Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-05-26
intent OF the rourtsensa and ys


the Eighteenth Amendment and its
enabling statute, the Volstead Act.
"On this matter, for the purpose
of making a pair of articles, eS
peciaily wanted to know the Southern
point of view.
~ debated mentally as to whom
1 might approach, what person or
persons were best qualified by exper
fence, study, age, integrity and sta
tus for the purpose Of voicing the
sentiments of Dixie on so delicate a
topic. l resolved to interview Sen
ator Carter Glass of Virginia.
My reasons for selecting this
statesman were manifold. Carter
Glass is seventy years old. Scion OF
q family famous in Virginia for its
services to- that State and to fhe
nation. he was born in 1858 and
consequently, had spent his impress.
,ionable boyhood among the ghastly
scenes of the Civil War and In the
midst. of the hideous panorama OF
Reconstruction In early manhood,
following an excellent formal educa'
zion he had entered journalism, con.
Quoting and owning newspapers in
Lyuchburg.
g Politics had attracted him; he
had served in the Virginia Legisla-
ture. Then he had gone to- Congress
where his fine mind, his political
acumen, his personal integrity; his
genuine vision, his unquestOned
courage, moral and physical and his
fiery, dominant personality had
quickly advanced him TO the fore
most ranks of his party.
::In December, 1918 during the
difficult period of postwar financial
reimbursement, President Wilson ap-
pointed him to his Cabinet as. Sec
rotary Of the Treasury, and his
services until he resigned che TOD
ID IrP' November evoked the ad'd'r'
alton and respect Of the nation Since
that tine Mr.. Glass has sat in the
Senate Of the United States, 4 digni.
fed snowy-haired flashing eyed
figure whose capacities and earnest
ness and fearless advocacy OF his
personal and party principles have
focused the attention OF the nation.
Whom else might have ap-
preached with more certainty that
his remarks on D.xie's conduct in
political matters would carry the
weight of understanding, sound judg
ment and courageous Interpretation?
'I called up Mr.. Glass secretary
ON long distance from New York City
explained what I sought, and asked
him to arrange for an appointment
for me. He did so, and i'll pursuance
thereof I went to Washington the
first week in January. l called at
room $50 in the Senate Office Build
ing, and the secretary informed me
that he had spoken TO Mr.. Glass,
and that if went to the Raleigh
Hotel would be received. though
the Senator was lying fretfully in
his he'd because Of an infected foot.
when knocked on the door, a
somewhat impatient voice bade me
enter. I found Senator Glass lying
oa top Of his Counterpart. angriIy
nursing a bandaged toe, his hair
and his pillow and his pajama coat
and the bedding discomposed as he
tossed TO and fro. 49,,
ST gave him my name and the
purpose of my call. He motioned
me TO a chair near the foot Of the
bed. rumpled the pillow under his
head and exclaimed:
1--WE expressed my opinion on
this subject hundred times. Why
come taking up my tsme on some
thing I've explained before? I don't
want to talk about niggers Or booze
or Constitutional amendments or
anything else
'But, Senator" I said soothingly
there seems suddenly TO be a re-
surgence throughout the North OF
the subject of notification. The
politicians up there. some Of them
and some Of the editors, say that
you violate the Fourteenth and FIT
teenth amendments down South and
that those places up North that want
their liquor have a right to nullify
the Eighteenth Amend"
"Mr. Glass interrupted me with a
furious gesture and pulmonary ex-
plosion which coming from man
less iilustrious than the, venerable
Senator, might be described as a
snort o..
"T know what they're claiming
up North he retorted. eAnd I've
never heard such drivel as yea
NorthernTs utter in all nay We..
What has the attitude. OF the South
toward those damnable,, wartime
amendments got to 90 with the
obedience to the Constitution and
the law by the Northsrners?
" What utter nonsense to talk
about the enforcement OF someth'ng
that il not violated! No Southern
State mas ever violated the ConsH.
tuition, even if the Fourteenth anu
FTfteenth amendments. were rammed
down our throats with bayonet. -
Though denounced as Northern
ar and made the target. first OF d
ouivering forefinger and then a
clenched fist, I ignored the fact that
I am the son of families which have
lived in Texas, for nearly century
since they left Virginia. Kentucky
Georgia and FLORIDA and trekked 10
the great Southwest long before Cen
erai Sam Houston incorporated doz'
ems of nay breed in the little army
with which he avenged the Alamo
and freed Texas from Santa Annals
rule. ,,.,
One becomes thick-skinned, little
callous, il one continues long enough
i'm the role Of an interviewer. me
thing that matters is-set the SOW
And here. 49,; distinguished
statesman swearing he would never
talk, and talking! My pencil moved
as swiftly as | could guide it across
The sheet of paper on my knee