Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30
SMITH RE|TERATES
WET ISSUE: STAND
Declares Law Is One tor
Every State to Decide
by Vote.
Continued from First Page)

-
eight years indicates that they have
used the law for patronage PURPOSES
and tor political eXDediency. They have
tried to be wet when they were with
the vets. and dry when they were with
the drys. They have silently s'ood by
and permitted paralysis OF the wh3'e
machinery of government when 1t comes
to carrying out the mandate of the Con-
stitution and the statute law. 1t is
because Of that that after eight years
they are compelled to promise cgai1
that they will do something about 1t If
lean people"
Recalling the declaration in his
speech of acceptance that, with resp ct
to prohibition. two constitutional duties
devolve on the President, first, to
recommend to Congress what in his
opinion is to the interest of the Nation,
and second, to enforce the laws as he
finds them, the Democratic standard
bearer continued:
"And / told the American people
that if / were elected President and
took the cath of Office to sustain the
Constitution and the laws of the
country. with che hand on the Bible
and the other reaching up to Heaven,
that would make that good, and you
can take my assurance for it. that
Will so far as it is humanity possible to
do it.
81 shall likewise discharge my duty
to advise the Congress of the changes
in the law I deem right"
In his speech tonight Gov Smith
also adverted to his acceptance speech
in prescribing his remedy for the condi-
tons about which he complained. He
put 1t this way:
Definition Sought.
"First, I recommend an amendment
to the VolStead act which should con-
tain a sane and sensible definition of
what constitutes an intoxicating bsv-
erage, because upon its face the present
definition does not square with common
sense or with medical opinion. Each
State could then provide for an
alcoholic content not greater than that
fixed by Congress.
"It must be borne in mind that the
eighteenth amendment does not pro-
hibit alcoholic beverages; it prohibits
intoxicating beverages. And no SEN
sible man can truthfully be prepared to
say that one-half Of ! per cent of
alcohol constitutes an intoxicant.
II firmly and honestly believe that
great deal Of the dangerous and poison
Gus hard liquor would be driven out of
this country If the people could be as
surad of an alcoholic beverage declared
by common sense and science to be
non Intoxicating.
''I further recommend an amendment
TO the eighteenth amendment. placed
1t squarely upon the basis of the Jeffer-
eonian principle of the right of each
State to determine for Itself what it
wants to do about questions of local
habits of life usually covered by local
political laws
'I have fully, however, provided safe
guards that will make impossible
return to the old conditions of sale in
the saloon. despised, and rightly so, by
the American people.
Suggested Referendum.
~ suggested o referendum for the ex-
preston of the will Of the people them
selves. In the first instance would
tisen regard it as the right of the State
itself, subject to limitation which
Outlined, to dispense to its own infabi-
tants alcoholic beverages as desired by
tie people Of the State
mo man who, believes in States
rights, who believes in the fundamental
principles of Democracy, can find any
fault with that No State should be
Permitted to impose its will upon an
other State in matters of local concern.
what would the States that desire
prohibition think about q proposal to
amend the Constitution to forbid them
tp enact prohibition laws? They would
justly resent it. That's the way the
PEOPLE of the other States feel about
the eighteenth amendment"
In painting the picture of prohibi-
lion, as he described it, the Democratic
Isominee declared it had produced q
3ondition of wholesale corruption"
tmong officials Of the Government
harged with its enforcement, has had
a. bad effect on the morals of American
youth. has been the great political
pork barrel for the Republican party"
and has driven men and women who,
heretofore, were content with drinking
light wines and beer, to the use of
strong liquor"
Drinking on Increase.
"And liquor drinking in this country.
instead of being on the decline" he
added, us on the upward move as a
direct result of the attempt to prohibit
alcoholic beverages entirely
4 At another juncture, Gov. Smith in
uuired, What is the answer OF the
Republican to all of this?" Then went
on:
In the face of this record the plat
form CLOSES over the whole thing by
quoting the words of George Washing
ton and of Abraham Lincoln and again
pledges itself to the observance OF vlgor-
Gus enforcement of the eighteenth
amendment No truth. no candor, not
even common honesty"
contention
that prohibition is a great social and
economic experiment" the Democratic
nominee declared that millions OF people
in the United States do not agree with
his opponent on that score, and added
that "you could get no better testimony
for that than to look at the result OF
the referendum in SO many thickly pop
ulated States"
Insisting that the great army of the
American people" oppose prohibition,
Smith held that "the natural result OF
it is breeding throughout the length and
breadth of the country disrespect for
all laws"
Aid to Gangland.
"No one can gainsay the fact. he con-
tinued, 'that the prohibition law and
the volstead Act have found new line
of endeavor in the. underworld; they
have brought to life the bootleggers, and
the bootleggers begot the hijacxers. and
the hijackers the racketeers, SO That
gangland is interested in the mainte-
nance Of prohibition Because OF its
operation they are benefited"
With the declaration that he REGARDED
prohibition as a great moral issue" "
Gov. Smith appealed to the people OF
America, regardless of party. to put
aside any preconceived notions and tn
approach the question fairly: without