New Britain herald., 1926-04-15
SENATOR BORAH IS OUT AGAINST VETS
Makes Brilliant Speech for En.
 iOrcement Of Dry Laws

Washington. April IS Pl--The prohibition war that has been raging before the senate Investigating com mittee seems certain 10 occupy Il prominent place from now on in de. bate on the floor Of the senate itself.
 As result of the speech yester- day of Senator Borah, republican, Idaho, challenging those who are campaigning xsalnst the eighteenth amendment and the VolStead act, the modflcationists are expected 10 re- new as soon as opportunity offers their argument for a change.
 Borah ys. Reed
 Tho senate looked forward 10 the intriguing prospect of possible pitched battle on the floor some time soon between Sanator Borah and Senator Reed. democrat. Missouri another of the senate's ablest de baters and one Of the leaders Of the wet cause.
 Senator Borah's speech yesterday attracted unusual attention and his arguments for respect for the dry law led dry senators to break sen ate precedent by joining in the ap- p)ause. His utterances aroused even more interest today when members had an opportunity to weigh more carefully his challenge to the vets.
 MT. Borah quoted the eighteenth amendment, referring to the binding interpretation placed upon l. by the supreme court. and continued:
 Binds Every Officer
 "The amendment binds every off cial and every citizen, and so long es 1t remains there it Is the first duty of good citizenship to respect it and seek to uphold 1t. We arc now engaged in great campaign to find a way by which to evade the con- stitution without apparently doing SO: 10 find method or 6, means by which we cannot counteract or nut lity It's terms without specifically re- pealing this part of the constitution or without modifying 1t directly. IL { is campaign 10 sterilize the condi- dition while protesting 10 respect it..
 No one contends that those who are opposed 10 prohibition have not the right to carry on a campaign for the purpose of changing the con- stitution but so long as it remains g part of the constitution, 1t Is the duty of every citizen loyalty to support and maintain it, not only In letter but In spirit"
 1 Policy Of Enforcement ] Senator ~Borah added that in his opinion it vas very serious problem. whether 'it was wise" 10 take over "'hc great body oS police power which inc federal government as- sumed when the dry amendment was adopted. but added that if a mistak ke wns made. # could be renediad only by repeating or amending the l lCmenGmcnt itself. IL could not ht i done, he said, by transferring the power of enforcement to the states or by changing the Volstead act. "The man hunting his peighbo, with a shotgun" he continued, "is simply impatient with the law. And those who could disregard the con. stitution because it takes too long tc tomend it. are appealing to the spirit Of the 'mob.".
 i Quoting from the testimony Of Dis trict Attorney Bnckner of New York before the prohibition committee, Senator Borah characterized az "co"ardiy, contemptiblc eXpcdicncy' any proposal 10 let inc states define and enforce the dry law.
 \ Matter of Principle
 "The great Civil War waa fouGh' over that principle" he said, "to my mind it is treason; it is n deliberate evasion Of the constitution. T. is dis loyalty 10 the first principle of q federal union and 2 violation Of '&s oath which every federal oftics, takes when ho takes office"
 When Senator Hrur". democrat Maryland. suggested that the north orn states virtually blocked the on, rorcomeut Of the fugitive slave law i"foro the Civil War. Senator RoraI nskcd whether any ore wanted f. "2Npeal 10 defiance of the consti