Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23
ROCKY ROAD AHEAD
FOR SsWET' PROGRAMS
Constitutional Repeal or Modification
of VOlstead Act Cannot Be
Effected at Once.

become so widespread and so unified by
1888 or 1885 or 1887 as to provide the
voting strength in State Legislatures
and in Congress necessary to amend
the Constitution.
This strength, the drys point out and
the vets concede, does not exist today
and may not exist for years to come
if ever.
The wet cause as yet has failed to
attain the unanimity Of purpose that
is the asset CT dry adherents.
Leaders Of Different Minds.
Leaders of the vets have widely
divergent opinions as to how the pro-
hibition problem should be tackled.
Senator-elect Dwight w. Morrow
who has come to the fore as one OF
the Nations outstanding vets, wants
the eighteenth amendment repealed in
favor of a substitute amendment offer
ing Federal aid only to States desiring
prohibition and permitting the other
States to handle the liquor problem as
they see At. He doesn't believe modifi-
cation of the Volstead law will do
Pending repeal, he believes in enforce
ment of existing law.
Gov Roosevelt of New York favors
q new constitutional amendment to
|
Federal protection for dry States desir-
ing to prevent influx of liquor from
wet neighborS.
Former Gov. AL Smith has proposed
modification Of the prohibition amend
ment to permit State sale of liquor
and modification of the Volstead law
to permit the States to fix their own
standards of alcoholic content subject
to maximum set by Congress.
Gov. Richie Of Maryland is for out
right repeal Of the eighteenth amend
ment, with no substitutes, SO that local
option might prevail
President Nicholas Murray Butler OF
Columbia University advocates destruc-
ton Of the eighteenth amendment and
substitution of the Quebec system of
government control Of the liquor trafic
COnSressmen Farther Apart.
These leaders agree on repeal Of the
eighteenth amendment, but differ as to
substitute methods of control. The
views Of congressional vets are even
farther apart. They range from pro-
posals for complete repeal of the dry
amendment and all laws connected with
it to raising the alcoholic content of
beer from u of per cent to 234 per
cent and higher. and lifting of the ban
on light wines for home use.
Prof Howard Lee McBain, dean of
Columbia University, after surveying the
long list of wet suggestions, announced
his conclusion that the wiSest solution
would be for Congress to adopt the
prohibition laws of the various States
as the national prohibition law, retain
| ing the Volstead law only in such
States as refused to adopt prohibition
as q State policy.
What about the chances of repeating
or modifying the VolStead act?
Outright repeal of the enforcement
act, without substitute legislation, I'M
doubtedly would meet with as many
obstacles as outright repeal Of the
eighteenth amendment.
As to the VoIstead Law.
It would take more than bare
majority of both houses Of Congress to
DESTROY the Volstead law during the
present administration. Overriding OF
q presidential veto by a two-thirds vote
would be necessary, for President Hoo
yer has put himself on record as
against repeal Of the eighteenth amend
ment and in favor of the efhcient,
vigorous and sincere enforcement OF the
laws enacted hereunder" Since repeal
of the Volstead act would nullify the
eighteenth amendment, 1t Is presumed
that Mr.. Hoover would veto any bill
! for notification.
How the President might receive q
legislative proposal for modification OF
the act Is q matter of keen conjecture,
especially in view Of fast-dying rumors
to the effect that his National Com
mission on Law Observance and En-
forcement may recommend modif1ca-
ton of the law.
Presidents Possible Stand.
It Is the consensus of most observers
that Mr.. Hoover will abide by the de-
cision of his commission, providing the
decision Is not too draStic-and none
familiar with the situation in the COM
mission believes the report will be that
drastic.
Wen authenticated reports have come
from the commission that repeal Of the
eighteenth amendment has been dis
carded definitely in consideration OF
proposed reforms, and that such sug-
gestions as permitting 4 per cent beer
or calling q national referendum to
determine the peoples sentiment also
have been tabooed.
At the same time it has been in
timated in official quarters there will
be mo pussyfooting" by the commits
sion in formulating its final recon-
mendations to the President.
OF course, the President Of the United
States has no part in the amending
Of the Constitution. II Congress should
vote to propose an amendment he
could not veto the proposal. nor could
he prevent the calling of a constitu-
tional convention by Congress in the
event SUFFICIENT States Joined In the
petition.
He could, however. submit to Con-
gress, with or without his Endorsement,
h0 lat
the ,Wickersham Commission. The
chances of early modification Of the
VolSead law OF certainty would be
much greater II the commission and
the President Joined in the recon-
mendation.
If the President did not veto a modi-
f1cation measure, a vote of a majority
present and voting" in each body Of
Congress would be sufficient to effect
the change In the law, His veto Of the
| measure would nSceSSitate the marshall
ing of a two-thirds vote in favor of it.
The wet forces have begun to realize
the handicap imposed by lack of una
nimity among their leaders, and,
backed by ample funds from men Of
wealth, are waging countrywide cam
paigns to unite all elements in a con-
certed drive toward some specific wet
objective.
| 4Hc cASHC ana necessity OF LnlS CAM
paign have begun to give concern to
dry organizations, who fear that the
solidity OF their own forces may be dis
turbed by misleading propaganda"
from the other side.
But until the wet forces can find a
common ground upon which to wage
their battle. modification of the dry
law must travel q rocky and devious
legislative path.
Japanese Inaugurate
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