Milford chronicle., 1928-06-29
Gan Address by Bishop James Cannon
: Jr, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, Kansas CITY,
Mo, May IA, 1921


Jr., of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. South, Kansas CITY,
Mo, May IA, 1921
1 am frank to admit that a mans
attitude toward the prohibition
amendment, toward the personal use
of intoxicants, are not the only i'm
portant questions to be asked con-
cerning his fitness for the Office of
President of the United States. But
I positively insist that the prohibi-
tion question cannot be considered
apart from the broader question of
LOYALTY. not only to the letter but to
the spirit of the Constitution as long
as the prohibition amendment is a
part of that constitution.
How can those under the law be
expected to respect the law if they
know that those who are charged by
8 solemn oath of Office with its ad-
ministration by their own personal
actions, show disrespect for the law ?
saR
Can any law-abiding American
Citizen today want any man to be
elected as president who not only
does not believe in the principle oil
prohibition which has been written
into the constitution but who, al
though he will be compelled in tax
ing the oath of Office as president to
swear to uphold the Constitution OF
the United States, yet will continue
to indulge his appetite for strong
Brink. and in the indulgence of that
annette would of necessity be COM
.nelled to transport stock OF lntOXl-
cants from his private residence to
the White House, or be compelled to
9ndulge his appetite by visiting reg
uIarlv his friends in Washington
who might possibly have stocked
their cellars with intoXlcants before
the prohibition amendment became
effective, or would be obliged to pur-
chase such intoxicants from persons
who in selling to him he would know
to be violating the constitution
which he as president has soIemnly
Sworn to uphold?
@&S
What an interesting public docu-
ment for future generations to read
would be the application of the Pres
ident of the United States for per
nit from the Prohibition Depart
Hnent to move from his residence to
the White House, the Executive
Mansion of the United States Gov
ernment, an itemized list OF the
number of bottles, casks, barrels,
and containers of every kind or de-
scription of intoxicating liquors, the
Manufacture. sale and transporta-
ton of which are prohibited by the
constitution of the country said ap-
plicant has sworn to uphold! Would
not any nation who should elect
such a cocktail president to uphold
the constitution, to uphold the laws
pertaining to prohibition, be proper
Iv the amaZement, the ridicule, in
deed the contempt of the other ma
tions of the world? What justiica-
4ion could be offered to such
course? On what ground could it be
contended that a cock
tail president should be elected tor
dry America? The only basis for
such a contention would be that po-
litical party loyalty, the desire for
Dartisan victory, is more important
than moral, conscientious convic-
tion. It has been printed in reput-
able journals and has not been de-
MED that one of the most prominent
candidates for the presidency drinks
from four to eight highballs or COCK |
tails daily. Are there others who do
likewise?
Tn to the present time we have
been able to keep the prohibition
question out of the realm of purely
partisan politics. Both wet and dry
leaders have been found in both po-
litical parties. The Republican par
ty has it's Nicholas Murray Butler
Edge, Wadsworth, Longworth, link /
ham, etc., and also its Volstead'
Cramton, Kenyon, Curtis, Borah, etc. /
The Democratic party has its Po-
merene. Bruce, Reed, Ritchie Smith,
etc. and it also has its Webb, Shep- /
pard. Walsh, Glass, Barkley, Dan /
iels. etc. Neither party up to TINS /
OfGSRIlI UOuI CcllA OC JUICY -
fully branded as either wet or dry' I
but today strenuous efforts are be-
ing openly made by groups in both
political parties to force the adop-
ion of evasive, meaningless, or pos
lively wet planks in the party plat
formor to nominate candidates
whose utterances, acts, records,
brands them as unsympathetic with
Or openly hostile to the prohibition
law.
It is clear that it is the duty OF
all advocates of prohibition, Repuli-
cans and Democrats, to do every
hing possible and honorable to Sc
cure the adoption of clear-cut, un-
souivocal enforcement planks and
he nomination of dry candidates by
he conventions of both parties. II
such action shall be taken, the pro
libition question will be entirely
as a partisan political is