The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-07
He States His Position Frankly on the Issues of the Campaign and Resents Unfair Methods.

or Territory. That is his language literally, and went to ask you if
 there is a man in this audience who understands what 1t means, do not am sure, and I do not believe that knows from that language In that platform where my good friend Mir. Sanford stands upon this proposition when he says he favors a bill prohibiting the illegal shipment of intoxicants.- Why, that fs beg ging the question. that is dodging the issue. With all due re-
 spect. my feliow-citizens. the very proposition that is up to the candi-
 dates in this racs. the very proposi- ton presented to the competitors In this contest is what shall Congress declare to be an illegal shipment. that is the proposition before the peo- pie. Everybody is in favor of a law prohibiting or punishing an Illegal or
 unlawful transaction, but the ques- ton is what shall Congress declare to of whiskey into prohibition State or Territory. Tn that platform I do not mean to say that my friend does this--I do not mean to make any such charge as that, but the language of
 that platform Is so meaningless. 1t is such catchy phrase. that 1t could mean one thing in the county of Mont- gomery and another in the county of
 Wilcox: one thing in the county of Baldwin and another in the county of conecuh: it could mean one thing in the county of Covington and another in your county of Crenshaw. I do not mean, I repeat, to say that my friend Is using 1t in that way. but mention 1t to show that his written declaration of principles upon this subject means absolutely nothing, 1t Is not even entitled to the credit of being "giittering generality" Now, if my friend means by an illegal ship rnent that he will favor a bill which will exclude from interstate com merce absolutely and entirely the im- portation of alcohol in any form into the State of Alabama, or into any pro. hihition State or Territory although sumption only or to be placed in the private cupboard of a mans home
 which has heretofore been regarded as his castle, although intended for bona dde medicinal purposes, then my friend. Mir. Sanford, and l cannot agree. for I vii not vote for any such radical measure.
 The reasons why will not vote for any such measure are thrce-fold Tn the first place. believe that it is an invasion of the liberty of the citizen; in the second place, I believe that it IS an intrusion into the privacy and the sanctity at one,s- own home; and in the third place. I know that the Su- prenae Court Of the United States has declared that such law would be un- constitutional. Why do I say that? Because in those proceedings to which have referred. in the offlcial report of the judicial commtttee of the House. I ind that that report which was submitted by my friend, Mir. Clay ton stated that they must amend the bill so as to put in a proviso that tnis provision against the illegal ship ment shall rot affect the right of an individual to import whiskey in any form by means of Interstate com meree into his own home. for his own private use and consumption. Mir. Clayton did not stop at merely stat ing that proposition. He said that that was the unanimous report of the entire membership of the committee or the House composed of lawyers both Republicans and Democrats. He went further and quoted a decision or the Supreme Court of the United states In . case that went up from South Carolina under its dispensary law the case of Vance vs. Vandercook Tn ITO U. g., wheye man undertook 70 order whisky by means of inter- state commerce in violation of the pro- vision of the South Carolina dispen- sary law requiring him to get a per- init from a certain State oficiaI be- fore he could order 1t. The Supreme Court of the United States uses this language In passing on that question. Ehe right, says the Supreme Court of the United States. of an in- dividual to Import by means of inter- State commerce whisky into his own home for his own private use and consumption is right given to him by the Constitution of the United States. which neither the Congress of the United States nor the Legislature of State can deprive the individual cit- izen of.
 Now. think, my friends and reI. low-citizens. that alone is a sufIicIenr reason why I should not be expected IT elected to Congress. to cast a bal iot Tor bill that will prohibit the Individual from importing into his own home for his own private use and consumption. whisky Tn any form that ne deslres; and I tell you here and now that any man who=runs for Con. gress upon the proposition that he Is going to get the ultra vote upon the liquor question that he is going to ret the vote or the man who does not he- lieve In liquor even for medical nur. poses. IT there be any such candidate Tn this contest, he is promising some thing which has no likelihood in the world Of ever passing Congress, ana If 1t ever should happen to pass Con gress it would be declared unconsti. tutlonal by the courts.
 NOW, l have stated this matter frankly and fairly have shown all over the district where I have hsen what my position was and the ress- ons for it, and have cited the hook and the authority for 1t, and no man has been able to disprove ar overceme it.. But at this point mv friend. Mir. Saniford-and that is what I meant a little while ago bv his con version-I understand now that he ad- although that was not his no sition as understood 1t in the baeIn. ming of the campaign. because perhans ne did not take dead and deliberate rest at the subject. I understand now that 1t is impossible for Congress to pass a bill which will prohibit the individual from importing iauors into his own home for his own private use ana consumption, so that we have got Ten together upon that proposition. or rather he has been converted to it.
 But l understand that he goes a sten further now, and he advocates inc passage of bill by Congress which will DrOhfbit thA irnnorfaflnn of "a.