The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-20
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AMENDMENT AND POPULAR
nDIMInM

one or our correspondents SOL
EMMY asseverates that the United
states was not allowed to vote on
the Eighteenth amendment. Some
time we will take the space to fully
answer such charges. We heard sim
liar complaint as to Tennessee never
having voted on the liquor question
even though the state had elected
legislature after legislature and gov
ernor after governor on that very Is
sue. No amendment to the Constitu-
tlon OF the United States can be
slipped over without the consent of
the people, In the l27 years OF life OF
tho republic only eighteen amend
ments have run the gauntlet. And ten
OF these we're adopted In It's first
year There must first be two thirds
or both houses of congress to pro-
pose the amendment, and II must be
| ratified by three fourths vote of all
the state--and this In govern
ment of maJorities. In the case OF
the Eighteenth amendment forty Ave
or weight states ratified. Never
was greater unanimity OF senti-
ment shown. The advocates OF beer
and light wine allowed their traffic
too long to live In a wallow with
whisky now to whine as to the re-
suit. In the days OF the saloons the
breweres. whatever may be said OF
beer ms a less intoxicating bever-
age, were the worst offenders. They
bought UP corner lots in the resi-.
dence districts OF cities and estab-
lished their saloons. They became the
centers OF debauohery and drunken
ness They went into politics and
controlled legislatures and city gov
ernments. They bribed sherfts and
police When local option was pro
posed they fought that az an inva-
sion OF individual liberty When
county option was proposed they
fought that. contending II was a
state question. and when statewide
laws were advocated they asserted
that It was q federal question and must
be settled by all the states through
congress. Now they have that settle
ment and they have become very
ardent advocates of states rights
again. The American people found II
impossible to compromise this ques-
ton. II was necessary 10 get rid OF
beer and light wines along with
whisky. II was necessary 10 enact
! "bone-dry'' statutes, aud custer and
nuisance acts, 30 as to crush out the
lnwlessness which was encouraged by
the trstfio. They never submitted &c
any regulation Whatsoever.
We suggest that our CORE spondent
read the remarks OF Charity Com.
missioner Golfer. which we are print.
ing. No greater boon has come I,
humanity. This Is n day OF sacri
flee. That was the keynote OF IN,
war. Americas entry was for n,
selfish purpose, we gave our hes
blood ungrudgingly. Now with re
gard TO the acceptance OF law
which prevent our use OF wines ant
beers II is the same In principle
We must think OF others. We mus
consider the greatest good to IN,
greatest number. That was tho JEFF
fersoniRn principle. Those who car
use such beverages without injury
TO themselves must consider not th,
individual but society. We mus
think OF the unfortunates who arr
not 40 self restrained as we our.
selves. We In the south especially
have our peculiar problems. II 4
selfish and unpatriotic when we Sc,
what n boon this reform is 70 human.
ity TO throw anything in the way o.
its application, just I'm order thai
we may enjoy our own selfish In
diligence. And as for the rights o
states there Is no right which rises
above that OF the sovereign power
OF the people 10 amend their Con,
stitution and get rid OF a lawloss. de-
: bauchinE traniC.