well known that there is large
revenue connected with all phases of the
manufacture and sale of intoxicants
Is it not both reasonable and probable
to suppose that one who so profits would
bitterly oppose measure which reduced
their businessf And those addicted to
the use of intoxicants would naturally
take the same position! If anyone
knows distiller, brewer saloon keeper
or person who directly or indirectly
profits by the liquor traffic or an habitual
drinker who does not favor local option"
and license, will they please report Now
if this is sound reasoning and the order
is reversed who do we find opposed to
the adoption of the Sheppard amend
ment2 On the other hand will Mr.
Clement or any of his lieutenants please
explain what probable or possible inan-
cial or other selfish returns the thous-
ands of contributors to the Anti-Saloon
league and other kindred objects can re-
ceive or expect for the "slush money" so
called 1t looks TO me like case of lose
his job for few salaried officials, if de-
sired objects are attained, and nothing
more to do.
By the way, what do thinking people
get out of the Local Option ad. entitled
Facts and Fiction"l confess am so
blind / don't see even an attempt at de-
NAL by Mr.. Clement in his reply to the
inquiry Of Mr.. Belknap in relation TO q
published statement Of the Vermont Is
sue.
No one questions the sacredness Of the
federal constitution or urges any change
not very important The Sheppard
amendment is bothl Times and needs
change and there is good precedent.
With many others throughout the coun-