The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-09-06
PAGE TWO
Prohibition, or War?

Prohibition or War?
The United States senate has adopt
ed, by a majority Of IS to 20, the fol |
lowing joint resolution:
Resolved by the senate and house in
congress assembled (two-thirds Of
each house concurring therein) that
the following amendment to the con-
stitution be and hereby is proposed to
the states, to become valid as a part
of the constitution when ratified by the
legislatures of the several states as
provided by the constitution:
Article -. Section 1. The manu-
facture, sale, or transportation of in
toxicating liquors within, the impor-
tation thereof into, or the expectation
thereof from the United States and all
territories subject to the jurisdiction
thereof for beverage purposes is here
by prohibited.
Section 2. This article shall be in
operative unless it shall have been rati-
fled as an amendment to the constitu-
ton by the legislatures of the several
states as provided by the constitution
within six years from the date of the
submission hereof to the states by the
congress.
Section 3. The congress shall have
the power to enforce this article by ap-
propriate legislation. ..
To make this resolution effective it
must also be adopted by two-thirds OF
the house of representatives and then
ratified by thirty-six states. There is
some question whether the second
section of this resolution, providing
that the amendment must be ratified
within six years, is constitutional. The
provision of the constitution providing
for it's amendment puts no time limit
on the right Of the states to ratify an
amendment proposed. Those states
which have already adopted state pro-
hibition are mainly rural states. The
great urban states Of Massachusetts,
New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois
have not adopted prohibition.
The indications at this writing are
that the house of representatives will
refuse to take any action on this pro-
posed constitutional amendment at the
present session of congress. We hope
it will refuse to take any action during
the continuance of the present war.
For what The Outlook has heretofore
said we repeat, that all reform meas
ures should be postponed for the pres
ent, and probably postponed until af-
ter the war is over. The majority of
women suffragists are acting on this
principle in not pressing the question
of woman suffrage; and the banner
bearing pickets at the white house are
doing what they can to bring their
cause into disrepute by disregarding
this principle. It is difficult to recon
Gle their course with any high and con-
trolling spirit Of public patriotism
The nation needs to concentrate, not
only it's efforts, but also its
thoughts, on the fundamental question
how to make the world safe for de-
mocracy, because only world safe fol
democracy will be safe for America
All reforms that have no relation tt
the vigorous and effective prosecution
of the war should for the time being
be laid on the table.
Three grave question are involved IL
the proposed constitutional amend
'ment:
1. Ought legislation dealing with
the liquor question be left, as hereto
fore, with the states, or ought it t.
be transferred to the federal govern
ment?
2. Ought such action to be consti
tutional or legislative? That is
should any amendment to the consti
tuition give power to congress to act
or should it embody the decision of tn
people to a constitutional action?
8. If constitutional prohibition i
adopted, should prohibition include al
alcoholic beverages, or should the US
of light beers and light wines be per
mitted?
These three questions are too seri
GUS and In their effect too far reach
ing to be settled offhand while tn
energies and thoughts of the natio
are absorbed in the complicated an
difficult war problems, such as how t
raise and expend the immense sum
of money required in the prosecutio
of the war, how to secure with tn
least dislocation of our industries tn
necessary men, how to conserve foo
for ourselves and our allies, how t
build the necessary ships to transfe
our men and munitions to the field c
war, how to preserve order, puais
+ treason, and determine the limits c
free speech and free publication Will
the war continues. The nation ougl
not to allow it's energies and ii
thoughts to be turned aside fro1
these great problems by any oth@
questions whatsoever. The questio
whether food products may be du!