Evening star., 1929-06-29

Ridicule and condemnation have
greeted the proposal of a Wisconsin
legislator that the Commonwealth
manufacture liquor on the theory that
the Federal prohibition amendment
does not apply to State governments.
However, the New York Evening World
declares that, "far-fetched as the idea
may seem, there Is every probability
unless something like real enforcement
about. that prohibition win be aban-
doned through some strained interpre-
tation Of the law"
Much time must elapSe before any
definite result can be expected from
this rather drastic proposal" the Phila-
delphia Record explains. The resolu-
ton proposes to amend the State con-
stitution in order to establish the State
liquor business. No action can be taken
on 1t until after the next Legislature
meets. which will be in January, 1881.
And ultimately the Supreme Court Of
the United States would have to pass
upon the enactment. So wisconsin
though sentimentally and actually wet,
will have to remain off1cially dry for
quite q while yet"
Considering the army of restless,
wide-awake loophole-seekers," remarks
the Hartford Daily Times, I'VE incline
to doubt about this new legal finding
concerning the alleged meaning of the
prohibition amendment. 1t sounds ver-
lily as II the wish, not to say thirst, had
been father to the thought. One might
disparage this origin Of the idea less
did 1t promise something real to those
who fondly linger over 1t. We fear 1t
will turn out to be froth under which
there Is no beer"
Following the ultimate, the thought
that the State differs from the citizen,
the Lansing State Journal facetiously
observes: when the State of WiScon-
sin, as q State. proceeds to manufacture
must be that it will proceed to cor
porate consumption. When the liquor
is brewed, or distilled, then the State
as q State will have to be its own best
customer. with the liquor duly set
forth in numerous havors and in vari-
Gus degrees Of alcoholic content, the
State tongue will be expected to make
those mild gestures Of gustatory antici-
patton. The palate is also regarded as
having some part In anticipatory -four
ishes. and so the State palate will have
to do the quivering. The State gullet
and the State stomach will be expected
to manifest delight, vicariouSly, for all
the Unlocking citizens. Once internally
applied, the State-made alcohol, In the
State stomach, will produce the duly
expected narcotic effect on the nerves
controlling the blood now, and the
blood stream, duly released, will rush
to the State face and the State head,
and the resulting state headache will
be perfectly legal"
l. ARAa
the Trenton Evening Times, mot a con-
glomeration of independent States. And,
while the rights reserved for State SOW
ereignty should be scrupulously re-
Spected, the fact remains that neither
Wisconsin nor any other unit can over
throw or subvert the national will"
Sentiment Of the country favors the
prohibition amendment" the Pueblo
Star-JournaI insists land the wet advo-
Gates are not bold enough to inaugurate
any legal move looking to the abolition
OF prohibition. They know they would
be defeated. In the meantime, they ex-
pend their energies on trying to nullify
the law by repeating State enforcement
statutes and in futile movements like
that now under way In Wisconsin"
For Wisconsin's sake 1t Is better to
regard it rs q thoughtless rather than
q deliberate act" suggests the Harris
burg Patriot, while the Philadelphia In
quirer of1ers the Interpretation, "The
amendment gives the State no oppcr-
tunity for evasion. A Legislature may
not nullify. Its authority Is restricted
to concurrent power to enforce" The
Buffalo Times looks upon the incident
as another example of the tendency Of
prohibition TO fall more and more into
State rights conflict"
The Charleston Daily Mail wonders
what would happen should the pro-
posed referendum be held, the people
Of Wisconsin should vote that the
State 60 into the liquor business, the
state should do so, and the PreGident
OF the United States should endeavor
TO enforce the Constitution IN that
state, sustained by . Supreme Court