The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-07-31
Alabama Senator Holds
Sheppard Amendment
Contrary to Rights
of States
ACTUAL GOVERNMENT
BY PEOPLE NOW AT
STAKE, CLAIM MADE
Those Who Want to Put
Prohibition Issue Out of
War, Member Argues,
Are Dodging Question
nv HUGH w. ponERrs

Washington. July 3o.-(Special l-sena-
tor Underwood, in a speech this after
noon. assailed the proposed prohibition
amendment to the constitution chiefly on
the ground of his contention that its
| tendency would be to destroy state au-
tonomy and centralize government in tho
national capital.
He contended that state should be
permitted to care for itself. He spoke
of the procedure in trials under laws
enacted by states and those enacted by
the government. and declared 1t to be
much fairer to present defendant to a
jury composed of men of the county in
which he lives than TO present such de-
PENDANT TO a federal jury, with no mem
Der OF which he is acquainted.
ATTACKS ARGUMENT
Senator Underwood inveighed against
the argument of some anti-prohibition-
lists who. in order to remove prohibition
from Congress, were preparing to sup
port the amendment He declared their
position, If sustained, was tantamount to
destruction OF representative govern
ment. He argued that Il was every
mans duty 10 face the situation rather
than dodge It by referring II 70 other
individuals. He scored another point
by proving that the prohibition amend
ment, by the operation of legislatures of
two-thirds of the states. could be made
effective over the opposition of 10 states,
including in their population a majority
of the people of the United States.
Senator Underwoods speech follows:
UNDERWOOD'S SPEECH
The questions involved in the consid-
Grafton OF the pending resolution to es-
te blish the prohibition OF the manufac-
ture and sale of alcoholic beverages in
the United States, involves the funda-
mental principles of our government and
reaches far beyond the question as to
whether the ideals of the temperance adj
vocate can be obtained by statutory en-
actrnent or constitutional restrictions.
1t is difficult TO approach the censid-
Grafton of the question in Judicial way,
because the prejudice that surrounds the
subject makes it almost impossible to
fully and fairly discuss 1t without hay
ing your motives misconstrued by those
who have already attained finality or
Judgment.
In the discussion OF the question many
unfair and unjust statements have been
made without warrant of fact to sustain
them and fundamental principles that in
volve the life of the nation are swept
aside 'as mere scraps of paper in the
mad rush to establish high moral life for
men and women by the laws enactment.
If the lives of men could be saved and
the souls of men could be redeemed by
governmental action the world would not
have waited 1000 years to find It out, but
there are undoubtedly governmental re-
strctions that lessen immortality.
The extreme advocate, from the Begin
ming Of time has always been prepared
to use the sword to force other men to
accept his views of moral questions. re-
gardless of the momentous consequences
that may follow his action to the people
he desires to serve.
The statesman can only attain the
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