The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-21
.RUSHTON FRANK IN DEFINING ISSUES AS HE SEES THEM
High Ideals of COnstitu- tional Government His Claim to the United
 States Senate

hy OldlII OO IIlS OlllICN States Senate is my high ideals of constitutional government, said Ray Rushton, candidate for the short term of the United States Senate before a representative crowd of voters at the Jefferson theatre last night.
 In spite of the indictment weather MT. Rushton insisted on making his address to the voters of Birmingham as sched- uled.
 When the thirteen colonies won their freedom" MT. Rushton continued. they found it advisable to form a union. And forming the union, it was found advis- able to give the central government cer- tain powers which concerned the whole of them, One of these powers was the right to regulate interstate commerce and with that Jurisdiction over naviga- ble streams.
 Being within the power of the United States to regulate these matters, it be comes it's duty, and if I go to the United alates Senate l will deem it my duty U carry out the power of the government
 in improving such streams as the Ten nessee and others.
 The central government was given the power to establish post offices and post roads. Being the power of the govern ment to establish public roads, it be- comes it's duty to care for the roads.
 QUESTION OF SCHOOLS
 "The government has no Jurisdiction over the public schools, which is an ex- nf fI,a xx,tc of ba zt tner n who made that law. Uncle Sam Is n good fellow, but he is color blind. Not having the power to handle the public schools, the government should connect itself with them in no way. I believe that 1t Is the duty of the government to use the powers which 1t has, but I also believe that it should let those things over which 1t has no power severely alone.
 1T fought the eighteenth amendment to the constitution because I am against the tampering with the corstutlon of state or nation. But the constitution has been legally adopted, therefore if 1 go to Washington l will deem it my duty to see that the provisions of this amend- ment are carried out.
 T will support the constitution and all its amendments legally adopted. By this statement some people have implied that II nd0 lnenIdl TeSeTNdllOnS. l nave H'iiNs The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments making the negro citizen and giving him the right to vote, were placed before the people at the close of the civil war. They were ratified by the necessary number of states. But the southern states who ratified them were in the hands of carpet bag legisfa- lures, and they were not legally adopted.
 "The suffrage amendment Is before the nation Already thirty-five states have ratified 1t. and one more will do so in a short time. I opposed this amendment because I don't believe in tampering with the constitution But if I go to Wash ington will uphold the amendment
 Naturally. the question of the negro women voting will arise. In this matter I will think and vote as if the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments had never existed because I believe that they were not legally adopted.
 TRYING TO PLEASE GROUPS
 Some of the other candidates are bas- ing their campaign on the idea of pleas ing one particular group, and will go 70 Washington for the purpose of obtaining favors Tor the group which elected them. am catering to no group, sect or cult, If 1 go to Washington l will represent the state of Alabama.
 This is an age of unprecedented ex- travagance. The wild orgy of spending on the part of the government during the war created 23,0OO new millionaires. This infection spread to the people anu then to the state governments. The gov ernment is levying taxes to pay off the tremendous war debt. It is levying taxes to carry on the activiries in exercising the powers given 1t by the constitution. Ii is leyying taxes to care for the re- turned wounded soldier. These taxes, no matter how heavy, the citizens Will gladly pay But after that it Is time to call a halt.
 .sThe returned soldier has only to ask. not demand, and anything will be gwen him. Even though 1t would cause some sacrifice on our part, we would try lo fulfill his wishes But I urge that he not make his requests soon. Let him wat until conditions have become adjusted and a little settled. Above all, 1 ask that he not ask for help in the shape of a bonus Let him not cheapen the pa triotism with which he fought for ms country. This country should not fali into the trouble in which other countries have fallen by supporting their returned soldiers in idieness.
 Some candidates are trying to make prohibition the leading question of the day. Others are trying to make cotton the chief plank in their platform. bat the leading question of the day is neither Iiauor nor loot. It is more efficlehcy in government and some relief of the burdens of the people.
 Mir. Rushton was in Birmingham the entire day yesterday. being a guest or the Kiwanis at their weekly luncheon. He will leave early this morning over the Central of Georgia for visit 10 various counties along that line.