The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-01-18


port Il would, however, be behind
any effort to bring about real tenn
perance.
"a rs Is great moral Is
sue. Tor il anects the morals OF all
Our people. and we are on the moral
aide. Present conditions are immoral
and intolerable. Under true temper
ance. conditions would be wholesome
and healthful.
In order to express in practical fcrza
the wishes OF the electorate we must
act both in the nation and In the state.
Nationally, we have the Volstead
act, which endeavors to enforce the
Eighteenth Amendment. In truth, it
goes far beyond the provisions Of the
amendment, for the latter prohibits
Intoxicating liquor for beverage pur-
poses, while the enforcement act
goes farther and prohibits the use Of
beverages which are not intoxicating.
To say that anything over one-hah OF
l per cent is intoxicating is to enact
falsehood; 1t would be quite rs true to
] say. that jackass is a camel
/ If the Volstead Act had given an
honest definition Of Intoxicating
7 liquor we might have been well on
i the way to real temperance, through
the use of light beverages instead
! of breeding as we are doing now
nation of whiskey drinkers.
If the Volstead Act is capable Of
enforcement 1t should be possible to
enforce it at the National Capital.
j where the National Government has
1 absolute control, with all its re-
sources behind it.
Ii Washington cannot be made dry,
what can be expected OF enforcement
In the rest of the country? But even
there 1t has been failure Why con-
tiDue this national hypocrisy when
we should have the courage to face
a situation and deal with 1t honestly
and frankly?
With this in mind, ! would recon-
mend that joint resolution be pass
ed expressing on the part of the peo-
/ pie of New Jersey desire to have
the Volstead Act amended so that it
may truly reflect the intent and mean,
4 ing of the Eighteenth Amendment,
and not violate our constitutional
privileges.
Our state should also take the nec-
essary steps to call a constitutional
convention, as provided for in the
! Federal Constitution, In order that
/ the Eighteenth Amendment may be
so altered as to clearly provide for
the. lawful use of beer and light wines.
and SO work for real temperance.
Within the state, the Prohibition
Enforcement Act should be changed:
| beer OF ITS per cent and W, IS Of g
per cent. by volume should MT be in
cluded in the definition OF ''intoxicat-
ing liquors" While this does not
legalize the sale Of these beverages,
it at least expresses the will of the
| people as to what the national act
! should contain. For so long as the
amendmc t is effective, and the ma
tional enforcement act operative.
they should be enforced The Eight
eenth Amendment provides for Fed
eral and state enforcement, but the
duty of the state is concurrent and
not compelling.
The state enforcement act should
i be further amended so that there
would not under any circumstances,
be dual punishment, for ii there is
any one thing that is distastefuI and
revolving to good American it is TO
have anyone punished twice for the
same offense. Twice in jeopardy, as
stated in our Constitution, expresses
| the thought only too well to require
/ elaboration.
The enforcement act should be al
tered wherein it puts the burden OF
| proving innocence upon the accused.
| This violates the practice of cen
i turtles.
Unwarranted search and seizures
are permitted by the act. This should
be changed. 1t goes to the very foun-
dations of our constitutional rights.
Inquisitorial methods provided for by
the act should be eliminated as we'll
as the provisions which compel a man
to testify against himself. Nothing
can be more abhorrent.
The imposition of fixed sentences,
with no discretion on the part Of the
sentencing power, the forfeiture oil
/ vehicles of value MANY times that
of the fine that might be imposed, the
| Injunction contempt feature, and
| many other like provisions disregard
ing the very fundamental rights of
our citizens must be removed.
] We cannot afford to disregard.
overlook and scott at all those con
stitutional safeguards, which curl
forefathers were so Jealous of, and
| which they were so insistent upon in