The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-19

and hasten the coming Of the mil
and produced conditions that de-
mand serious and immediate efforts
to remedy IL we would avert disas-
ter that is threatening our institu-
lions and civilization.
The American people are as (.
general rule iaw-abiding. There
fore. what is the cause of the uni
versal contempt in which they hold
the volstead act. and of its daily
of our people? The answer is. the
the law. and the conviction in the
minds of the people that il was put
over" on them. and the deep-seated
conviction in their minds that II has
not the sanction of public sentiment
behind IL. This is the root and cause
Of the entire contempt for the law
and Of the inability of the authori-
ties to enforce 1t. And it will never
be enforced until the people are
convinced that it has behind it the
will and sanction of the majority.
Once that fact is ascertained the
millions of otherwise estimable cit
izens who are violating the law. and
aiding and abetting others in is
violation. will become its supporters
and aids in its effective enforce
ment The Anti-Saloon League in
sists that the people are for the law.
The results indicate to the contrary
should they not, in order to make
the law enective. and end the scan
daii incident to its enforcement, be
wiling to have the question tested?
There is a simple way by which tni,
can be done. and its adoption Is
Justified by the horrible existing
conditions. and the belief that n
would remedy them.
Let the Congress provide for "a
solemn referendum" of thi. ous.-
ton to the Qualifed and registered
voters throughout the entire coun-
try-submitting to them whether ar
not the Eighteenth amendment .bau
be repealed or modified. n a ma
tority vote to sustain the amend
ment as 1t is, then we will know
beyond peradventure that IL has
the mandate. and the authority of
the people behind II and the gov
eminent viii be justified in resort
ing to the most drastic methods for
its enforcement, confident in the
moral and active support Of the
aw-abiding elements Of the peopIe.
II majority vote for the repeal or
modification of the amendment tben
Congress can submit to the state,
a resolution Of repeal or amendment
as the case may be.
That Congress has the constitu.
hohai power to do as suggested is
beyond dispute. Such action would
not be delegation of its legisla-
tive power for such a vote would
not be binding upon 1t. cut merely
ADVISORY a. to what Congress should
DO IN respect to q grave and grow
ing menace to society and orderly
government. Such action would be
the same in principle as when citi-
Gems are called before committees
OF Congress for public hearings
upon proposed legislation to give
our legislators the benefit of their
| views and opinions upon the SUBJ
ject-matter under consideration
Congress cannot call all the voters
of the country before it for a public
hearing. but In the manner proposed
IL can ascertain their views and
wishes as advisory to and for the
guidance Of Congress in the action
1t may see fit to take upon this
grave question.
This Is clearly a case where the
ends would justify the means. and
it should be resorted to without oe.
lay, for otherwise conditions viii
go from bad to worse. The law will
never be enforced as IL now stands
And the prohibition question will
remain In politics to disturb our so.
cial order. undermine the moral fibel
10 -