The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-09
ACTS ON MOVE TO
MAKE NATION DRY

oeoate III the Senate OH the Shep.
pard resolution to submit the ques-
ton of Nationwide Prohibition to
the various States was an amend
ment by Harding of Ohio, which
read:
"This article shall be inopcrat-
tive unless it shall have been raj.
fled as an amendment to the Con-
stit'uticn by the Legislatures of
the several States. as provided in
the Constitution, on or before the
LIST day Of July 1928"
In opposing the resolution Sen.
atore Harwick said:
81 am unable to support this
proposition on principle. ! am OPP
POSED to this amendment for the
same reasons, precisely, that I was
opposed to it when | was candidate
for the Senate.
cit was the compact between
the several States. formally and
solemnly declared in the Constitu-
tion itself, and by the convention
that farmed it, that each State re-
tanned its complete and exclusi4
control of all it's domestic affairs
upon the general Government
powers over foreign relations and
interstate commerce, and the other
matters closely related to those
two great subjects.
"But local sclf-govcrnment, the
right of each State to regulate and
control in it's own way and accord
ing to its own will its own domes-
tic affairs and internal concerns.
was preserved to the State and
evcryattcmpt was made to safe.
guard it. That right, local self
government, is part of the price
less heritage of liberty that came
to us from our English forebears.
TO assert it, and preserve it the
War of the Revolution was fought
and to defend it my fathers and
my people shed their blood like
water in the unfortunate Civil
War and though the grim verdict
Of that was may have determined
the indcstructibility of the Union
and denied the right of secession
to the States. 1t did not destroy
or seek to destroy, the right Of
the States to self-governmcnt.
81 cannot for any sentimental
reasons OF because of any extreme
cause prove faithlcss to the great
doctrine for which my people have
fought and blcd through two
great wars 1t is part, and il
should be an indestructibIc part,
Of that priceless heritage of lib
erty that it is my duty to preserve
and transmit.
"Gcorgia has right to regulate,
in any way she pleases, or to pro-
hibit absolutely the sale Of liquor
among her own people and within
her own borders. She has that
right without regard to the views
or opinions of all the other forty
seven States. 1t is purely a local
question-entirely a domestic con-
Germ.
"This is especially true since
the Congress has within less than a
year made it possible for her and
for every State to enforce her laws
and carry out her policy without
having them nullified in whole or
in part by the interstate COM
merce laws of the Nation"
"PcrsonalIy ] believe every hu-
man being would be far better off,
morally, mentally and physically,
if he never touched alcohol" said
Senator lodge. ''For the benefit
of mankind ] want to see that re-
suit brought about and | hope 7
hold these beliefs. ] am not blind
to the facts which surround the
problem and I cannot vote Sor
legislation which in my opinion
would create Il situation worse than
that which now exists and prob
ably long delay the coming of com
plete abstinence from alcohol
among men.
"You will attempt the impos-
sible task of compelling large num-
bers of unwilling people to abandon
a habit which they, however mis-
takenly. believe to be harmless and
innocent. You will have a law
incapable of enforcement.
TO enforce throughout this
country the prohibition of the sale,
manufacture or importation of any
form of distilled or fermented
liquors will require. at a moderate
estimate, 100000 men.
"This question had better be
dealt with by the States. Congress
must be careful not to cncroach
on States rights"
Continued on next page.)