Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-04
The Prohibition Amendmsnt in Con

he Prohibition Amendment m Con-
 nectieut.
 Mir Editor: The people Of Connecti- cut are gradually awakellirt' 10 the fact that a prohibition amendment to the United States constitution has been proposed by the congress. and that it is incumbent upon each and every voter in the state to express his attitude on that question There are practically three choices of attitude: [u Open opposition through cpnvic- ton, or from ill., considered prejudice or lack of information; f2) evasion or Indifference, which would be in direct violation ois the electors cath (Gen, Statutes, See. 4fa5) or (s9 square ld- vocacy of the measure, because state and national welfare demands it.
 There can be no question as to which choice is based on the truth, when once the question is fairly faced Here are three fundamentals upon
 which the prohibition cause ;neon- testably rests: {tl No man can drink alcohol to a considerable degree with ] out damage to his entire being; be- cause it is 8 physical poison as mod ern science has shown. 621 The traffic in alcohol as drink is invariably of damaging effect upon the social order. f3l Therefore that traffic is iniulical to the general welfare" which the United States constitution was estab iished to promote.
 After more than fifty years of agi- tation throughout the county a grow ing public opinion has leA the con-
 gress to propose this amendment There were three possible ways of amendment. (See the U. $. Constih- ton. Article V. Sec. 1.l .(11 The states could have asked for a national con Istitutional convention. but they did not and never have done so. t2) The con gress could have proposed ratification l by conventions in the statfs; but it did not, and never has done so. (Sl The congress has proposed the amendment for ratification by the legislatu tures oi l three f6urths of the statas; this is the proposition now pending. One might infer from all the excitemen; l in certain quarters. that the method {, now proposed is revolutionary; but OF i the contrary the congress has never since the United States Constitution was adopted, proposed amendments by \ any other than the legislative method By this method, no less than seventeen 1 amendments have beef adopted by the states, and are in force today through out all the states, and on the whole have ayailed for the national welfare No one is today proposing the repea of any one of them. nor does any onf suppose such repeal would be serious. fly considered in any quarter if it werc proposed.
 1 Of these seventeen amendments. i is a matter of record that twelve O them were never ratified by conserva-
 tive Connecticut; and yet we have | survived and thrived under thos' twelve as under the other i've, with nt thought of the awful tyranny whiei some say is now impending. So nucl
 for the constitutional hugaboo!
 1 Now for the practical policies Of th' pending campaign. Remember. 1t i the legisIatSFe which is to decide tn matter for CenRectielrt, and the psopt Ielect the members of the legislature Opponents of prohibition are dread.
 at work to control thS primaries; wha are the friends of the measure doing : The prohibition party leaders say the, will waive their own party ticket tflt year and join with all friends of pro hibi4i0n to elect members of flo,ise aN senate who will stand hy the amend , ment Whether other minority partie Twill do the same remains to be seen i. but the broad fact Is that the com plexicn Of the next assembly will b ternined in the apprua ching caucuse of the democratic and republican par ties.
 Of course the election Of an assegn biy apparently hostile will not neces sarily settle the matter. There vi |