The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-06

49, =. q. W
court IL sorssoa il Arm 1919. This
~ oa1 " tn strOneest initAtive and
| referendum States "a thG union. The
lliQuof Interests Md high hop~s 11a&
th9 court .wUui6 hold they wefe en-
ki1lea - the vote upon the question.
~ unanimous opinion the ceurt held
there wAa no authority even ii the
Ia referendum on the federal amend
ment. The ol5icers OF the state Of
Warrington have also rejected the
petition for referendum ON the eigh-
tecrth amendment.
The superior court In California
dismissed an Injunction suit which
aimed to require ofIicials to Withhold
terrifying the action Of the legislature
on the eighteenth amendment. Until
|a referendum could be contaminated.
The court held that the federal law
and constitution controlled and state
officers should act accordingly. In
other words the court decided that a
referendum was unauthorized. It
may be that the moment for still
further democraxing our government
and constitution will yet find express
sion In provisions for amending the
federal constitution by direct popular
vote. Many people want that result:
many others fear and oppose 1t. but
1t II not here yet. And until our con-
stituti0n 10 amended 40 a. to provide
for II we shall have to follow ana
abide by the method Of amendment
which that instrument itself provides.
mo individual state has the power
to amend the federal constitution it
self. even In the matter Of telling how
IL will act ON q constitutional amend
ment. 1t must do so in the manner
provided In the federal constitution
. Japan Stands Ready.
Rev. To ukai, pastor of the largest
church In Toxic, and secretary Of the
Japanese temperance society, read a
letter from Taio Ando, president of
Anti-Saloon league on its victory in
the United States. asking aid for
Japan. and Saying that his people
were ready to fall In line to make the
whole world dry.
Representing Siam, Rev DR.. j. A.
Eakin, Presbyterian minister working
In that country, said that the natives
were becoming debauched through
the use of their own whiskey and rum
and the liquors imported from other
countries.
THE only way to work reform in
Siam" he said. rs to work along lines
approved by the Siamesc. The pro-
hibition movement would be well
coined by the rulers OF Siam The
religion OF Siam is even more strict
against use of liquor than is the
Christian religion, and If properly ap-
preached Siam will accept gladly all
the aid Of the temperance forces"
Speaking for Canada appeared
Miles Vokes, president OF the do
minton temperance alliance. of Tor
onto, and Mrs. S. r. Wright. Of Lon
don. Ont. president OF the dominion
temperance alliance appeared.
Mrs Wright said that dry Canada
is prosperous. She further asserted
that prohibition had cost Canada too
high price for her ever to let it
slip She declared Canada weala
never let the flag CT prohibition fall
Hon. W. J. Allison. of Glasgow,
secretary OF the Scottish permissive
bill and temperance association
brought one hundred messages Of
greeting from Scotland to America in
view Of our temperance progress.
Scotland. he said, has the lowest per
capita consumption of liquor in the
United Kingdom.
Rev. Henry Carter, a member OF
the Central Board OF Control. of the
liquor traffic In Great Britain said the
war brought great gains to the cause
of temperance.
Il will tell you secret openly. Not
only will beer and wine not be ex-
empted from war prohibition, but l.
will give you a chrome IL you will
find committee in either house or
senate foolhardy enough to report out
bin to modify wartime prohibition"
This declaration by Simeon D. Foss
congressman from Yeilowsprings
Ohio, at the convention Thursday
afternoon, brought forth applause.
The world conscience is against the
liquor traffic. and II there Is anything
a congressman is afraid Of it is going
against the conscience of the people
Liquor as beverage is dead for all
time.
Docs Its Own Thinking.
There sits now on Capitol hill a
congress that does its own thinking
and will do no mans bidding We
must write into our law our ability to
make the law effective. The violator
of the law must he made to feel the
lash of the penalty OF the offended
law The world will not allow the
verdict OF it's conscience to be made
nugatory or nullified by near beer or
beer OF reduced alcoholic content"
Robert II. Clay, OF Bristol. Va
Tenn, an active campaigner among
negroes for state and national pro-
hibition, told how in the earlier stages
Of the fight he had peen egged and
shot at and had TO be protected by the
white people.
Now, however. he said, prohibition
has shown tremendous results for
good among his people. in higher
standings of living. improved morals,
heavier bank accounts and more
homes owned.
He also insisted that prohibition
had helped the morale among negro
soldiers. He attributed their prowess
In the war to the absence Of the
liquor among them. He said pro-
hibition was the great blessing that
had come to Americans. both white
and black.
DIR. Robert Hercod, Lausanne,
Switzerland, secretary OF the Interna :
uonal Temperance Bureau. said that
the liquor problem Is being studied in.
his country. and that scientific and