Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1916-10-05

people take an interest, and concern
ing which l have been asked to ex-
press an opinion. I do not feel free
to withhold my view on any ques'
tionthat might involve my discretion
as Senator.
/ have been asked whether, If
elected TO the Senate, would vote
for an amendment to the national
constitution establishing national pro-
hibition. The question / confess has
given me some difficulty, not that /
am opposed to prohibition, but be-
cause Of time honored principles of
government which l have doubted
the wisdom of departing from. The
view entertained by students OF gov
eminent, view in which I have CO.
incided, Is that the regulations or
suppressions of the liquor traffic, like
other matters of health and morals,
belongs exclusively to the states, and
that that duty cannot be devolved on
the nation without impairing the
principles on which the Fathers
founded the republic. The national
government was organized to have
supervision and control over matters
strictly national in character. The
states to have control over all mat
tiers of health. morals and police as
coming within the more immediate
cognizance of the local government,
and concerning which they should
more intelligently legislate to meet
local necessities and requirements.
We have gone on under that dual
o., cyyo ,.to
and it has never been broken down
in fact or in theory or in principle.
The question that has troubled me is
whether we can afford to break 1t
down for any purpose, no matter how
desirable.
But have resolved the matter, so
far as my vote as Senator might af-
feet it, on two principles. First, if
1 should become Senator it would be
my duty to reflect the sentiment of
the people of this state, and that, l
believe, is in favor of national pro-
hibition. Second, national amend
ment cannot become effective until
ratified by two-thirds of the states,
and whenever two-thirds of the states
want to change the principles of our
government to secure some desired
result, it is entirely within their
right under our free representative
system TO do so. / am more than
glad to have come to this conclusion
because l have been entirely salts
fed with the results of prohibition
in this state. That the essential hap
piness and prosperity of the people
have been increased by it, no observ-
ant man or woman in the state can
deny, and I would not under any
consideration vote to repeal it, OF
to destroy or to impair it in any way
Would Enfranchise All Women.
have also been asked whether
would support an amendment to the
national constitution enfranchisine
the women of the nation, and have
no hesitation in saying that | wouIc
| do SO. ! have not only yielded my
views on the subject of woman suf
frage to the people of my state
did that long ago-but my observa
tion of the manner In which women
have exercised the right has con.
WINGED me that the reform is most
observable one. | will gladly assist
in promoting it's extension through
out the entire nation. A national
amendment for that purpose is not
susceptible to the objection 1 have
suggested as inhering in an amend
ment for national prohibition.
Suffrage is strictly national mat
ter. 1t involves a determination oil
the character of the electorate who
shall participate in naming our Pres
ident and Vice President, and mem
bers of the two houses of Congress
and is subject matter upon which
the proper conduct of the government
depends, and upon which it's very
life and existence may depend. More
Fifteenth amendment which conferred
view is that the matter is one proper
to be regulated by the national con
stitution. I do not quarrel, however
with those who prefer that the mat
ter be regulated by the states. They
may have scruples which the reason
ing I have employed is insufficient tt
remove. If they have shown by theil
actions that they are friends of the
cause, l do not think that we in
Washington, who fought out the mat
ter for ourselves, ought to let a diff
ference in proposed methods to preju
dice them in our estimation.
Quotes Democratic Platform.
I have also been asked to state my
position on national conservation, ant
l cannot do so better than by read
ing the platform declaration of the
Democratic party on that subject:
For the safeguarding and quick
ening of the life of our own people
we favor the conservation and devel
opment of the natural resources oil
the country through a policy which
shall not withhold such resources
from development but which, while
| nermitting and encnura ping their ice