New Britain herald., 1930-10-16
Democrat Points Out Con- stitutional Convention Could Deal With PrOhibi- ton Problem-Advocates Care of Tubercular and Good Rural Roads.

New Haven, Oct. 16-Presenting as his solution of the prohibition problem, immediate action to bring about a constitutional convention Of the states, Dean Wilbur l.. Cross democratic candidate for governor last night started his debate through the newspapers with his republican opponent Lieutenant Governor Ern- est E. Rogers. Dr. Cross said he was amazed that a candidate for governor of Connecticut had failed to sufficiently study the federal con- stitution to know that there is more than one way of amending that constitution.
 Dean Cross in his communication discussed the prohibition problem, the care of the tubercular and rural roads improvement.
 His letter to the republican cau- cidate follows:
 sA Rogers.
 "State Capitol,
 ' Hartford Connecticut.
 My dear MT. Rogers:
 T received today your letter of reply to my offer to debate the more important issues of the cam paign in any Connecticut hall and under conditions agreeable to the republican state organization. I am most regretful that you are unwill- ing to accept my challenge so that the voters of Connecticut might hear our first hand ideas of the vital questions to be settled in the forth coming election.
 "As you have seen fit to let this opportunity pass l must presume that you prefer this discussion to be carried on through the public press. It is acting on this assumption that I now reply to three of your argu- ments and will discuss the remain der tomorrow.
 Cites Federal Constitution
 T am amazed that you have ap- parently followed the example of Republican governors of the past in Sailing to read either the federal or The state constitutions. I had always assumed that one of the first duties of a governor was to read and study both of these constitutions and to be thoroughly familiar with their contents. Had our former republi- can governors read the state consti- tution they would not have found it necessary to spend the public money to call a special session of the legis- lature to validate statutes. Had you read the federal constitution you might have discovered that there is more than one way to handle the question of the repeal of the 18th amendment. I am amazed and somewhat startled to discover that a man who aspires to the office of chief executive of Connecticut does not know that there is more than one way to amending the federal constitution.
 ITO save you from too much labor I will tell you now that this second method may be found in Article Five of the federal consti- tuition, which you will find on page 34 of the State Register and Manual ol 1880.
 Constitutional Convention
 "Perusal of this article will reveal to you that the repeal of the so- called prohibition amendment need not originate in congress, that pro- hIbition is not entirely a federal problem needing federal solution. The demand for repeal of the 18th amendment may originate at con- stitutional convention requested by two-thirds of the state legislature and adopted by three-fourths of the states. I do not presume 70 know if g. states will authorize such con- stitutional convention, but if I am elected governor I will do my best to start a movement for such a con- venion. This is my solution of the prohibition evil This is why I in- sist that the republican prohibition plank with it's policy of inaction $ 8 vicious straddle of an important issue.
 'I will next discuss the question o2 care of the tubercular. You ex- press entire satisfaction with the manner in which Connecticut is dealing with this problem and re- peat the words of your publicity bureau that Connecticut is first among all the states in per capita