The labor standard., 1918-09-01

Secretary-Treasurer
 Connecticut Trades Union Liberty League
 At Sundays convention, Organizer John Riley of Danbury made a report which indicated an increase of mem- berships in the various locals of the league. It was voted that copies of President Smiths address be mailed to President Wilson, members of con gress and members of the next general assembly. In the course of his ad- dress President Smith said: "A prohibition amendment has been passed by congress to the constitution and submitted to the legislatures of the different states for ratification or rejection. All honest men are agreed that it is a political movement in passing this prohibition amendment. The adoption of such an amendment without giving the people the oppor- tunity of passing judgment on it, es- pecially in view of the fact that it is apparent that it is such an invasion of the personal liberty of the people, is perniciOus and mischievous."
 a II
 President Smiths address follows:
 tWe are now living under many new conditions. This country, in one short year, has undergone great changes in it's economic and business life never considered or thought of be- fore-in fact, never believed possible. These changes, of course, have been brought about by the war. The gov ernment has found it necessary to take over the control of the railroads, to make drastic laws for the conserva tion of foodstuffs and fuel, the restric- tion of the output of liquors, and many other matters entirely new to the American people.
 ''In all this the people without com plaint have Loyalty and periodically accepted the situation. They have poured their money into the Liberty Loans, or used it for the purchase of port of the Y. M. c. A., the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, and other organizations formed for the comfort and welfare of our boys who are fight ing for Humanity and Democracy on the battlefelds of France. As I have already said, the people have stood loyalty behind their leaders in all of these changes and during all of these war activities, but regardless of the right of the people to have voice in the matter, prohibition amendment has been passed by congress to the constitution and submitted to the leg islatures of the different states for ratification or rejection. All honest men are agreed that it is political movement in passing this prohibition amendment. The adoption of such an amendment without giving the people the opportunity of passing judgment on it, especially in view of the fact that it is apparent that it is such an invasion of the personal liberty of the people, is pernicious and mischievous. If not political move, why such strenuous objection to submitting to the will of the people this amendment, either for approval or disapproval? It is up to the state legislatures, and as they are the servants of the peo- pie what valid objection can be offered against submitting to the people, whose representatives they are, question of such far reaching impor- tance, so suddenly thrust upon them, and about which there is such a radi- cal difference of opinion, even among those who heartily oppose the dis pensing of liquor as beverage?
 "The voters of this country have never considered or voted upon the proposition of a constitutional amend ment providing for national prohi- bition. It is a fundamental principle of Democracy that the people have opportunity for the expression of their views on such an important question, involving as it does a re- striction of their personal liberty, and the legislature of this state should be petitioned to recognize this inherent right of the people and submit the question of ratification or rejection to the people in whose hands the choices rightfully belongs. ~-<
 ''The people are the rightful judges of any and all restrictions proposed against their rights and liberties. This is so reasonable and so in accordance with our boasted democracy, that I