Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13
BORAH WANTS
SHOWDOWN ON
WET PROBLEM
Charges Crime Wave
And Graft; Says C.
.. r. Must Take Dry
Stand

NEW YORK, M. ". Nov. 12--fFy-
Senator Borah Of Idaho, called to-
night for q Showdown in the next
presidential campaign on the prohi-
bition question and Law enforcement.
Explaining that he would not as
sumo TO advise the Democrats. he
aimed his demand chiefly at the Re-
p~ublicans. who, he asserted, should
take a stand for rigid enforcement
OF the eighteenth amendment.
1T is my contention the Idaho
Republican declared before the New
York Women's Law Enforcement
committee, "that the supreme po-
litical problem in the United States
today Is obedience to iaw-the integ-
rity Of the constitutional govern
ment.
Crime Wave
~ contend that the highest duty
resting upon q political party at this
time IS to recognize that fact, meet
1t openly and cou~rageously, call its
voters and supporters 10 the contest
and fight II through to the end. In
the clear sunlight Of this issue here,
political expediency Is both discredit-
able and futile.
I'VE know from the decisions Of
the Supreme Court that we are pass
ing through a period in which cor
ruption has reached 70 the very
doors Of the White House. dominated
cabinets and robbed the people of
their inheritance.
I'VE know that our daily press day
by day records q series OF crimes,
both in number and i'm horror, which
have no precedent or parallel.
I'VE know. If we but stop to re-
fleet, that this spirit Of lawlessness
has come to be the most ~stuPendous
problem Of our national life.
I'VE know, too. that this spirit Of
lawlessness has nov taken the form
Of an utter disregard and defiance
OF our charter Of government ITSELF
Enforce Prohibition
~Contending that there are only
two courses open, enforcement or
repeal, the senator added:
The only safe course-snd GER
tainly IL is the only honorable coures
lis to meet the issue and throw the
tremendous power Of the party be-
hind the law and the constitution"
Enforcement Of the law, Mr.. Borah
asserted. requires the election OF a
president and officials who believe
in the prohibition law and "who
will be as vigilant and active TO en-
force i as is opponents are 70 vio-
late it.D
Not only is the constitution defied,
the senator said. "But its enforce
ment and maintenance in many re-
spects has become u mere formality.
And yet, VIC arc told that this is not
a matter with which political parties
may deal or about which they should
be concerned"
In this stronghold Of the vets and
home Of Governor Smith. Senator
Borah. himself mentioned ~ possible
presidential candidate, insisted that
the people generally were interested
today in what IL the position of n
presidential candidate on the 18th
amendment.
RALLIES WOMEN
Modification Of the Volstead Act
IL not involved III the prohibition
question. he argued, ~contending that
repeal or enforcement OF the Eigh-
teenth amendment il the heart and
life Of the wet ard dry issue.
Refernda on the prohibition ques-
tion were characterized BY Senator
Borah rs "~insincerc and Ineffective
Modification OF the Volstead Act, he
declared, "cannot give that which the
Constitution prohibits, TO wit: in
t~oxicatinE liquor"
REllying the women 10 the issue,
the Idahoan insisted they alone scan
bring the political parties to the U p
port Of this constitutional amend
ment.r
"Organize.. he shouted, demon
strate your power, sit on the floor
Of the conventions and not in the gal
l~eries. SIT IT, delegates and not tn
the galleries as ornaments. Write
platforms and not essays"
We and Dry Issue
There is only one way BY which
this law can BE enforced" he de-
clared referring 20 the prohibition
act. "cnly one way BY which the
constitution can be maintained. and
that il BIZ placing the control Of the
machinery Of government, the in
strumentaiities Of government in
the hands or those who believe I'm
the law and who will he M viRslant
and active 70 enforce Il as its oppo-
nents are 10 violate H."
Predicting that everybody "excert
the deaf and the dumb and the candi-
dates" will be discussing the wet and
dry issue in the coming campaign,
Senator Borah declared that "a po-
litical party which is unwilling to de-
clare It's purpose 70 enforce the Eigh-
teenth amendment will not enfcrce
the Eighteenth am~endmnt-"
"There IN no reason IN the world