Der Nordstern. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1874-1931, 1922-12-28

prosperity and the community spirit Of Old Stearns.,
REV. Stafford AetAIN ACTIVE.
It is reported that we are again going to have the IN
coming legislature lobbied, bulied, petitioned and coerced INTO
passine some more prohibitory legislation. It is said that
it is proposed to make it a crime to purchase or attempt TO
purchase liquor, and also to make all liquor law violations
felonies.
When, oh when, shall we have rest from such consummate
pests as these prohibitionists. Is it not about time that the
legislature be given time and opportunity to pass some legls
lation that is needed to relieve the present condition OF the
people? Is there nothing Of any Importance except the pet
hobbies of these reformersg They do not seem to be happy I'M
til they have us all in Jail. And then, who will do honest work
to raise the money to pay the salaries and expenses OF the
enforcement gang?
We fondly hope there will be enough real men in the,
legislature to sideiraekt the efforts Of the anBisyyand open the.
way to accomplishing something worth while for the people
of this state. We have far ~weightier things to attend to than
to listen to these hungry howlers, who are after more commits
sions, more Offices sandsInofe chances to live off the public
without giving fair service in return.
The question Of the effect Of the repeal Of the Vo1stead
Act, and the substitution Of a law allowing beer and light
wines is 50 often misunderstood, that we take the liberty Of
quoting from CLAW Notes. which answers the question as
follows:
II CONSTITUTION 4NDTHE V~OLSTEADACT.
n.y. lux OoN 70 UHtGHW INC#YW oOCU 1AOO o0 No
to permit the sale of stehf alnes and beer 4. alWdys
met by the horoughgong advocate Of prohibition
With the statement that such a. modification Mould be =
unconstitutional. Granting for the sake Of argument ST
that the amendment aroMd permit the sale Of intoai-
eating liquor 1T Is hard to see hoau@ its validaty can be ~
attached successfully. # Congress az. terms repeats
the Volstedd Act and zeaues.so line on the st0tute-5
books to enforce thezEighteenth 4mendnsent, on eehat
grounds can its action be attacked IN the courts? OF
Mhot federal ofense could a person selling ant0u9-
catts be connected after that repeal? Having thus re-
pealed all euistang enforcement laaus, IT Congress
passes an act making 1t an offence to 9nonufactue or
sell liquor containing more than ten per cent Of alco-
hM, of aohat federal ofeuse could a person selling a
nine per cent beverage be convictedg 1T the ten per
cent act Wass declared to be unconstitutional as per-
mitting. the sale of imtoacants IN violation Of the
Eighteenth 4qnendnaent, Uhat auould remain2 Clearly,
no prohibition sagainst the sale Of any intonioant. OF
course, If Congress mere to amend the Volstead act
By substituting ten per cent for "onehdlf of one
per cent, and this oere declared unconstitutional,
the original Volstead Act mould remain IN force, but
certainly If the ..ocet" forces are able to pass their
measures they uudl not commit amy such blunder as
that. Courts mag declare to be void statutes ~ viola-
ton Of the Constitution, but they hare no: poUer to
enact neeu statutes az their stead. That federd pro-
habitions shall enist against the use of iatoaicdnts
rests u5tb Congress. IT the Congressional declare
ton IS held to be invaid the result NIL be that there
val be 10 prohibitions at al uaat1 further Congress
iona1 action Is takea. s aaaS