"I question your good taste, Mr. Prouty, in selecting one law and asking a prospective Governor whether he intends to do his sworn duty in regard to it." "But other Governors have not done so. We propose to have pledges after this. We'll vote for no more nullifiers." "Other Governors have had no direct power to enforce the law, sir. I had no power when I was Governor. But I'll assure you that if I am the next Governor I shall demand that power from the legislature, and I'll enforce that law with all the resources of the State treasury. If it's in the power of man to accomplish it, the sale of liquor shall be stopped in this State." They plainly had not expected that. His attitude toward them, his association with the nullifier Presson had suggested that he intended to carry out the usual "let it alone" programme. They applauded. "One moment, gentlemen. That doesn't mean that I or any other man, or that the prohibitory law, as we have it, or any other mere law, can stop the drinking of liquor in this State. I'm speaking only of the open sale of it. I know perfectly well that my attempt to make men sober by law alone will fail miserably. As it is administered now, the law still caters to appetite and public demand for privileges, and the public goes along without especial disturbance. But as I shall enforce the prohibitory law, conditions will be so intolerable in this State that the way will be paved for a common-sense treatment of the liquor question. I shall enforce in order to show how wrong the prohibitory principles are. They have not been shown up so far, for the law has not been enforced." The delegates were disconcerted. The spokesman's face grew red. "Do you dare, sir, as a candidate for Governor of a prohibition State, to stand up here before these representatives of the temperance societies and say you are opposed to prohibition?" "I certainly do," declared the unruffled General. "For this State is not a prohibition State! It fatuously thinks it is when the citizens can get all the liquor they want without trouble. I merely propose to put it to the test of honesty." "You declare yourself an enemy, then, do you?" "Mr. Prouty, there you launch yourself into your usual intemperance! At the first word of another man's dignified difference of opinion you shout 'enemy' and prepare to fight! I want to ask you and your supporters here a question: Will you meet with representatives of all the interests concerned in this matter, including the liquor men and those who use liquor in its various forms, and endeavor to arrive at some compromise in this State which shall put a stop to what is practically civil war, in which we are expending all our energies without accomplishing any real betterment of conditions? Will you agree to some middle ground, if it can be shown that more men can be made sober and less men hypocrites?"