Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-10
BOOZE ISSUE
SAYS EDWARDS
Biquest Referendum by People
on Liquor This Coming Fall
Declares Governor Edwards
eu special Correspondent.

TRENTON, June 10.-DeclarinS
that the Volstead enforcement act
cannot be enforced, even with a force
of one million men and the annual
expenditures of two billian dollars,
Governor Edwards in a statement just
issued on the supreme court decision.
declares the wet" issue will be car
ried to the next November election
for a great and final referendum or
the American people"
Not only is the act unenforceable,
but II is encouraging violations or
the law and is responsible for the
vast throng of men of foreign birth
planning to return TO their native
lands estimated at two million.
1T places in the class of criminals
and lawbreakers millions of women
all over the country who make light
wine from homegrown fruits Tor
their own domestic use," said the
Edwards statement, "as did their
mothers before them. 1t places In the
criminal class millions of farmers who
make and mature cider from their
own orchards.
1T places a. ban upon those mill
lions of our population to whom for
untold generations light wines and
beers have been as much a part o.
their daily food as the bread upon
their tables.
ut has already stimulated, by this
prohibition of simple and harmless
beverages, the Illicit distillation of
harmful liquors to twenty-fold their
former production. The very agents
of enforcement both state and fed
eral, have become either blackmail-
ers of the law breakers or their part
ners in crime. National scandal and
disgrace are upon us. A force or one
million men and the annual expendi-
ture of two billion dollars could not
secure the adequate enforcement of
this unwise and vicious legislation.
ut menaces our whole Industrial
fabric, and millions OF workers are
filled with resentment at this invasion
|of their personal liberties.
ut is the main impelling cause. as
shown by the Investigations of the.
federal department of labor, why two
million men OF foreign birth plan to
return to their native lands. The de-
partment of state is refusing their
applications for passports. while the
department of Justice is making mass
arrests and threatening deportation
among the very same classes, whose
mental condition thereby borders
upon panic, and renders them the
prey of every red agitator."
The governor stated that the Vol
stead act, which the United States
supreme court has just upheld. is
open to such amendments as the duly
elected representatives of the people
may enact. "I, therefore, appeal to
the people of the United States. law
fully and by the constitutional moth
cd prescribed, to pass Judgment upon
the Voistead act. / denounce 1t and
demand its liberalization"
Further on Mr.. Edwards stated the
act falls between two stools of state
and federal authority. No law pro-
viding for concurrent jurisdiction OF
federal and state administration can
successfully be enforced. Conflict of
authority, jealousy and failure are
inevitable.
1T blocks the way for the consid-
Grafton of vitally important postwar
constructive legislation by the de-
moralization which this unwise and
too drastic law has forced upon us"
At the start of his statement Mr..
Edwards says the Volstead act at
tempts to regulate the habits or mil
lions Of citizens. in his Judgment, or
the vast majority of them. In con-
clusion he declares:
mo power exists which Is para
mount to the power of the people
expressed at the polls There alone
is sovereignty. Every candidate for
congress, every state and legislative
official, and the candidates for the
presidency itself will be called upon
this coming November TO declare
their position Enthusiastically on the
sane and reasonable Interpretation or
the constitutional amendment In fav-
or of the permissive use of light
wines and beers every state to deter
mine its regulations under the iiber-
al limitations of a general federal
statute"