Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-09-05
Much Enthusiasm Evinced
At Home Rule Convention
Meeting In Interest Of States Rights At Ocean City Last
Saturday Largely Attended,. Shiles Crockett, Of
Pocomoke City, Makes Opening Speech

ment of the United States was found
ed. This tendency is destructive of
that local self-government in local
affairs without which no government
can successfully operate over so vast
q territory as the United States, and
contains within itself the seeds of in
evitable disunion.
Home rule in purely domestic af-
fairs is the principal bulwark of the
Union. 1t is also the chief bulwark
of individual liberty, because while
men may often be oppressed by those
at distance who are unacquainted
with local needs yet they are not apt
long to be tyrannized over by their
friends and neighbors. 1t is also only
effective safeguard of the sanctity of
law, because the people of no state
nor section Of the country can be
brought to respect law which at
tempts to control their own local and
personal affairs against their will.
This extension of Federal authority
results first in the passing of laws by
a National Legislature which can not
be acquainted with the needs of the
various states and their subdivisions.
1t results, secondly, in the admins
tration of such laws by huge and
expensive bureaucratic machine at
Washington, instead of by local, State
or County officials, with whom the
people of the State can deal personal
ly. In this way the government is
getting further and further away
from the people who have to live I'M
der it, and the inability of the citi
zens to exert an influence on public
affairs will result in loss of interest
ir such affairs and threatens to de-
stroy Democratic Government, as it
was conceived on the American con-
tinent.
These principles have been flag
rantly violated by Federal laws at
tempting to regulate purely local af-
fairs, such as the construction and
location of local roads and highways,
and even such intimately personal
matters as food and drink. This VIC
lation is no less Objectionable whether
the Federal control be exercised by
the nefarious system of Federal aid,
as in the case of the maternity laws
and the road laws, or by an abuse of
the power of constitutional amend
ment, as in the case of the Federal
prohibition laws.
No better demonstration of the
soundness of those principles need
be sought than the evils which have
resulted from the violation of them
by the adoption of national prohibi-
ton. Reasonable and sane local OPP
ton laws, such as those in force on
the Eastern Shore of Maryland, COM
manded the respect of local sentiment
and the all but universal observance
of the people; but when national pro-
hibition was superadded, our terri
tory instead Of becoming more tenn
perate became more Incorporate. The
attempt to govern the people by laws
enacted not by themselves but by the
people of other States has been, and
of right ought to be, resented by the
liberty-loving citizens. Before the 18th
Amendment, the people were content
ed and law-abiding. Since the 18th
Amendment the coasts and bays are
filled with smugglers, and the fields
and forests with illicit stills, furnish
ing the people, young and old with
poisonous liquors.
Therefore be it resolved by this
Convention of Eastern Shoremen; as
sembled at Ocean City, Maryland on
August 20, 1925:
1. That we demand from Congress
an immediate cessation of the ten
dency to concentrate at Washington
control over the purely local concerns
of the States.
2. That we demand a repeal of all
laws which vest or attempt to vest in
the Federal Government power over
such local matters as education and
roads, the prohibition or regulation
of alcoholic liquors or the like.
3. That we denounce as contradic-
ton in terms the doctrine recently
laid down, that each State ought to
regulate its own affairs, but that it
should be allowed to do so only so
long as it regulates them in accord
ance with the wishes and dictates of
other States, through the Federal
Government.
a. That we declare our unalterable
opposition to the proposed child labor
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, which would confer on
Congress the power to regulate the
labor of orr children in orr homes and