Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-04
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REPUBLICAN OPPORTUNITY

The bill introduced by Senator
Runyon to enforce the eighteenth
amendment to the federal Constitu-
ton in New Jersey places the wet"
and dry Issue clearly before the
legislature. Governor Edwards is
backing a bill that will authorize the
manufacture OF beverages containing
not more han four per cent. alcohol
while the Runyon bill, following the
Volstead law, fixes the legal limit at
one-half of one per cent. 1t looks
as if every man in the legislature
would have an opportunity to go on
record as to whore he stands.
There is no question that Senator
Runyon is on safe n sure ground.
He has the Constitution OF the United
States behind him. He has not only
an act of congress to back him up,
but he has the action of numerous
state legislatures to sustain him also.
Even New York state Is enacting a
law along lines similar to the Vol
stead act. placing the state authority
squarely beside the federal govern
ment in carrying out the clear intent
OF the prohibition amendment.
Whether they realize it or not.
here is a wonderful opportunity for
the Republican party to take a stand
that will mean something not only
In New Jersey but throughout the
country. The Republicans have been
making themselves ridiculous by try
ing to hold their self-styled respecta-
bility and at the same time firt with
the booze element. The party Is
afraid, apparently. to take a definite
stand. 1t wants to be good, but IS
afraid that IL 1t is good 1t will be
licked by the bad boys, so 1t remains
neither good nor bad, just a sicken-
ing nonentity, disgusting to self
respecting people.
In New Jersey, at least, the Demo-
cratic party has come out for the
"wets" In a way that cannot be mis-
understood. Having taken its stand
1t is making a good fight to make the
state as wet as the Atlantic ocean.
There Is no beating about the bush
In the matter.
Let the Republican party accept
the challenge. Instead of being
afraid of the Issue let the Repub]i-
cans face it fearlessly and without
hesitation. Now, Under the leader
ship of Senator Runyon, is the OPP
portunity for the Republicans to
stand out In tho open and back the
Constitution and the federal laws to
the limit. Let the Republican party
In New Jersey be just as dry as the
Democratic party is "wet' and the
leaders will be surprised how many
friends 1t will a " Anything is to
be desired to tho present namby-
PANTY attitude that means nothing
and gets nowhere.
1t has often been remarked since
the election last fall that had Acting
Governor Runyon been nominated by
the Republicans he would have been
elected. There is reason to believe
that this Is true. The humlliatins
etraddle that Bugbee attempted only
caused disgust.
And 1t is surprising how many
friends of prohibition there are
among the so-called "wet" counties
In the northern part of the state.
thousands of voters who have been
more or less undecided about prohi-
bition, are beginning to see the bene-
hts OF 1t now that 1t is in force and
they are ready and willing to adopt
1t. They believe that 1t has come to
Stay n they are only too anxious to
see New Jersey placed in a better
light before her sister states than
the position she now holds. If the
Republican party will rise up to tho
opportunity. pass the Runyon bill for
the enforcement OF prohibition and
even go a step further and ratify the
prohibition amendment, what a
Teather it would be In the cap of the
@. Q. p. 1t would attract nationwide
attention and would give the party
an issue on which it could appeal to
the people. I would be standing for
something.
Senator Runyon shows the way.
IL the Republican party big enough
20 seize the opportunity to go for
ward with the march Of progress, or
% 1t going to play the act OF a
coward and blow neither hot nor
cold. wet nor dry. trying to please
everybody but in reality pleasing no.
body?