Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-30

WATCH YOUR STEP

Even though one cannot agree with
the Democratic administration on the
position it has taken in its anti-pro-
hibition move as announced by Sena-
tor Brown, the ~boldness of the plan
in challenging the authority of the
federal government cannot help but
attract nationwide attention. There
was a time when the rights of indi-
vidual states were carefully guarded
against federal encroachment, but
since the Civil War the tendency has
been to ~nationalize everything with
The states playing a more and more
inferior part. In all kinds Of legisla-
tion the states have given way until
today almost all government, except
ing In purely local affairs is conferred
at Washington. We have become so
accustomed to federal laws, federal
commission and federal administra-
tors, especially since the recent war,
that we have almost forgotten what
authority the states do exercise.
But the prohibition amendment Is
too much for the Democrats of New
Jersey. They promised to keep the
state wet and they are determined to
do it If a way al be found.
The wording Of the preamble OF
the anti prohibition bill which Senator
Brown has drawn for the Democratic
- - ia To-. l. 1aAo-t In NfH fnVn
After several whereas It sets forth
thai the State of New Jersey in
tends to disregard the Volstead act
and pass a new enforcement law which
will be supreme within the limits Of
the State OF New Jersey"
This sounds almost like the meet
ing of the first Continental congress at
which resolutions declaring that mo
obedience is due from his province
to either or any part of the recent
acts of parliament were published.
1t was at this time that, that old rev.
~oluttsaary leader, Ben Franklin,
cracked his grim joke about all hang
ing together or else all would hang
separately.
We don't know how far the New
Jersey Democrats are prepared to go
in their defiance of federal authority,
but there Is every reason to believe
thai as soon as the United States Su-
preme Court passes on the validity
of the ratification of the eighteenth
amendment and renders a final deci-
sion on the meaning of the word
Concurrent" which appears in the
amendment, there will be no further
agitation.
Goyernor-E Elect Edwards must know
that It makes no difference If a ref
erendum in any one state shows the
people Of that state to be unanimous
against am act. If that act happens
to be an amendment to the federal
Constitution and the amendment is
duly ratified by three-fourths of the
States, it becomes binding on all of
the states regardless of how n OF
the other states hat did not rstify
feel about 1t. The governor-elect Is
walking on very dangerous ground in
the attitude that he has assumed In
this matter and 1t behooves him to
watch his step.
There is such a general unrest
throughout the country due largely to
open defiance to law and order that
1t is rather startling to find q governor
of a great state, backed by q strong
minority in the state legislature play
ing a leading role In this defiance.
The example is bad. especially at this
particular time. Still something
doubtless had to be don to at least
make an attempt to carry out party
platform promises regardless of tho
that is being set and the risk
that is being taken.
New Jersey Democrats have set u
mn a. very ticklish Job. Their progress
will be watched with interest.