The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1920-10-22
In the Legislature of Ohio

lie voted for the Clarke Local OPP
ton Bill in 1900. 1t provided for nu-
nicipal and ward option. 1t Was de-
feated.
He voted for the Bcal Local Option
Law in 1902. 1t provided for muniei-
pal option. 1t carried.
He voted for d law to increase the
Jurisdiction of mayors to enforce the
Township Local Option law.
In Congress
Senator Harding introduced the
resolution limiting the time for the
ratification Of the Eighteenth Amend
nle1t to six years, and just before
the vote was taken delivered the fol
lowing address TO the Senate:
Address of Senator Warren G. Hard
ing in the United States Senate in
August, 1917, When the Prohibition
Resolution was Pending
COPIED from Congressional Record
The thought have in mind, Mr.
President, is the elimination of tits
unending Prohibition contest in the
Halls OF Congress. At the same time.
| am in sympathy with the opposition
to the resolution about the unfair
ness OF adopting a Federal amend
ment under the provisions OF the con-
stitution on a question relating to per-
sonal liberty, and if there were any
other method OF submitting an amend
ment should be very glad to en-
ploy IT,
| am not a Prohbitionist, Mr..
President, and never have pretended
10 be. do claim to be d temperance
man. | do not approach this ques-
ton from a moral viewpoint. because
| am unable TO sec it as a great moral
question. / can remember very dis
tinctly when | was a boy, during the
early days Of a hardy rural citizen
ship in Ohio, some Of, the most moral
people the state boosted had a Jug
OF whisky in the fence corner during
the harvest time. ! am not saying
that favor that. ! only cite it as an
instance that it is not always and in
variably a moral question.
But | do see the ethical and Geo.
nomical side of it, and when it comes
to decision on this point, at a time
when we are Boosting of our warfare
for popular government, | cannot be
inconsistent enough to deny the set
tlAment of this much mooted question
- 4 popular will in the only manner
" which the constitution provides.
4 / do think it is unwise, imprudent
Hnd i1considerate to force the issue
at this time. I do not question the
sincerity or the high purpose Of the
Prohibition forces, but ] do believe.
and very sincerely, that it is a great
misfortune to the country to divide
American citizenship into two hostile
camps over this question of personal
liberty at a time when we ought to be
promoting the concord of citizenship
that is essential to win the war. But
having expressed myself as regarding
the pressure brought to settle this
issue now, | must go further and say
that since it is iusstent and intruding,
so that we must reach decision now,
| find myself impelled to take the side
which ] think must in the end con-
tribute to the most good of our com
mon people.
l do not think a Prohibition
Amendment will be effective, Mr..
President. You cannot make any
law stronger than the public senti-
ment which sees TO its enforcement.
l have watched the progress of this
question from the conflict in the ham
let, to the municipality, to the county,
the state, and the nation, and while
/ stand here and freely express my
doubts about its practicability, at the
same time recognize that it is grow
ing and insistent and must be settled,
Ever since have been in public
life in a small way have seen men
measured by the wet ano