Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-10
VOLSTEAD DRY ACT
ALARMS EDWARDS
Presidential Aspirant Sees Man.
ace to Whole Industrial
Fabric Of U. S.
CALLS FOR LIBERALIZATION

Trenton, Juno 10.--PortrayinS pro-
hibition rs ono of the greatest evils
which could bcfali the American people,
Governor Edwards issued statement
yesterday appealing to the citizens OF
the country to exert their sovereignty
TO dcnounre the national prohibition
act and demand its liberalization.
Governor Edwards describes the
manifold evils which he believed will
flow from the decision OF the Supreme
Court of the United States upholding
the eighteenth amendment and the Vol
stead act and refers to the situation rs
a national scandal. The governor leaves
no question that as candidate for the
presidential nomination he is prepared
to make prohibition the main, if not
the only. issue Of tho day. His state
mcnt, prepared after mature dclibcra-
ton, follows:
"1hc Supreme Court has declared the
eighteenth Amendment to be a part of
the constitution and the NOlstead act to
be its statutory Interpretation. That
act is open To such amendments as the
duly elected representatives of the peo-
pie may enact.
Appeals 10 the Nation
81 therefore appeal to the people Of
the United States, lawfully and by the
constitutional method prescribed. to
pass judgment upon tho Nolstead act.
| dcnonnc" it aud demand its liberali-
Zation.
1T attempts to regulate the habits
! of millions of 0ur citizens; in my judg
mcnt Of the vast majority of them.
1T places in tho class OF criminals
| and laWbreakcrS millions of women all
over tho country who make light wine
| from home grown fruits for their own
domestic use, as did their mothers be
fore them. 1t places in the criminal
class millions Of farmers who make and
mature cider from their own orchards
at places Il ban upon those millions
of our population to whom for untold
generations light wines and beers have
been as much a part of their daily fooc
ms the bread upon their tables. -,
1T has already stimulated, by TINS
prohibition of simple and harmless
beverages. the Illicit distillation o'
harmful liquors to twenty fold then
former production. The very agents o
enforcement, both state and federal
have become either blackmailers of th'
II ;.breHkcrs or their partners in crime
National scandal and disgrace are upol
US. A force of ,O00, 900 men and tn
annual expenditure of $4,000, 900 ,00t
could not secure the adequate enforce
mcnt Of this unwise and vicious lcgis
latiou.
Aliens Dislike Prohibition
"It mnnarns our whole industria
fabric aud millions Of workers ar
filed with resentment at this invasion
Of their personal liberties.
1T is the main impclling cause, a
shown by the investigation of the Fed
oral Department of Labor, why 1000,
600 men of foreign birth plan to return
to their native lands. The Depart
mont Of State is refusing their nppli
cations for passports, while the DE
partmcnt Of Justice is king mas
arrests and threatening, deportatio
among the very same classes, Whos
mental condition thereby borders upo
panic. and renders them the prey @
every "RCd' agitator.
"lt falls between the two stools o
state and federal authority. No lay
providing for concurrent jurisdiction q
federal and state administration ca
successfully be enforced. Conflict of au
thority, jealousy and failure are in
Cvitablr,
1T blocks the way for the consider
alton Of vitally important post wa
constructive legislation by the demorai
zation which this :. unwise and too
drastic law has forced upon us.
"No power exists which is paramount
to the power of the people expressed q
the polls. There also is sovereignty
Every candidate for Congress. ever
state aud legislative official, and tn
candidates for the presidency itself
will be called upon this coming Novem
ber to DECLARE their position unmis