The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-17
sends In His Msssa~.

Senos In MS mSssa
Right while the roll call was being
taken on the race track bill and ex-
element was tense In the house OF
delegates the governor sent mes
sage on. the liquor question. IL was
held by the Speaker TIL the, roll call
was ended and then handed out In
the hope OF pouring oil on the trou-
bled waters.
The message 10 an Endorsement OF
the Jones bill reported last night to
iegaliEe az per, cent beverages. and
contains an Endorsements OF the wet
program as far as IL Is proposed to
put IL into effect in this State. The
reading OF the message was received
with applause.
rr.', Fec Beer and Wines.
The governors message follows:
Gentlemen Of the House OF Dele
gates:
~ have considered with great in
terest the various bills and resoiu-
tions now pending in the legislature
on the question OF prohibition.
ITO restore to the people OF this
State the rights which j. along with
so many others, feel have been denied
them, by drastic Federal legislation,
involves a great many admittedly diff
acult questions, some OF the more
important of which may depend upon
the Supreme Courts decision in the
Rhode Island case.
MY judgment is that the farmers
OF this State want and should not be
denied the right to make cider and
light wines, as they have always done,
and that the laboring man ard the
people generally. want and should not
be denied beer and light wines. and
without meaning to disapprove some
of the bills or resolutions which fol-
10 wother lies, / do not hesitate to
say that I favor legislation which
will recognize the above view.
Endorses Jones Bill.
II think, moreover, that House bill
No. 564. which comes up in the house
tomorrow. and which was introduced
by Messrs. Jones, Dimarco. Curry.
Weilbrenner and Needing, is such a
bill.
''The bill provides that 1t shall cease
to be operative II the eighteenth
amendment is declared invalid, so
that IL this contention in the Rhode
Island case is upheld by the Supreme
Court, then the wishes of the people
OF Maryland upon the entire subject
of prohibition will not have been pre-
judged. but the opportunity will be
presented of expressing them at the
polls.
1.-THE bill. IL passed. will. however,
be effective SO long as the eighteenth
amendment stands. 1t is impossible
to say, in advance OF the Supreme
Courts decision. exactly what its ef-
feet may be. but IL certain strongly
advanced views as to the meaning of
the concurrent" clause in the eight
zenith amendment prevail, then the
bill will, according to it's terms. au-
thorize beer, light wines and cider.
A Protest Anyhow.
'If these views do not prevail, then
the passage Of the bill will, in any
event, constitute a protest by the peo-
pie of Maryland against the denial of
their right to express their wishes
upon this important question. and
will be an indication OF their desire
that the Volstead act be amended.
II feel that the people of Maryland
favor the continuance of cider, beer
and light wines. and that this bill
fairly represents the ideas OF our
people as to the manner in which the
eighteenth amendment IL valid,
should be enforced. For these res-
sons hope that house bill No. 55i
will pass.
Very respectfully yours.
ALBERT c. R1TCH1E.
Governor"