Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-02
MUCH LIQUOR SOLD IN
VERMONT, SAYS AGAIN
hndidate for Gubernatorial
Nomination Declares That Au-
tomobiles Are Used to Peddle
Booze Up and Down the State
Attacks Last Legislature

tat0 or vermont To-Day tHaH 'HeFe
YER was under the local option law.
len are seen to leave the wharves
bwn here In the early morning in mo
Dr. boats going north, and there Is
pnTe question as to what fs going on.
Ten are going through the State in
automobiles selling liquor. They do this
,scause they know that Uncle Sam has
OF enough inspectors to keep track Of
hem. There must be a modification or
n elimination of the Volstead Act. I
tapd right where I have stood on this
question, I am against the sth amend
nent and I am against the Volstead
lct."
In these words did Frank w. Agan,
" Ludlow. candidate for the Republi-
nm nomination for governor, announce
lis stand on the liquor question. speak,
ng before a good sized audience at the
sity Hall Thursday evening. Mr.. Agan
$50 took up discussion of his road plan
or the State and his tax law for auto
mobiles.
During the early part of the address,
Mr.. Agan referred to the statement
Srinted in local paper that Frederick
h. Babbitt had said that he (Agan) was
,tepping upon his (Babbitt's) platform.
Hr. Agan read part of the statement
n the paper, then said:
Gentlemen. that isn't so. couldn't
rtep on his platform. because I am not
Used to stepping on a fitting platform"
After reading the remainder Of the
Itatement of Mr.. Babbitt. Mr.. Agan de-
clared again that there was no truth
n the statement that he had taken any
bf the planks of Mr.. Rabbits platform
10 use as his own.
III have done so. have been per
lectly ignorant OF IT," the speaker con-
tinued, because I never have read the
gentleman's platform" Mr. Agan then
neclared that he had not deviated in
khe least from his issues. He said that
Mr. Babbitt, who was questioning his
nse of certain issues. WAS gradually
coming out on his (Mr. Agans) plat
PORN.
MY road issue n original with me and
ny tax Issue Is also original" said the
Spesker.
The meeting last evening was an en-
fhusiastic one, and the speaker was
pften interrupted by applause. Before
yhe meeting, Sherman's band added life
30 the gathering. The band paraded down
Church street and played a selection be-
Tore entering the hall There was also
bne selection during the program, and the
"star Spangled Banner" sent the crowd
AWAY in the proper spirit
John II. Mimms. the presiding officer.
ppened the meeting at eight o'clock and
Introduced as the first speaker Judge
II. l.. Skeels of Ludlow. president of the
Ean-for-Governor club. who is accom-
banying Mr.. Agan on his speaking tour
Judge Skeels told how Mr.. Agan Is
regarded in his own town. THE town of
Ludlow is soidly back of our citizen, -
havo ,bc
has had the interest Of the town at
heart all the time" The speaker went
on to say that Mr.. Agan Is not tied Ia
my faction in the State and that he is
free TO serve the people of Vermont
without fear or favor" In speaking of
Mr.. Agan's stand on the liquor question,
rho speaker declared that the impression
which had been created in unfriendly
papers that Mr.. Agan Is "rummy' was
entirely false. ''rhere is not a more tenn
perate man in our town. not barring the
clergy" said Judge Skeels.
In opening his address. Mr.. Agan said
few words about the matter of pledges
Il haven't asked any man in Vermont
to pledge for me l don't believe in It,
Mr.. Agan went on to say that he had
written or spoken to his friends ant
asked them to support him If they could
II want it understood" said the
speaker. that If any man has pledged
for me. and any other candidate stands
for any. better principles than he think.
| stand for, It Is his duty = vote fol-
that man"
MI Agan explained how he happened
n enter the campaign. He said that tw,
Try candidates entered the campaign. Mr.
Hartness and Mr.. Emery. Then Mr.
Rabbit came in, as a prohibition can
1idate but he soon developed we
tendencies by attack the Volstead act
Mr.. Agan, who was then in California
sent word to Mr.. Rabbit that, IL III
would take UP the campaign on the loca
option issue. opposing both the 1871
amendment and the Volstead act. he ,Mr
Again. would keep out of it. But MI
Rabbit had replied, said Mr.. Agan. tina
This could not be done, because he Dab
btt) would lose his prohibition votes. !
was at that time that Mr.. Agan sen
word that ne would enter the campaig
for the governorship. Ito protect tn
local option interest for the State"
The speaker then took up review o
the liquor question in Vermontd durin
tho last 25 years. He declared that unde
prohibition there was more liquor sol
than under local option. that 1t was sol
in blind tigers" and speak easys," an
that 1t was poor grade of liquor. be
rAuse there was more profit In that kline
Mr. Agan said that the impression tina
ne wanted the saloons back and tn
cutters flowing with rum Is entirel
erroneous. He wants the law enforced
he said, but thinks that the law should b
changed so that beer and light wines ca
he used In the homes.
Mr.. Agan further declared that the rea
sons why the prohibition law could nc
h. enforced was that there was not
sufficient penalty and that there was ne
public sentiment enough behind it, III
said that while the prohibition law lie
10 the breaking of the law and to pei
Jury in large number of cases, tn
local option law had improved condition
so that the law was enforced. '"rhe liqut
that was old under the local option La
was pure liquor"
. The Legislature OF 1919 came In Tor
attack for ratifying the 18th amendmel
and thus "votng away the rights Of II
people." Mr. Agan maintained that II
psople of Vermont had nothing to sa
about the matter, that a few represent;
tives got together and simply voted ava
the rights OF freemen
Don't you consider that they took
right away from you when they too
away your right to go out and get glas
Of beer7" asked the speaker. THE ne'
thing you know, they will he takn
away your right to use tobacco and
drink coffee"
Some people say that have change
my policy on this matter continue
Mr.. Agan. When any men or pape
say that have changed my policy {
that question, they lie''