Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-23

great, widespread country. They knew
that in rural. Sparseiy settled districts
people would develop different desires
and customs from those in denSely pop
ulated sections. and that II we were to
be a nation united on truly national
matters there had to be a differenta-
ton In local laws to allow for different
local habits 1t was for this reason that
the Democratic platform in 1884 an
nounced; We oppose sumptuary laws
which vex the citizens and interfere
with individual, liberty and it was for
this reason that woodrow Wilson We
toed the VolStead act.
In accordance with this Democratic
principle, some immediate relief would
come from an amendment to the Vol
stead law giving scientific definition
of the alcoholic content of All intoxi-
eating beverage The present definition
Is admittedly inaccurate and unscien-
tific Each State would then be allowed
TO fix its own standard Of alcoholic con-
tent, subject always to the proviso that
that standard could not exceed the
maximum fixed by the Congress.
Il believe. moreover. that there should
be submitted TO the people the ques-
ton of some change in the provisions
Of the eighteenth amendment. Ger
tainly no one foresaw when the amend
ment was ratified the conditions which
exist today Of bootlegging, corruption
and open violation of the law in all
parts of the country.
The people themselves should after
this eight years of trial, be permitted
to say whether existing conditions
should be rectified.
Il personally believe in an amend
ment in the eighteenth amendment
which would give 10 each individu |
State Itself, only after approval by
a referendum popular vote Of its people,
the right wholly within its borders to
import manufacture or cause to be
manufactured and sell alcoholic bever-
ages, the sale 10 be made only by the
State itself and not for consumption in
any public place,
We may we'll learn from the expert
ence of other nations. Our Canadian
neighborS have gone far in this manner
to solve this problem by the method OF
sale made by the state itself and not
by private individuals.
There Is no question here of the
return of the saloon. When I stated
that the saloon is and ought to be a
iliptikuLlDil NiliS tuuItbIY
meant 1t. / mean it today / will
never advocate nor approve any law
which directly or indirectly permits the
return Of the saloon.
Would Preserve
Benefit of Federal Laws.
Such change would preserve for
the dry States the benefit OF a national
law that would continue to make inter-
state shipment Of Intoxicating beverages
crime. II would preserve for the dry
States Federal enforcement of prohibit
ton within their own borders. 1t would
permit 10 citizens Of other States a
carefully limited and controlled method
Of etfectuating the popular will wholly
within the borders of those States with
out the old evil OF the saloon.
Such method would re-establish
respect for law and terminate the agi-
tation which has injected diScord into
the ranks OF the great political parties
which should be standing for the ac-
cnmplishment Of fundamental programs
for the Nation. l may fairly say. even
to those who disagree with me. that the
solution / offer Is one based upon the
historic policy of the Democratic party
to assure to each State its complete
right Of local government. / be-
licVe II is solution which would today
bc offered by Jefferson, or Jackson. or
Cleveland, or Wilson, If those great
leaders were with u.s.
Publicity agents Of the Republican
administration have written so many
articles on our general prosperity that
they have prevented the average man
from having proper appreciation of
The degree Of distress existing today
among farmers and stock raiserS. From
1910 to the present time the farm debt
has increased by the striking sum OF
ten billions Of dollars, or from four
billion to fourteen billion dollars. The
value Of farm property between 1920
and 1925 decreased by twenty billions
Of dollars This depression made itself
felt In an enormous increase of bank
failures i'll the agricultural districts, In
1927 there were $50 bank failures, with
Total liabilities OF more than S270, 0O0,-
1000, almost entirely in the agricultural
sections, rs against 40 such failures
during The Inst year of President Will
sons administration
THE report ot November H. 1927,
of a special c0aimsltre Of the Associa~
lion Of Land Grant Colleges and unl~
veraitiea states, Incomes from farming
since 1890 have tot been sufficient 10
pay ii lair return on the current value
Of capital t8sd and "A fair wage for the
farmers labor, ar Ia permit farm people
To- maintain "A standard Of living COM
parable with other groups OF like abil-
lty,' The business Mems Commission
on Agriculture said ia November, 1927
since the war the nFiceH Of farm prod.
ncta have persisted ~ an uuCronumic
and tnIavnlahe adjustment 10 the gen
ernl scale Of prices ~ other goods and
services and The Disparity between
urban and farm nrntnpA haas empha
sized The disparity IN standards Of liy-
lng IN the rurat and urban populations
The vahie of farm land ana farm
property decreased heavily ia the poats
war drfihtion,' and latar ntlmhpia vi
farmers have lost all theft property hi
this process,
Holds Agriculture
" Essentially Public.
I'VE have not merely problem NJ
helping the farmer. While agriculture
II one Of the most indisdualisea and
independent al enterprises, attll. AZ the
report af the business mems commission
points out. agriculture Ia essentially
public function. affected with clear