New-York tribune., 1920-06-10
Put Dry Act Up
Candidates.
Edwards Says
Tells Voters to Question
All Seekers of Offices
From Presidency Down
Regarding Position
Urges Action by States
Liberal Interpretation to
Permit Use of Light
Wines and Beers Asked

Governor Edward I. Edwards of New
Jersey. in statement issued last night
at Sea Girt commenting on the action
of the Supreme Court in upholding the
prohibition amendment and the en-
forcement act, demanded liberalization
of the act and called upon the people
of the United States to pass judgment
on it. The statement follows:
THE Supreme Court has declared the
Eighteenth Amendment to be a part Of
the Constitution and the Volstead act
to be it's statutory Interpretation.
That act is open to such amendments
as the duly elected representatives of
the people may enact.
81, therefore, appeal to the people of
the United States, lawfully and by the
Constitutional method prescribed, to
pass judgment upon the Volstead act.
| denounce it and demand its liberal
ization.
lit attempts to regulate the
habits of millions Of our citizens, in
my judgment, Of the vast majority of
them.
OFT places in the class of Grim
inals and lawbreakers millions of
women al over the country who make
light wiJ.e from homegrown fruits for
their own domestic use, as did their
mothers before them. 1t places in the
criminal class millions of farmers who
make and mature cider from their own
orchards.
"3-It places a ban upon those mil
lions Of our population to whom for
untold generations light wines and
beers have been as much part of
their daily food as the bread upon
their tables.
Sees National Disgrace
"4-It has already stimulated by this
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 blackmailers
Of the lawbreakers or their partners
in crime. National scandal and dis.
grace are upon us. A force of one
million men and the annual expendi
ture Of two billion dollars could not
secure the adequate enforcement Of
this unwise and vicious legislation.
SO. 1t menaces our whole industria
fabric, and millions of workers are
filled with resentment at this invasion
of their personal liberties.
IS. 1t is the main impelling cause, al
shown by the Investigations of the
Federal Department of Labor why two
million men of foreign birth plan te
return TO their native lands. The De
partment of State is refusing their ap
plications for passports, while the De
partment of Justice is making mass
arrests and threatening deportation
among the very same classes, whose
mental condition thereby borders upor
panic, and renders them the prey oil
every Red agitator.
"7. 1t falls between the two stools
of state and Federal authority. NJ
law providing for concurrent jursdic
tion of Federal and state administra
ton can successfully be enforced. Con
flict of authority, jealousy and failure
are inevitable.
'9. 1t blocks the way for the con
sideration of vitality important pcst
war constructive legislation by tn,
demoralization which this unwise ans
too drastic law has forced upon US.
Power of the People
"No power exists which is paramount,
to the power of the people, expressed
at the polls. There alone is sovereign.
ity, Every candidate for Congress
every state and legislative official. and
the candidates for the Presidency itse If