The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-07-04
Statement Giving Reasons for Signing Riddles Arguments
of the VETS
ATTACK OF OPPONENTS SHOWN TO Be
PLEA FOR RELIEF FROM CONSTITUTION
Law Intended Reach Bnpggers and Leaves Homes Immune
ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION FAyORS BILL

did not understand the words give
away to mean anything more than to
give away where such giving away
was employed as device to cover a
sale
The attorney general has given an
opinion in which he sustains the posi-
tion of the proponents OF the bill.
Quotes Brundage Ruling
He says: 1T is my opinion that the
provisions OF the search and seizure
law forbidding person to give away
or dispose OF or aid any person in
procuring any Intoxicating liquor in
any quantity whatsoever, when con-
strued with all the provisions OF the
search and seizure law, would not
make it unlawful for person to serve
Intoxicating liquors to his family or
bona hde guests in his residence or
apartment in the course Of the hospi-
tality ordinarily shown to guests
ii is also clear that the bill under
consideration does not, as many sup
pose, prohibit the possession or use
OF alcoholic beverages. Upon this
point the attorney general says: L can
find nothing in the reading OF the en-
tire bill which would lead me to the
conclusion that the legislature intend-
ed to prohibit the use of Intoxicating
liquor
1T will thus be seen that the fed-
eral amendment prohibits substantial
ly everything prohibited by the bill
before me, The real question, there
fore, is, Shall the federal amendment
be given effect?
Even ii all the evil consequences
claimed OF Prohibition be true. much
greater harm to society would come
from non-enforcement of the plain
provisions OF the constitution than
from Prohibition. The enforcement
OF the law, and ali the law, under our
form Of government, is the indispen-
sable condition of the security of So
ciety.
Most of the argument urged
against the bill would have been ap-
propriatc and persuasive before the
Congress when it submitted the qrcs-
ton OF Prohibition to the states, or
when the question was submitted 10
the legislatures of the several states
for ratification. But Prohibition is
now part OF the supreme law of the
land. 1t is an accomplished fact,
whether wisely SO is not the question
before me-
There seems an idea prevalent that
YOU can have Prohibition in law and
OF IN fact. This is a dangerous as
umption. Many who hayc impor-
,uned me most earnestly to veto this
bill have confessed they supported the
movement which resulted in the fed
eral amendment.
The representatives whom they
helped to elect to the general assem-
bly,. in many instances, voted for its
ratification, and voted for the bill be-
fore me, of which they now complain,
and yet the protests against the bill
rest - unconsciously perhaps upon
resentment against the federal amend
ment.
Impossible Thing Asked
f'I am asked in effect to give relief
against the constitution of the United
States, as though that were in my
power.
'But it is said the present bill is
unduly harshsin its terms. 1t does
provide penalties in my Judgment out
of proportion to the offenses created.
fear that in some instances these
provisions may tend to defeat the pur-
pose of the bill That, however, was
purely question for the legislature.
"The objection to the bill most
strongly urged is that in its search
and seizure provision it invades the