Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-01-24
GOVERNOR EDWARDS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Gentlemen Of the Legislature:

As the responsible heads of Govern
ment Of this State, certain problems
confront us which concern intimately
the people of the State. 1t is my pur-
pose herein to direct your attention to
these problems and to suggest the lines
First and foremost Is the matter OF
sumptuary legislation enacted by the
Federal Congress- During the cam
paign recently waged in this State
there was squarely presented the issue
whether the people of New Jersey de-
sired to be understood as being in fa-
vor of surrendering to the Federal Gov
eminent the power of regulating the
exercise of their personal liberties.
Squarely presented as that question
was, the people of the State just as
certainly answered it in the negative.
AS / interpret the result Of the cleo
ton, the citizens of New Jersey insist
upon reserving to themselves the right
n to say how they shall live, and they
believe that measures regulating their
mode of life have no place in the or
ganic law of the nation.
During the campaign / made definite
pledges as to what / would endeavor
to accomplish If elected Governor One
WINS that would do every lawful thing
to have 1t determined that the present
condition of affairs with respect of
prohibition had been illegally forced
upon the people of this State. To that
end now recommend that these things
be done:
First. Section of the so-called
eighteenth Amendment" Is as fol-
lows:
"Section 2. The Congress and the
several States shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by ap-
propriate legislation"
While 1t is not my purpose to make
part of this message brief on the
subject. it must nevertheless be under
stood that our theory Of Government
is that the nation is made up of States
to which are entrusted the powers of
local government To those States
and to the people the powers not eX-
pressly delegated to the National Gov
eminent are reserved The power or the
States to regulate their purely inter-
nal affairs by such laws as seem wise
TO the local authorities Is inherent and
has never been surrendered to the Ma
tional Government l might point out
to you that the language of the So
called eighteenth Amendment" Is
unique In this respect, viz, that there
is reserved to the several States con-
current power to legislate upon the
enforcement thereof. For the first
time In our history such language
makes its appearance In the Federal
Constitution. Its presence there Is not
the result Of accident or idle thought,
hut rather is Indicative, II the amend
ment was ratified at all. of the inten-
ton on the part of the several States
to require their concurrence, at least
ms to intra-State commerce in any
proposed Federal legislation concern
ing Intoxicating beverages. In that
view l am supported by the opinion or
counsel.
There are some, however, who hold
that under the reserved concurrent
power, action by Congress to enforce
the amendment would, in the absence
of contrary statutory declaration on
the part of the State, effectively apply
to us.
Therefore, to guard against the con-
tingency of here being an attempt to
enforce Federal legislation between
the adjournment 1of the present ses-
sion of the Legislature and the deter
mination OF the validity of the Eight
eenth Amendment, which legislation
may he contrary to the expressed de-
sire of our people, / respectfully urge
upon you the passage of legislation
which will assure to our people the
right to live under conditions salts
factory to Them That proposed leg
islation has been drawn and will be
introduced at this session.
earnestly urge upon you the speedy
passage of that bill. Regardless of
party utilization, the members OF the
Legislature must respond to the will
of the people, and the people have de-
clared themselves on this subject
Second--I am advised by counsel
that grave doubt exists whether the
amendment was legally ratified, and
that the same doubt exists as to its
being a proper subject for legislation
by amendment TO the Constitution. l
therefore propose to request the At
torney-General of the State to present
to the United States Supreme Court
the petition of the State of New Jer-
sey as sovereign State, praying that
these questions may be speedily de-
termined so that our citizens may
know what their rights are in the
premises.
Third-That there shall be passed
by the Legislature resolution re-
fusing 20 ratify or accept the said
amendment
My policy on this subject will no
doubt provoke from some the criticism
that ! am Haunting the Constitution
Y 81.