Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-05
RUdYON GIVES
OUT PLATFORM
IN STATE RACE
Says Prohibition Issue Is Ma
tionaI and Not Up to the
State
Bv Special Correspondent.

Bv Special Correspondent.
TRENTON, August with the
leading declaration that 1t would be
Just as futile upon the part of any
state to attempt to sidestrack the Fed
eral Constitution Prohibition Amend
ment, as it would have been for any
state to try the same thing with the
thirteenth amendment, which freed
the slaves, Acting Governor William
N. Runyon today gave out his long
anticipated platform upon which he
bases his candidacy for the Republi-
can nomination for Governor at the
coming September primaries. The
declaration Is rather long and touches
upon more than a dozen subjects.
On the question of prohibition the
Acting Governor, who is classed as a
"dry" takes the unequivocal position
that prohibition is here, that is beyond
any States authority to stop it and
that 1t being the g1preme law Of the
land, he, If elected Governor for the
full term of three years in taking the
oath to support the Constitution of the
United States, will make no mental
reservation not to abide by 1t.
THE problem is one, not of pro-
hibition or non-prohibition," says Mr..
Runyon, "but rather one of respect
Tor the fundamental law of the land
Dur American government can not
permanently endure If those seeking
bower and authority can acquire it
through promise, direct or implied,
not to enforce the laws. 1t is certain
that Federal agencies will take super
vision and control of the enforcement
Of the constitutional amendment; but
IL there be any issue involved, and
that issue be enforcement of law, l
will respect my oath of Office in this,
as in all other matters, If and while
am Governor Of New Jersey"
The following platform was today
issued by Governor William N. Run
yon in behalf of his candidacy for
the gubernatorial nomination.
In the first place. I believe the
most important proposition before
the American people today is that of
loyalty to our Government and its
institutions. OF far more concern
than my own candidacy for Office or
that of any other, is the need that
every man, woman and child In New
Jersey As we'll as elsewhere, who en-
joys tho benefits of American life
and American institutions, the fruits
of American sacrifice and devotion
shall support them wholeheartedly
and without reserve; that the forces
which. stand out against such loyalty
shall be driven from US, and that in
every part of this great land and in
all its outlying possessions, there shall
be firm and answering spirit of
patriotism. The great. paramount re-
quisite is that the people who are
the nation, and who elect their rep
resentatives to office, shall be loyal
beyond suspicion and unquestioned
supporters of American doctrines and
principles. The judgment of such
people will be sound, and they may
be depended upon to place in office
those who will, best represent their
beliefs and their interests.
Concerning my own candidacy for
the Office of Governor, the following
is brief summary of my attitude
toward the more prominent questions
of state Importance, and of some
things I shall hope to accomplish, If
nominated and elected.
Prohibition.
Upon the subject of the national
prohibition amendment I am quite
aware that the treatment of this issue
in the State thus far both from the
standpoint of the individual citizen.
whichever way his views may lie in
the matter, and in connection with
political candidates. has tended to
confuse, if it has not succeeded In
confusing, the public mind For my
own part the situation seems per-
fectly clear to me as does also my
duty should I be elected the Chief
Executive of the State. AS I see 1t,
the eighteenth amendment to the
Federal Constitution having been ra-
Hif1ed by the requisite number of
dates, has made prohibition the SUI
preme law of the land. beyond the
reach or power of any individual
state to alter or prevent, just as truly
as the thirteenth amendment aboi-
shed slavery beyond the power of any
state to revive. Everyone. familiar
with our political institutions knows
that the assumption of jurisdiction
over a subject by the United States
through the process of constitutional
authority forever excludes. state con-
troll of the same subject. 1t follows
that those who would attempt TO
lead the public to believe otherwise
either deceive the electorate, or them
selves do not understand the funda-
mentals of our system of government.
Prohibition is not state issue, and
no one can make it a state issue. No
act of mine as Governor. nor any act
of the legislature during my term,
can write out of the United States
constitution what has been written IN
1t before the next Governor of New
Jersey takes his oath of office. That
oath will be among other things to
support the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. No ambition, no lure of
ofacE however great. can cause me
TO take that oath with a mental res
: ervatfon not to keep it. The pSob-
lem is one. not of prohibition or nom
prohibition, but rather one of respect
for the fundamental law of the land.
Our American Government can not
permanently endure If those seeking
power and authority can acquire it
through promise, direct or implied.
not to enforce the laws. 1t is GER
Jain that federal agencies will take
supervision and control of the en-
forcement of the constitutional