The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-20

one and sole reason why there mas
not been passed, long before this, a
measure prohibiting shipments of IL
quor from wet" into dry" territory.
The fight for such legislation has
been going on for many years. The
old Wilson bill, the Dolliver-Hepburn
measure, the Kenyon-Sheppard bill,
the Webb draft-all look to the same
general purpose of making the laws
of state enforceable. There is alb
solutely no legitimate argument
against such measure.
DRY communities are dry" for
reasons amply satisfactory to them
selves. For the federal government
to stand by and impose interstate
commerce restrictions which have the
effect of multiplying a states law, is
just as wrong in principle as was the
sort of notification that Calhoun at
tempted to sustain. Only now the
boot is on the other leg. 1t is the
federal government multiplying the
states laws, instead of a state deny
ing the enforceability of the federal
law.
The Judiciary committee of the
house has had the Webb and other
bills on this subject under consider
alton for an unconsciously long time.
They have been opposed by the allied
liquor interests of the country, sim
ply because they looked to making ef-
fective the antiliquor statutes of 10.
cal jurisdictions. There ought never
to have been a days hesitation about
passing such measure. Yet the
liquor forces have been powerful
enough to hold up this legislation for
years.
Last session-the long session-it
| became known early that no such
A1>etSulS was ~ NC 1CpOllCu. IL was
| common report that this determina-
ton represented the purpose of the
dominating powers of the House, and
that presidential politics played no
| unimportant part in committing them
to this course. The garrote was ap-
piled, not only numerically, but with
boldness and frankness as to mo-
time that made the performance pc
culitrily opprobrious. ...
Throughout the present session the
choker has continued in application
until few days ago; when the Webb
bill was forced out; not on it's merits,
not because it was good bill that
| deserved chance, but by dint of a
| log-rOlling deal in which the supper
| ters Of the workmen's compensation
measure and those Of the Webb bill
| made common cause and forced both
bills to the House floor In passing
it is worth mentioning that this
method of getting Legislation reported
is just bare trifle more creditable
than the procedure of asphyxiation.
But at any rate both bills have fin
ally been reported, and there is ter
ror among Congressman who have de-
sired nothing more than that they be
saved from the necessity of making
record on the subject. 1t is useless
for them to try to avoid the issue
| Postponement can only make it the
more difficult when che issue must be
met; it will arouse an intensity of
hostility. on both Sides that will add
to the difficulties of men who now
find themselves urged in both direc-
tons.
There is only one way to decide
such a question as this, and that is
The right way. The right, the morals,
! the plain sense. the real service to
the public. and finally. tint good
politics, all lie on the side of sup
porting measure such as the Webb
BILL Whether that particular form is
the most desirable is not the question
| here. Such legislation is necessary.
and is going to pass. To hold it up
longer will cause good deal larger
casualty list. on the political field,
than to have courage and pass it.
Nobody doubts what will happen
if vote is reached. The bill will
pass by overwhelming vote. Men
mad dodge the compulsion that forces
them to do right, but when they
must stand out in plain sight of the
whole community and cast record
vote. most of them prefer Ito vote on
the right side. They will do it in
this case.-Washington Times.