Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-10-03
BY ALBERT E. RITCHIE.

uoNcIloT on Maryland.
The fundamental principles NJ the
democratic party have always heen
that generalization of power in
the Federal Government and Federal
invasions Of the rights Of the States
are destructive Of our form Of govern
ment and Of the liberties of our peo.
Pile.
The provisions OF the Nolstead act
constitute clear departure from this
principle Of government. and believe
appropriate steps should be taken by
congress TO turn the subject back
TO the States. so that each State. with.
in constitutional limitations may
have the opportunity Of settling it in
accordance with the wishes Of its own
people. and until that time | believe
that the Volstead act should be amend
ed so as TO permit the manufacture
and sale Of beer and light wine where
permitted by local law
Sees Disregard for Law.
AS long "a the eighteenth amend
ment is part Of the Constitution I
recognize, Of course. that it should be
upheld and respected. I am forced,
however. to realize that the existence
Of the Volstead act has caused a dis
regard for law and order and degree
Of actual lawlessness unparalleled in
this country. Particularly is this the
case in those States where the Vol
stead act, lacking popular support.
has. nevertheless. been enacted as
State measure. AS long. therefore, as
the Federal Government elects to in
perpret and enforce the eighteenth
amendment in Maryland through the
Volstead act l feel that the RESPONSE
hility for such enforcement here rests
on the Federal Government alone.
This does not mean that / depart
in the slightest degree from full recog-
milton Of the right of the people OF
the various political units of the
States to secure from the Legislature
and approve at the polls such prohibi-
ton laws as they deem best for the
respective counties and communities
in which they live. This is the Demo
cratic principle of home rule. The
idea Of a self-governing State, free
and obligated to settle its local prob
lens as its people willed, is part Of
the heritage of the Democratic party.
Today the Federal ship of state Is
overloaded and subjected to too great
strain Incompetence and red tape
and abuse Of authority and mounting
cost and taxes are the inevitable re-
suits. The peoples Government is
getting farther and farther away
from the people.
Business Enterprise Fettered.
The energies and the enterprise Of
men, both in business and in all the
adventures and relations of life, are
being fettered and harassed and
checked by excess of government, by
undue Federal supervision and In
/
Of Standardization. Sumptuary laws
lacking social sanction are imposed
upon the people. and the result is that
enforcement. which Is the life OF all
law, breaks down.
These conditions have come about
very largely through failure to pre-
serve the proper equilibrium between
the Federal and State functions;
through the failure of the States, in
the first place, to fulfill their response
bilities in local affairs, yielding in
stead to an broadening and med
ding central government. and through
the failure Of the individual. in the
next place. to insist upon and fight
for his own inalienable rights. and
thus preserve the spirit of self
initiative and self.reliance which
made America great and which alone
can make America greater.
What is needed Is a rededicatton to
the basic concepts of our Government
and OF our party, in the terms OF TO-