Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-03-18

THE REFERENDUM on
= ENFORCEMENT

OIc Vi thS piiHNiPo' O. - 49, -
made against the Volstead Ac'
is that it is not adequately en-
forced, and cannot be. because II
is an expression of the minority
rather than of the majority. OF
the people and contrary to then
deep-rooted convictions and feel
ines. The correctness OF this may
never be determined as a Nation.
wide proposition, but the fact Of
the inadequacy of the enforce
ment is incontrovertible. what
ever the reason.
Its opponents advance the same
argument in reference to tho
"dry" enforcement bill now pend
ing before the Legislature OF
Maryland; added to which is the
claim that this particular meas.
ure contains even more drastic
and unreasonable provisions thar
the Congressional Act. and. con
sequently, that it stands even less
lchance of being upheld.
Whether or not this be so, a
great many persons sincerely be
lieve it is, and among them are
vast number who stand for the
Eighteenth Amendment as one Of
the most benehcent pieces OF leg
sislation in the history of the coun-
try. in that it. and it alone, die
did away with the unrestricted
saloon, and are earnestly in Ia
vor of its enforcement as a per
manent part of the law OF the
land. The manner in which il
should be enforced is the subject
of a great deal of honest differ
ence of opinion. and the balance
OF power which effected the adop-
ton of the referendum amend
ment by the Senate Tuesday
night was held by those Senator;
who believe that on this vita
subject the whole electorate OF
the State should have the ina
decision.
The presumption is all in favor
OF the wisdom and propriety OF
such a course, on this particular
phase of the general subject. II
is not now question as to wheth-
er the law should be enforced, OF
should not be enforced. The
Volstead Act and the local liquor
laws as we'll, - which latter the
Court OF Appeals has expressly
declared are still in force, al
ready supply the machinery toi
that. 1t is. rather, a question as
to whether the General Assembly
OF Maryland, in proposing con
current legislation on the sub
ject, has gone too far in the pro-
visions embodied i'll its chosen
measure.
Right on this point is where
the issue has already been OBJ
scured and will undoubtedly con
tinue to be obscured to large
extent. 1t is safe to say that
comparatively few persons, with
in or without the Legislature
have ever carefully read the pend
ing bill or know Just what IT does
provide. The general run of citi-
zens. Legislators included, are
mostly, for or against an enforce
ment act. as a general PROPOSE
ZION. If simply this were the is
sue. the logic would be irrefut-
ably in favor of the affirmative
and the verdict would be render
ed accordingly by any unpreju-
diced tribunal. THE Eighteenth
Amendment, being a part of the
organic law, should. as a matter
OF course, be upheld.) But this is
distinctly not the issue, for il
goes much further than that. II
is not whether an enforcement
act should be adopted, but wfe-
Their this particular act. being the
only one presented, should be
adopted.
The right decision of this issue
necessitates close, and disposition
pte study of the provisions of The
pill, no less than full enphasi: