Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-07-07
MI. TUTTLE's STARTLING ATTITUDE

OF modifying the eighteenth amendment and opposes any
effort being made, as far as New Jersey is concerned, to en-
force that amendment as it now stands. If this is Mr.. Tut
ties idea of the most important matter to be considered III
the gubernatorial campaign this fall he certainly is a great
disappointment to many of his admirers.
In the first place, the prohibition question is not a state
matter at all. The laws of congress take precedent over any
laws the state legislature may enact. Most of the prohi-
>bition enforcement today is being done by the federal au-
thorities and regardless of any attitude that an individual
state may assume this enforcement under federal laws is
going to continue as long as the Wostead act stands.
w. Governor Edwapds promised to make the state as wet
as the Atlantic ocean and started off his administration with
that end in view, but he failed miserably because the prohi-
bition enforcement officers, working under the United States
government, persisted in raiding places and making arrests;
federal grand juries returned indictments and federal
judges imposed sentences regardless Of Governor Edwards
or any other stale authority.
This same thing will continue under any other governor
that New Jersey may elect irrespective Of what the eXecu-
lives views on prohibition may be, so any stand taken by 4
gubernatorial candidate on the prohibition issue is Of little
consequence. The only place where the voter can make his
vote count on the prohibition issue is in the election of a con-
gresham. Until the Volstead law, which is an act of con-
gross, is changed the existing drastic regulations regarding
alcoholic drinks will continue.
But Mr.. Tuttle does not lay so much emphasis on the
Volstead law as he does on the eighteenth amendment which
he would have modified. Mr.. futile must realize how
utterly impossible it would be to modify the constitution.
An amendment once passed by congress and ratfied ny
Three -fOurtnS oil n states dnDOI DC fepcdlcu IL dltcItu
without three fourths of the states resembling their former
action. This has never been done and there is not the slight
est chance that it ever will be done, especially on this pro-
hibition issue because a majority OF the states are dry oil
iheir own accord.
But it is not necessary to modify the eighteenth
amendment in order to liberalize conditions. The constitu-
lion, as amended, merely forbids the sale or use of 'intoxi-
eating liquors" 1t remains for congress to define just
what are intoxicating liquors. The Volstead act fixes the
limit Of alcohol at one-half of one per cent. 1t might just
as we'll have said three per cent. and still be within the
meaning of the constitution. 1t is plain, therefore, that ii
the people really want less drastic regulations they have it
within their power to bring about the change by electlng a
congress that will modify the Volstead act. TO advocate
changing the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution OF
the United Safes is foolish, and Mr.. futile must know it.
Besides, as governor of New Jersey he couldn t do myth lS
in that direction, anyway.
But perhaps the most startling part of Mr.. Tuttles
statement is his stand against doing anything toward help
ing to enforce the eighteenth amendment. rms is treadlnS
on very dangerous ground. Whether we ike IL OF not, the
prohibition of the sale or use of intoxicating liquors is Tor
hidden by the fundamental law of the land. 1t, therefore,
must be respected. If we are not to uphold the constitution,
and especially if men holding the high office of governor of
a state are not going to uphold the constitution, what is to
become of our republic?
Besides, New Jersey has ratified this particular amend
ment and thereby has officially approved 1t. What can be
ones opinion OF a governor, then, who would deliberately
ignore This approval and do what he could to overthrow it?
Mr.. Tutle's attitude is a direct invitation for the boot
leggers and lawless element to so the limit. Instead of exc
cutting the laws as governor, he would help break them
down. Not only that, but he announces at the very outset
ofhis campaign that if he is nominated and elected governor
he will deliberately violate his oath of office in which he
swears to uphold he Constitution of the United States. With
The country already suffering from the ignoring of authority
and the disrespect for law, what a calamity it would be to
have as governor a man who would encourage this attitude
rather than use all the power at his command to uphold the
dignity of the state.
It makes little difference what stand Mr.. futile may
fake on other issues this fall, he cannot hope for the support
Of the law-abiding, self-respecting element IN the state as
long as he maintains such an attitude regarding the prohi-
hilton question. To be wet is one thing, but to advocate
ignoring the constitution is quite another. In the first place
prohibition is not an issue in the gubernatorial election; sec
ondly, a man, who, as governor, would deliberately ignore
: the Constitution of the United States is not a fit man FOL
81 och an office, 4