The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-07
DRY LAW ISSUE
FOR DEMOCRATS
Governors Edwards and
Smith Propose to Stand :
For State Rights
DECLARES SITUATION
POLITICAL SACRILEGE
Edwards Says He Will Garry the Fight
to National Convention-Smith De-
clares Prohibition Worse Than Prus
Sianisnl.

NEW YORK, Feb. Prohibition and /
the Sims Daniels controversy were in
iccted into the testimonial dinner given
here to Homer s. Cummings, chairman Of
the Democratic national committee, at
which Secretary Daniels was the princi
pal speaker Thursday evening. One
thousand invitations had been issued to
the banquet. which was attended by
prominent Democrats from all parts of
the country.
The prohibition issue was brought into
the proceedings by Cows. Edwards of
New Jersey and Smith of New York, and
was greeted with obviously mingled
feelings by the diners. Gov. Edwards
was not on the official list of speakers
and was called upon unexpectedly after
Secretary Daniels had finished his adj
dress Earlier in the evening the New
Jersey executive had been given a strik-
ing ovation when he entered the dining
hall, and there was an even greater
demonstration when he rose to speak.
He declared that a great issue had
: emerged from the past, the issue OF
state rights and personal liberty. tie
said that issue must be decided by the
I people next November. II the federal
government" he continued, may sub
vert the doctrines of state rights and
without commission or mandate from
: the people, enter upon our tiresides and
= into our homes with a bureaucratic svs
!" tenn of officeholders and overlordships
the theory of our constitutional govern
II IL. IL,
home rule and local state governm n
. are destroyed Under such system 4
indestructibe union of indestructill
=, states becomes a myth and we have TIN
necessary alternative of a great super
power at Washington imposing its vii
= upon US in the direction Of our habits
our manners, our tastes and our loca
!; customs, until nothing is left Of the in
dependent state of ON fathers but til
name.
TO me- this situation is politica
~, sacrilege and | purpose to carry tn
=, fight to San Francisco regardless q
- what any man or set Of men may pei
~ sonally think so as to bring about
L. popular restatement Of the doctrine {
state rights and popular local home ri
~ upon which our fathers founded TIL
~ government"
-, Gov Smiths contribution to the pr
hibition issue was contained in a tel
,on gram expressing his regret that sicl
i ness prevented him being present.
nd his telegram he said:
.ba DO not forget the time honored Den
nj ocratic doctrine that the government
H. most effective which governs the leas
a. This prccppt of Democratic faith in Il
cd recent past has been grieyously and W
ds fully sinned against when. in the nan
ION of democracy, there was imposed ups
Us l00,000000 free people, without askil
mi their direct consent, a restriction TO the
! :, personal liberty which Prussia i'll h
- palmiest days never dreamed of"
The name of Admiral Sims was
troduced by John NJ Richie, the toas
master, at the conclusion of Secreta
lDanelss address. The secretary DIVE
upon the great service performed by |
North sea mine barrage in putting
end to the German submarine mena
and. incidentally, credited Preside
- Wilson with being the first high Anne
u can official to conceive the idea.
lie, Mr. Rihele, before calling on &c
s. Edwards as the next speaker said;
in Secretary Daniels spoke of the gre
barrage laid across the North sea.
have just received a memorandum VIII
shows that the only American otfiC
who opposed the laying of that barra
was Admiral Sims
The mention of the admirals nal
was the signal for considerable hissi
and booing from various parts of
ey. dining hall
nd
~ Laws and Reforms