The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-01-23

ciscO court order WIS secured tem-
porarily restraining Gov. william ID.
Stephens from siyl ing the ratification
nj the amendment. 1t was indicated
that similar action might be taken in
certain other states. 1t was said Mt
the office Of the California Grape
Growers association that such action
is possible in II other states. The
states. according to the association,
are: Arkansas, Colorado. Maine. Ne
va,ia. New Mexico. Oklahoma. Oregon.
Utah. Washington. Missouri and Ne
braska.
In these states. 1t was said. all legts-
Iative actions can be. under the law,
referred to the people. and that In
many of them the people have 60 days
In which to take a referendum.
Anti-Saioon League.
The dry side OF this legal PROPOSE
tion is thus set forth by the Anti-Sa-
loon league:
Article v of the federal Constitu-
ton provides that the legislature or
state convention is the only body
which can ratify an amendment to the
Constitution. Congress Is given the
power to say which one shall have the
authority. Congress had chosen the
state legislatures MS the bodies to rati-
~ the federal prohibition amendment.
A state referendum therefore would
be Illegal and void"
The AntI-SalO0n League of America
has probably had more to do with
bringing about prohibition than any
other one agency. 1t was founded in
1895 and is nonpartisan and nonsec-
tnrian. Its purpose is the extermina-
ton of the beverage liquor traffic. 1t
Is coalition of the Anu-SalOon
League OF the District of Columbia.
the Anti Saloon League of Ohio and 40
other national. state and local tenn
perance bodies. 1t has branches In
all states. 1t is expected to have IN
active part in providing legislation Tor
the enforcement of prohibition under
the eighteenth amendment.
1t is possible that the vets may also
attack the legality of the action of
congress. By some the view is held
that the amendment was. not properly
submitted TO the states by congress:
that twas adopted by two-thirds of
quorum present and voting. whereas
according to the Constitution 1t should
have been adopted by two-thirds of nli
members elected. If the resolution
submitting the amendment We're TO be
declared unconstitutional 1t would lead
to much questioning. for virtually nll
Of the amendments to the Constitution
have been adopted by a two-thirds
vote of the members present rather
than n two-t thirds vote of all members
elected to congress.
Amendments Of the Past.
The first national prohibition
amendment was proposed by Senator
IL. w. Blair OF New Hampshire ms
curly as 1876. 1t provided for the
prohibition>of the manufacture. sale.
importation and expectation of spirit
Gus distilled liquor for beverage pur.
poses. He introduced such n bill nine
times between 1876 and 1896; in 1886
he changed it to include all alcoholic
liquors.
Senator-John ID. Works of Callfor-
nia introduced into the senate In 1914
u Dtil pTONiuiuS lOV tHe prohlt'itiOu VI
spurious liquors. excluding wines md
beers. 1t received no support from
the national prohibition advocates.
December 10. 1913. Congressman
Hobson of Alabama Introduced the
famous 'Hobson resolution" The
original resolution placed the enforce
ment OF the law In the hands Of the
national government. but 1t was 30
amended as to divide the responsible
ity between the state and federal gov
ernments. In order to secure the sup
port of certain advocates of States
rights" The original resolution was
amended eight times by Hobson him
self and was finally voted on Decem-
her %. 1914. receiving l0T votes. o5S
being necessary to carry through the
house. 1t never came to Il vote In
the senate.
When Does Prohibition ProhibIt7
Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas.
author of the amendment. holds that
national prohibition will 20 into effect
,N