New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-10-25
CHEZ JUSTICE WHEELER LAUNCHES BROADSLDE
ATNOLATORS OF THE EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT
Replies To Judge Csedou OF Hartford Explaining That He Advocates Jail Sentences For
First Offenders A General ThugSay Man Who Deals With Booeggn Dis
y-Ugs Public All 0a State Police Or Attorney

sequences. let me read yau few lines
first fTem the address OF States At
torney Cummings 10 the great meet,
4 ing gotten up onsJune nth last, BY
the ministers OF Bridgeport
,Bootlegging In the United states
carries with Il many attendant evils,
including bribery, forgery, perjury.
political corruption. theft and MUIR
der, do not have before me the
figures later than the fan OF last year.
hut up 10 that time, there have been
murders In the United States with a
known total OF 2s victims, This call
euiation covers only federal enforce
ment officers II in addition we in
eluds state. county and municipal pro-
hibition agents. the round numbers
OF murders would be practically
doubled.
Crimes Committed
Lesser crimes have also been
committed and the 18th amendment
has been resisted al the pistols mouth
or at the blaekjack's end In every geo.
Fttttbf VI hNF fFpuptts Hf
number OF officials VINO have been
shot. wounded. dubbed or beaten up
will never be known. The bootiegger
understands that he IL engaged in a
desperate profession and shoots or
bludgeons 10 kill. The prohibition
service today Is more dangerous
calling than either the army or navy.
Every man who enters II takes his
life In his hand
Now let me read you few lines
from the address OF Gov. Pinchot of
Pennsylvania. at the national ceme-
terry on the battle field of Gettysburg,
on last Decoration Day to the veterans
OF the Civil War.
"You who fought for the constitu-
ton of the United States against open
attack by men who rsked their lives
for what they mistakenly believed to
be their rights.
THE men against whom we, your
descendants must defend the Consti-
tuition, fight in the dark, run from the
police and use the methods OF the
sneak thief and the underworld With
no higher motive than profit or appe-
tite, no higher ethics than those of
the bandit or the receiver OF stolen
goods, for personal pleasure or per-
sonal profit they attack the funda-
mental law of the land.
Their contemplate undermining
Of the document which cost so many
lives of brave men to establish, so
many lives of brave men to preserve.
is far less formidable than the one
which you oyercame. 1t had neither
dignity. sacrifice, nor death of con-
viction behind it. II rests on motives
that are wholly despicable, and it is
associated with the lowest dregs of
our populaHon 1t has nothing to
it. No sound argument can
pc advanced in its defense. 1t is law
breaking pure and simple, for per-
'onal profit or personal pleasure and
rs such wholly to be condemned
Il beg that you will not think I |
nave discovered this dangerous and
growing disrespect for law. President
ANGEL, in his memorial address at
fa'e said: In any case | count as !
ar more insfdious than any radical |
assault yet delivered the wide and
'ap1dly spreadinfi virus of disrespect
or law. When the individual citizen
'eglns to decide for himself what laws
re VIII obey and what disregard, the
'eslnning of the end Of free, consti- |
utional government is at hand. with
lnarchy on the one hand aud dras-
lie autocracy on the other, as the only
ogical alternative
If it is the 18th amendment
vhich invites disrespect today, it NAV
g the statutes dealing with forgery
and those concerned with
lomlcide the next day, Once the
moral leash is slipped and the bind
ng tic of law as law is CHALLENGED
nc disintegration of orderly govern.
neht is only question Of time
What Taft said
Chief Justice Taft devoted his Yale
'umni address to this subject. / read
on few lines:
was opposed to prohibition
'ut the vote was against me and
hose who thought with me, as the
eople before have indicated that they
ometimes differ with. me. They did
hen. Now, as all good citizens
hould, | claim to play the game.
Fhen two-thirds majority of CON