Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-30

CONTINUED from page cra.)
that II I we're elected president and
/ took the oath Of office to sustain
the constitution and the laws Of this
country, with one hand on the Bible
and the other reaching up 70 Heaven,
that I would make that good, and
you can take my assurance for Il
that | will do 50 rs far a. 1t Is hui
manly possible to do Il.
III shall likewise discharge my duty
w advise the congress az the changes
III the law I deem right"
In his speech tonight. Governor
Smith also adverted to his accept
ance speech In prescribing his REM
edy for the conditions about which
he complained. he put it this way:
First, 4 recommend an amend
ment to the V0lstead act which
should contain a sane and sensible
definition Of what constitutes an
Intoxicating beverage, because upon
its face the present definition does
not square with common sense or
with medical opinion. Each state
could then provide for IN alcoholic
content not greater than that fixed
by congress.
1T must be borne in mind that tho
eighteenth amendment does not pro-
hibit alcoholic beverages; il pro-
hibits Intoxicating beverages. And
no sensible man can t~ruthfully be
prepared 70 say that one-half Of
one per cent of alcohol constitutes
an intoxicant.
Raps Poisonous Liquor
III firmly and honestly believe that
a great deal of the dangerous and
poisonous hard liquor would be
driven out Of this country If the
people could be assured or an aIc0-
hoiic beverage declared by common
sense and science 10 be non-intoxi-
eating. 1 further recommend an
amendment 70 the eighteenth amend
ment. ] placed il squarely upon the
basis Of the Jeffersonian principle
a the right Of each state to deter
mine for itself what II wants ID 40
about questions Of local habits Of
life usually covered by local polit-
zeal laws.
II have fully. however. provided
safeguards that will make impossi-
bic a return TO the old conditions Of
sale An the saloon. despised, and
rightly 80. BY the American people.
Il suggested a referendum for the
expression u the will Of the people
themselves. in the first instance. n
would then regard II a. the right 81
the state itself. subject to Limitation
which I outlined. "a dispense 40 it,
own inhabitants. alcoholic beverages
as desired BY the people Of the state
Question Of State Rights
"No man who believes in states
rights, ws3 believes in the funda-
mental principles OF democracy, can
find any fault with that. No state
should he permitted To impose i'll
Will upon another state in matters
Of local concern.
What would the states that de-
sire prohibition think about 4 BRO
posal 20 amend the constitution "a
lernld them 70 enact prohibition
laws They would justly resent il.
That's the way the people If the 9th
err states feel about the eighteenth
amendment"
In painting the picture Of pro-
hlbition, as he described Id. the demo
cratic nominee declared IL had pro-
duccd 3 condition Of wholesale cor
ruptinn" among officials Of the gov
eminent charged with lis enforce
ment- has had u bad effect On the
morals Of American youth, has been
"the great political pork barrel for
the republican party And has
driven ren and ONE who. hereto
fore, were content with drinking
light wines and beer. 20 the use OF
strong liquor"
"And liquor drinking in this ccun-
try. instead Of being on the Decline
Ae added, Ills On the upward move as