Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30
Text Of Governor Smiths Speech Asking Dry Lav Modification

The attempt to dragon the body when
the need is to convince the soul will
end in revolt"
adopt that statement and apply 1t
to prohibition. Tho prohibition law
should reflect and not make the stand
ard of conduct in cath State OF this
Union. The attempt to dragon tie
body of the voters in States Which do
not believe in this law results in revolt
in those States and has brought about
conditions of lawlessness and disre-
spect for law which believe the people
of this country should face and thould
cure.
It must be borne in mind that under
my suggestion Federal prohibition is
preserved in its entirety for the States
that desire to remain dry. 1t viii re-
main always the duty of the. Federal
Government under my proposal TO pro-
tert the States desiring to remain dry
from the introduction or importation
into them of alcoholic beverages.
viii Take Leadership.
IT retains all the features of the
eighteenth amendment and the act stls-
tanning it. except that the State itself
in its sovereign power may, after a vote
of its people, decide under STRICT control
TO dispense HECOklOllC DCNClu6Co.
Nov / am fully aware that the
President of the United States cannot
bring this about by himself. But, re-
peating what 1 said in st. Paul, what
we lack IN this country Is leadership;
and If 1 am elected President OF the
United States, 1t will be my duty to lay
this matter before every community that
1 can reach and let them make their
own decision. If that is not Democratic
Government, must confess that I do
not understand It.
You can expect nothing from the
Republican party. The long record of
eight years indicates that they have
used the law for patronage purposes
and for political eXpediency. They tried
to be wet when they were with the vets,
and dry when they were with the drys.
They have silently stood by and per-
mitted the paralysis OF the whole ma
chirery of Government when it comes
to carrying out the mandate of the
Constitution and the statute law. It
is because of that that after eight years.
they are compelled to promise again
that they will do something about 1t if
given anew lease of life by the Ameri-
can people.
Promises Enforcement.
AS said in my speech of acceptance,
with respect to prohibition, two Consti-
tutional duties devolve upon the Presi-
dent: first. to recommend to Congress
what m his opinion is in the interest
of this country: second, to enforce the
statutes as he finds them. And told
the American people that if we're
elected President and I took the oath
of Office to sustain the Constitution and
laws of this. country, with one hane on
the Bible and the other reaching up
to heaven, that 1 would make that good.
and you can take my assurance for 1t
that I will so far as 1t is humanity pos
Sible to do It,. I shall likewise discharge
my duty to advice the Congress of the
changes in the law I deem right
The Republican party Is helpless. It's
record makes no appeal. A sane. sensible
solution can only come from Demo-
cratic victory. because the Democratic
party will give this matter its frank
and fearless attention and lay it before
the American people as it has never
been laid before than.