The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-03
LITTLE RHOOY TO BRING
SISTER STATES TO COURT.

o. ~ -
,4on sNzrcfa> ~ a reAblutio1 Mas tn-s
troduced In the Rhode Island iegis-'
iature by Representative Eaton. In
structing the attorney-generai TO be-
sin action in the name OF the state TO
test the constitutionality Of the pro-
hibition amendment to the constitu-
ton.
IL the resolution Is enacted into law
unprecedented legal action will fol-
, low as it Is thought 1t will result In
suit being brought by the state OF
Rhode Island against each state OF
the Union that has ratified the con-
stitutionai amendment as we'll as the
government that is called upon to
enforce It.
So far az known no state has ever
before asserted its sovereign rights
against its sister states in the Union.
There have been cases In which states
which one state has brought action
against three fourths of her sister
states.
The purpose OF Eaton as under
stood in Washington Ia that the
amendment is an infringement upon
the police powers OF the states hith~
erto exercised by them and therefore
II is not amendment to the constitu-
ton but an infringement upon the
sovereign rights land contrary to the
system of government erected by the
constitution"
According to Washington astor-
neys the point raised In the resolu-
ton Is far broader In it's scope and
legal effect than any heretofore rails
ed in court to test the division of
powers between, the state and federal
government as contemplated by the
constitution. Mr.. Eaton's resolution
followed rejection OF the amendment
by the legislature OF Rhode Island
Levi Mayer, chief counsel for the
distillere' committee. is quoted as
commenting as follows upon the pro-
posed action:
Litigation like that cortem plated
by the sovereign state OF Rhode Is
land will be remarkable and without
precedent in the history OF the ma
/ ton, Such litigation will go TO the
bottom of the fundamental questions
which AFFECT the passage as well as
the eonstitutionali.y and legality OF
the amendment itself Such law
suit will be wonderful ard stipend
DUG in its reaching effect Il VIII
be s. suit between Rhode Island AS
the plaintiff and the forty five states
i that have attempted TO ratiTy the
amendment as the defendants"
| This action calls for con1hen6iatioh
: from the New YORK World. which
! paper states that Rhode Islands
| leadership In this matter is fitting
Established as Providence Plantations,
II decreed religious liberty from the
first and became a refuge for those
prosecuted or excited by other colo
MES" In fact. Rhode Island ia held
UP az the model S'monpurc example
Of Thoroughbred Americanistn.
The New Jersey Issue presents
Rome facts concerning Rhode Island
, In this connection which are interest
/ t1E and are herewith reproduced. to-
rether with related facts concerning
the other two states that have thus
far refused to ratify.
| There is a vast difference between
| Providence Plan tations OF Roger VII
bans day or the Rhode Island that
refused to adopt the constitution
without the bill of rights in 1887
; and the state OF 1919, says the Issue
Rhode Island has the smallest per-
centage of native born population OF
all states of the Union, 81 per cent.
! with n census population OF 54a.efo
The city of Providence has o47.8ee.
and of this number only 5a.ase are
native whites of native parentage.
/ Truly model OF "a thoroughbred
Amerscanism. A comparison OF the
Anericanism OF the three states that
are posing az champions OF "liberty'
and pure An.rican'sm is interesting