The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1928-09-01
In Acceptance Speech Makes Prohi-
bition Leading Issue and Declares
for Return of Liquor Traffic
FAVORS GOVERNMENT
CONTROL
Would Urge Congress to Give Us
State Option While Amendment
Stands; Ultimately Repeal
Amendment

The forthcoming presidential election
will be a referendum on the prohibition
policy.
Up till the time Governor Smith deliv-
cred his acceptance speech Wednesday
evening, August %, there might have been
many voters who believed and possibly
vastly more who hoped that the prohibi-
ton issue would be at most a secondary
issue Governor Smith has willed other
wise. He has come before the people with
a definite unequivocal proposition to junk
prohibition
There is no great difference in the pro-
hbition declarations carried in the plat
forms Of the Kansas City and Houston
conventions. That prohibition would be
Rn issue however, was made evident to
most people when Governor Smith repudi-
ated his party's platform in the telegram
of acceptance which he sent to Houston,
for while Secretary Hoover made no spe-
cific reference to prohibition in his mes
sage to the Kansas City convention, his
past record and attitude on this question
and his Endorsement Of the party's plat
form in full left no room for doubt as to
his position. However, the public ANXIOUS
ly awaited declarations from the candi-
dates on this question which Is uppermoSt
In the peoples minds.
Secretary Hoover In his acceptance
speech declared that he did not favor the
repeal Of the Eighteenth Amendment. He
pledged enforcement of the amendment
and condemned any effort at ~nullifica-
ton by indirection"
SAYS DRY LAW Is FAILURE
Governor Smith In his acceptance
speech August % condemned prohibition
as failure, and declared In favor of
changing the Volstead Law so as to per-
NIT each state to determine for itself what
constitutes intoxicating liquor, and also
declared for amending the Eighteenth
Amendment, authorizing each state by
referendum vote to permit the manufac-
ture and sale Of all intoxicating liquors
within the borders Of the state, the liquor
not to be drunk upon the premises where
sold. This In effect would be repeal of the
Eighteenth Amendment
He suggested so-called government con-
troll such as Is in effect In Canada as the
proper method OF handling the liquor
traffic.
He pledged strict enforcement Of the law
so long as the Eighteenth Amendment is a
part Of the Constitution. because he would
be mindful of his oath, which Is. IT will
faithfully execute the Office of the Presi-
dent Of the United States and to the best
of my ability protect, preserve and defend
the Constitution of the United States"
He also declared that the President has
another constitutional duty, which is ito
recommend to the Congress such measures
as he shall Judge necessary and expedi-
ent"
He declared that the prohibition law has
not been enforced, that 1t has induced Of
fetal corruption and graft. He quotes q
former Republican prohibition admins
traitor" as saying. '"Three-fourths of the
dry agents were political ward heelers
named by politicians without regard to
Civil Service laws, and prohibition is the
new political pork barrel" Governor
Smith promises that he will stamp out
such corruption, and adds, "Such condi-
tions can not and will not exist under any
administration presided over by me"
BAD RECORD ON ENFORCEMENT
FITS promise for ~ cement of the pro-
hfbffion lam a.nNla be nore fnnpreSSfpe