New-York tribune., 1920-02-21

two-thirds vote In both houses the Con-
gress passed and submitted to .he
legislatures Of the states an amend
ment to tho Federal Constitution pro-
viding that the manufacture, importa
tion, transportation and sale of intoYi
eating liquors shall DO prohibited An
the United States and it's territorial
possessionsa More than the necessary
three-fourths of the legislatures rati.
fed the amendment, and it is now a
part OF the Constitution of the United
States. voted against the amendment
in the Senate for three principal rea-
sons:
"First, because our Constitution is a
framework Of government which de-
fines and limits the powers delegated
to that government by the people. 1t
ought not to be confused and encum-
bered with matters which should be
dealt with in statute law, in such II
way that the changing opinion of the
people may be registered.
Secondly, and from the standpoint
Of practical legislation, | feared the
inelasticity of such decree, in that
were it to result in failure. acknowl-
edged by majority of the people, that
majority would be powerless to repeal
or modify the decree in the face Of the
opposition Of one-fourth plus one OF
all the states---the very negation OF
democracy. And thirdly, because upon
matter affecting so intimately the
personal habits and predictions Of
millions of good people, I believe the
people themselves should have an op-
portunity to pass judgment. These OBJ
jections would have been largely over
come had the Eighteenth Amendment
provided that the Congress shall be
clothed with power to prohibit or
regulate the liquor traffic from time to
time by statute
Hard to Rescind
"The ratification of the amendment
was accomplished during the period of
our participation in the war. It's zeal
Gus, we'll organized and politically
sNllful advocates knew we'll what they
had in mind, but large numbers of peo-
pie were not so clear about it and were
inclined to confuse it with the war
measures. Still others, somewhat un-
familiar with the processes of amend
ing the Constitution, and, mindful only
of the admitted evils of the saloon,
gave it their support. And then, too, it
may be remarked that the amendment
was adopted during the absence in the
training camps or in France, of nearly
100000 men. who were thus deprived
very largely Of all influence in the
matter.
But the amendment Is now part
Of the Constitution and, lacking any
decision of the courts to the contrary,
IS likely to remain there; for it's elm-
nation can be accomplished only by an
other amendment, passed by two thirds
of both houses of Congress- and rati-
fed by thirty-si legislatures very
difficult thing to accom- n1ish -
MIR. Mills's Tribute
Mr. Mill.s, in his opening address,
paid high tribute to Senator Wads-
worth and urged his reelection. He
declared that men Of courage, prnci-
pie and convictions, such as Senator
.Wadsworth possessed, should be kept
IN public office. Public servants
should be judged on the quality of their
entire record, he said, and not on
thelr vote on single measure,
with their conscience and conviction.
This reference to Senator Wadsworth's
stand against suffrage and prohibition
was warmly applauded
land now. my friends,' said Mr..
Mills. "in the candidacy of Senator
Wadsworth for reelection there is a
great principle at stake. TO thine own
self be true; thou canst not then be
false to any man, is one of the eterna!
verltles, and | would call the attention
Of those who are honestly, sincerely
and from pure motives opposing Sen
ator Wadsworth to this issue, which
transcends in Importance their own
particular individual issue"
James r. Sheffield Senator Lawrence
y: sherman, Of Illinois; Miss Marv
Wood and Judge Nathan L. Miller we're