Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-11

VERMONT AND THE MOVE TO LIBERALIZE PROHIBITION
The Vermont political Kaleidoscope given a new turn
this week. combination of familiar colors appears
Four candidates for to take the place of the three of
last week. amid entirely surroundings Frank W. Again.
the weknown wooden manufacturer of Ludlow has added
his hat to those already in the ring
The political geography of the situation first
mands attention James Hardness whose candidacy had been
previously announced halls from Springfield Consequently
the entrance of Agan into the Windsor two
gubernatoral candidates. 1t follows that the candidacy of
Agan at first sight would to draw most from Hardness
As matter of fact however lines of cleavage various
issues completely overshadow the political geography of the
situation While HARNESS and Emery were strong with the
TEN element n soeaed Mr. Rabbit wh9 comes out
had considerable strength with the wet element through
association in various organizations.
Ordinarily the appearance of Mr. Agan candidate
for would simply the addition of hat
all the circumstances however Mr. Agans candidacy
nationwide interest He has not announced his platform
that would beralze national prohibition If the case
then follows that Agan and Rabbit will divide the
"wet" vote
In the first place the circumstances attending the advent
of Agan candidate warrant the classification in which
have placed him. Before he went to California
he had looked over the gubernatoa field and notified his
friends that he would not be candidate for governor
in the town meetings last week. the wires from Vermont
to the Golden State became hot with urging
Agan to reconsider his determination and be-
come candidate for governor On Saturday Editor j. W.
e e 1T the be Pa s home pa
from Agan at Los Angeles saying he had decided
form We Believe most Students Of pc he cm
stances would that the we developments in
had encouraged Mr. become candidate
at this time.
In the second place. is to be- recalled this connection
that Mr. Agan was the running mate of the Hon. Percva w.
Clement in the campaign of 1902 in which the democrats
Joined with wet republicans in overthrowng the ftyyea
old State prohibition law The combination not strong
enough to control of the governorshp that time
but the odtme republican maorites ped so that
ton of Gen. John G. Mccullough for governor result
Developments under the surface have indicated to
that the ties of sympathy between the Clement following and
the Agan supporters still strong Indeed in in
stances they might be and the We believe these
and other bits of crcumstancia evidence at hand wholly
warrant the supposon that Vermont has candidate
senng the movement for liberal Interpretation of national
The next question is whether the Vermont democrats
itself in 1920 Ordinarily we would promptly answer this
query in the affirmative The overshadowng fact in
trudes that this is presidential and Vermont demo-
Gratis who hope to share in presidential pap must voe
straight"
democrats vsbly disturbed point vocaza-
ton by the proposition to hold conclave in Burlington for
che Palmer for the presidency. Not all democrats know
that Palmer 1 Quaker and Temperance but evidently
some OF the faithful knew and protested accordingly
by the protesting democrats Attention called the
of democratic postmasters and other federal ocehode
whereas President Cleveland ruled out such participation
offensive partisanship."
+o prominent democrat who was present explains that
Inc vermont democrats We're simply invited to be present
without knowing why mo action taken in behalf
candidate
the circumstances developments in this whole con-
nection would indicate vigorous fight among the Vermont
democrats not only the question whether join with
wet republicans in smashing the Republican party in Ver
mont, but also the national ticket and platform
Every intelligent realizes that if the democrats as
party to join with republicans who desire beraz-
ing of national prohibition support Agan this year they
might win in the election with the remaining republicans
divided between HARNESS. Rabbit and Emery Everybody
realize what tremendous temptation this Moreover
not all democrats Wlsonzed to be able resist this
temptation On the other hand not all republicans have been
Clementized to degree that will make them overlook the
present Vermont administration.
it true republican said that the nomination of
Hoover would that the democrats had wet" cand
date readily understand how Vermont democrats
might see chance to WIN the presidency as well as the co.
democracy" is not orthodox rrcconcablc
him to object joint movement of this kind capture
republican Vermont.
If Vermont is plunged into fight the berazng
national prohibition moments thought will show that it
probably will much farther than the governorship and
State Offices 1t Congress that has to do with the gislat
ing under national prohibition. Perforce the berazng of
national prohibition would call before anything for the
election Of United States senator's and members of Congress-
If the democrats and liberalizing republicans have
the gQyernQrshp thew probably