Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-20
PEOPLE MAY VOTE
0NDRYLAW REPEAL
Movement on Foot Seeks
Calling of Constitutional
e Convention.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BIZ DAVID LAWnENOEs
Senator Blaine's proposal that vote
be taken in Congress on the direct issue
of whether the eighteenth amendment
shall be repealed may ultimately lead
to a Nation wide referendum.
Already some of the vets are saying
that the Anti-Saloon League and other
dry organizations have so intimidated
members of Congress by threatening
opposition in the primaries and In the
elections themselves that two-thlrds
vote in both Houses would be highly
improbable.
Two-thirds Vote Required.
BEFORE a repeal amendment could be
submitted to the States for ratiflcatlon
1t would have to get the approval OF
tv. thirds of both Houses. There Is
a movement on foot to get at the same
problem in another way by having q
constitutional convention called Win
delegates from each State. Unoer Ihe
Constitution such convention can
propose amendments for submission 10
the Legislatures, and for several years
petitions have been circulated 10 geC
the necessary number OF states 10
agree to the calling of such conven-
ton.
The central issue in prohibiuon
around which enforcement revolves Is
public sentiment. 1t is becoming every
day more apparent that one OF the
Federal Governments greatest problems
is discouraging those who patronlze
bootleesers. Many of these people are
insisting that the majority IN America
do not approve of prohibition. Inc
drys. on the other hand, point TO the
attitude of Congress and the States. A
general referendum, it Is believed, would
be the only way that vets and drys
would be convinced on this point.
simplifes Enforcement Problem.
II It became evident that the ma
,oritv Of the people wanted prohibition
fo stay. the problem Of enforcement
would be simplified TO some extent, pc
cause a demonstration of public opinion
would add weight to the idea tnat tne
minority must obey the laws mace by
the majority. II, on the otner manu-
a considerable sentiment for moolnca-
tion anpeared. this would have q pow
erful influence on the attitude OF mem-
beers of Congress.
Snecial machinery for referendum
x,o,ild have TO be provided by an act y.
Congress. There have been various .Sss
votes in several of the States, put Iiie
5ifficultv with each Of the tests Aao
been the disagreement as 10 the wuiu
ing of the proposal submitted. Mas
of the vets are in FAVOR oI a enp
proposal which would ask the Ai ,ltaanth
reople To vote on whether the eighteentn
amendment should be so modined as "
hermit the sale of light wines ana D s,si.
The drys. of course, would oppose tt.is
on the ground that 1t would mean tne
return of the saloon, or at least Ctie
estahlishment of a distribution system
through which whisky would pc soio.
THE question really Is whether Will .ne
large number of points OF dlstrlput.i,Sn
for whisky already estapiisheo nn s
large cities there would be any cohsiu
erable diminution IL light wines ana
beer could be legally sold with the un-
derstanding that the beverages couio
not be consumed on the premises.
Canadian System an Example.
On this point there has been mucn
academic discussion with The coIs'an.
reference to the Canadian SYSTEM puI
Nav or the ether ON prohibition the
matter of what public sentiment reaNy
is on the subject will have to be settieo.
THAT is why Senator Blaine's request ior
a vote on repeal brings TO a climax ti,e
whole prohibition controversy. WINNIE
fhe idea of voting on the repeal comes
from a wet Senator Borah and othef
drys favor 1t. 49,.
The question really Is what do the
majority of the people want ana Is Ooh-
press representative OF that majority.
II has been such q long time since
clear-cut issue on prohibition has peen
voted on in Congress that vets ana
drys welcome the opportunity 10 RECORD
themselves. though large NUMBER WHO
are on the fence will prefer to sidetrack
the vote, Up to now most OF the legis-
lative proposals have had TO do with the
more vigorous enforcement OF the law or
the Interpretation OF the eighteenth
Amendment. The belief has prevailed
that light wines and beer could be OBJ
tanned by modification OF the Voisteao
act.
MAY Favor Substitute.
The drys have insisted that the only
thing that could be modified to bring
about such results Is the eignIeentn
amendment. Former Senator Wads-
worth of New York once offered a sub
stitute for the eighteenth amendment
and It is not unlikely that when the
Congress finally votes 1t will not be on
an out-and-out repeal, but ON an al
firmatiye proposal which can be sub
nnitted as substitute for the eight
zenith amendment
It has been proposed. for instance,
that Congress be given fuli power 10 oe-
eide the extent to which the manufac-
ture of alcoholic beverages shall be per-
mitted.
Chief Issue Outlined.
The idea back of this is to leave 1t TO
q majority of Congress to determine
what are the changing desires OF the
American people. 1t is really the ex-
preston of Discrimination to go
through the more roundabout process
Of submitting amendments TO the va
rious State Legislatures and Is based on
the theory that the eighteenth amend
ment as at present written Is not
grant of power but an act OF legisla-
ton and that the original Constitution
looked toward the idea of defining the
powers of Congress In the States, but
leaving it to each to legislate accord
ingly.
The significant thing about Senator
Blaine's proposal is that the issue Is
being more clearly drawn and when
public sentiment is defined the problem
Of enforcement will be In turn effected.
EIGHT DEAD, FOUR HURT