Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-05
STATE SOVEREIGNTY
ISSUE IS REVIVED
BY AL SMITHS ACT.
With Solid South's Support
on States Rights and Pop
uIous East, New York E =
ecutive Formidable Figure
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Geased Wire Service to The Journal,l
(Cnnvrirht 1903

Copyright, 1927
WASHINGTON, June 2. = Cover
nor Al Smith, of New York, has com.
pletely upset the national political
situation, no only with respect to
the choice of presidential candidates
for 1924, but the making of the two
national party platforms.
Going hack to the historic doctrine
of states right, which the Democrat.
ic party has held so dear for CEN
fury, but which was temporarily OBJ
liberated by the necessities of the
World war, the governor of the state
of New York has issued an appeal to
the people of America to preserve
the sovereignty of the states union
as guaranteed to them by the con-
stitution.
States right, is a fundamental is
sue in the. south, the stronghold Of
Democracy. When tied up to the
prohibition question, it becomes q
live issue in the north and east.
Governor Smith did not embrace the
extreme wet side Of the issue, nor
did he. recede one step from the OBJ
legation of the citizenry of the ma
ton to obey the laws of the federal
government. But he did present
constructive program whereby each
state can regulate the liquor ques-
ton according to the wishes of its
own people. Home rule, local regu-
lation, states rights-all these slo-
gans will be heard from in the next
twelve months as the advocates of
modification of the existing situa-
ton with respect to the Volstead
law press for a change.
Other Considerations
Whether AL Smith wins the Dem
ocratic nomination for the presi-
dency on the platform of his memo
randum written as he signed the
repeal of New York states prohi-
bition enforcement law, is for the
moment an open question, and is
complicated by the merits of other
candidates. and other issues, but
the bold step taken by the governor
of a state where the DemocraticA
party rolled up its biggest majority
will have a definite influence on rli
making of the Democratic platform
1t would not be surprising if tn
Smith memorandum formed II
basis of the Democratic platform
the nation.
Naturally Al Smith is the m
eastern Democracy would want
see nominated on that kind of
platform, as his fame has sprI
to Massachusetts, New Jersey
the eastern seaboard, where emo
electoral votes might mustered
add to the votes of the solid 50
and a victory achieved without
gard to the dry" west. The
would stick on the doctrine
states rights because prohil
could still be enforced as r
there as it was before the eight
was adopted.
Indirectly the influence of
a move would be felt in con
Members from the south upho
Volstead law because they
committed to the dry side in
own states, but if the Demo
national platform revived the
Of states rights and a way
pointed out whereby the traf
liquor could still be regulate
each state, the delegations
southern states would be deeply
and possibly swing to
ranks of the group wishing
amend the Volstead law.
Many Complications
AL Smiths own chances for
nomination are complicated by
Traditionally the polite
have always maintained that G
bic could not be nominated by eli
party because he would not haV
chance of election. The theory
never been tested out, but ms
similar conjectures have gone by
boards One was that southern
would never be nominated for
after the Civil war.
.ook many years, but Woodrow WI
son, a native of Virginia, finally wa
and elected, thus breal
ng that tradition. Another argu
nent of the politicians was that
thn1iO IiI11'f L. he, 70 IrI
:ome governor in a popu1ous state.
But AL Smith has shattered that
heory. And so have prominent Cath
)lics in other states.
When it gets down to brass tacks i
n the Democratic convention, there
ore, the likelihood is that Al Smiths
took will be first, whether he can
AIRY enough states to win, whether
lis stand on prohibition will be an
-sset or liability and whether men
ike William Gibbs McAdoo, James
VI. Cox, Senator Ralston, of Indiana.
n John w. Davis, of New York, can
approach the electorate from an
ther angle and win.
New York's politicians, especially
1ammany, see only one thing-pro-
libition as the big issue-personal
liberty and states rights giving
hem a good talking point. Al Smith
will have New York states support
n the Democratic national conven-
ion. Probably Illinois and New Jer-
ey will stand behind him, too. with
id from Massachusetts and other
o-called "wet" states. 1t will be an
nucleus to reckon with.
Jew York hasn't had a successful
andidate since the days of Grover
Cleveland.
RESIDENT TO DECIDE
POLICY OF GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON, June 2-An a.