Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-02-13

1910
specs.


There is a growing feeling that the
18th amendment is the direct cause 0f
the failure Of the proposed 2Olh
amendment judging by what enc
reads in the daily press.
The New York TiGfs, The ST.
Louis Star, The Chicago Tribune and
other prominent newspapers point to
the usurpation Of states rights
through the 18th amendment and de
clare that the American people are
ayerse to passing any more such
legislation.
The consensus Of opinion seems to
be, Judging from these press reports
that prohibition under the 18th
amendment has been a failure, and
that a child labor law enacted through
Federal authority would also prove
a failure.
Presumably none of these newspa-
pers were at any time in favor of a
constitutional amendment prohibiting
the manufacture or sale Of intoxi-
eating liquor; but not until long after
the amendment had become a part Of
the constitution did any of them find
that the 18th amendment was 50 gross
violation of states rights. Now
they are certain that it is, and that ii
usurps an authority which belongs
primarily to the state.
The opposition to the proposed
child labor amendment now takes the
form of a vindication Of the inherent
right of American people to dis
tribute and imbibe alcoholic liquors.
This would be amusing if it were
not so serious.
Strangely enough enc finds arfayed
against the 10th amendment thous-
ands of leading prohbi ioniSts who
are sworn foes Of any form of license
or any right Of separate states to
solve the liquor problem for them
selves without the aid Of the Federal
government.
Such prohibitionists obviously wish
to retain the 18th amendment in full
fofce-but are avefse to enacting any
mere such legislation, thus making
Of themselves an international joke.
They have tumbed headlong for the
propaganda put out by leading wet
newspapers who directly or indirectly
are making strenuous efforts to pro-
cure notification of the 18th amend
ment, and who are utilizing the OPP
partunity afforded in the proposed
10th amendment to create additional
sentiment in favor of liquor drinking.
The Chicago Tribune recently re-
leased the cat by changing color with
respect TO the goth amendment, which
that paper had a, first espoused. The
Tribune served notice that the Fed
eral government had been permitted
to encroach upon the right Of states
in the 18th amendment and that con-
sstency compelled the Tribune to
oppose any further extension OF Fed
eral authority. For this reason the
Tribune claims to oppose the Goth
amendment. The exposure should be
interesting to Prohibtionists, if not
convincing.
The easiest thing in the world is
to blame Congress for everything that
does not turn out as we had planned.
We forget that congressman as a
class have their ears to the ground
and as a rule do what their constitu-
en,s want them to do, irrespective of
whether it is wise or eXpedient.
We forget too, that Congress is
composed of several hundred men
whose ideas Of how this government
should be run are made up Of a con
fusion of everything from the most
visionary and impractical schemes to
the most hide-b0un conservatism.
Trying to get bunch of men like
that together in any civic social or
religious organization and expect
ing them TO work in harmony would
involve equal difficulties.
Abraham Lincoln had his troubles
with Congress. Wilson tried to estab-
fish his ideals through Congress and
failed. President Coolidge is either
just launched for a desperate years
battle to obtain something worth
while in the way Of legislation, or he
is beginning a colorless administra-
ton that will pass into history in
the class of William Howard Taft
and Warren Harding. \ wise, pro-
gressive, determined president hasn't
n chance.