New Britain herald., 1930-10-22
METCALF ISSUES
 WET STATEMENT
Rhode Island Senator PaY0rs
 Repeal Of Dry Laws

Providence, R. l., Oct. g {UP)-- United States Senator Jesse H. Met calf, republican, Rhode Island, seeking reelection at next months election, today declared himself in favor of repeal of the 18th amend ment.
 Metcalf's stand on the prohibition question, similar to that taken some time ago by Dwight W. Morrow, New Jersey senatorial candidate. came as a surprise to Rhode Is land drys
 Metcalfs democratic opponent former Senator Peter G. Gerry, is a wet.
 Although Senator Metcalf voiced the conviction that temperance could be best promoted by repeal of the 18th amendment, he pledged himself to abide by public sentiment in Rhode Island as expressed when the state votes on the prohibition referendum at the polls November f.
 Personal Viewpoint
 Tt is my conviction" Senator Metcalf's statement said, that tenn pcrance may be best promoted, that the moral tone of the American community may be lifted to a higher plane and that respect for law and reverence for government may be best preserved by repeal of the 18th amendment.
 'srhis is a personal conviction and in no way alters my obligation set forth in the republican platform to vote as the people of Rhode Island vote in the matter of the referen- dunn on November A.
 The referendum is to be on the question: Shall the 18th amend Ihent be retained" ?"
 T have been acked on numerous occasions to state my present atti- tude toward the 18th amendment" Metcalfs statement said. T don't believe 1t would be fair to the vot- CTS of Rhode Island for me to con- duct this campaign without setting forth my honest personal conviction in this regard.
 Sums Up Case
 Tn the past 10 years there have grown up two opposing schools of thought in connection with the 18th amendment. They have been popu- larly termed vets and drys In the matter of abolishing the saloon the two groups largely seem to be in agreement Both agree that the ex- istencc of temperance in this Coun- try is necessary and desirable. The point of contention, therefore, seems to lie in the method of achieving temperance and in the method of abolishing the saloon.
 There are thousands of so-called vets in this country who oppose the use of intoxicating liquors but who believe that an amendment 10 the constitution is an improper and un- successful method of promoting temperance. On the other hand there is large group of people who sincerely believe that the l Sth
 
 motion of temperance. It is my con- vction that those two schools Of thought should merge and seek a practical and logical method for pro- noting temperance among the citi- zens of the United States.
 T believe that the people of the United States have alienated from their minds any thought that the re- turn of the saloon is either practical or desirable. In that, heartily con- cur. Wholesale drunkenness or the use of intoxicating liquors which would lower the moral tone of the American community is to be con- demned and I believe it is discour- aged by both vets and Grys.
 "The constitution of the United States was intended as a charter of liberty. It was created as a guar antee Of freedom from invasion of the rights of individuals and of states. It sought to guarantee that no individual or no groups should be deprived of the rights of pur- suit of life, liberty and happiness by acts Of either government or man.
 "The 18th amendment was q new departure from this principle, how ever. and for the first time the vari- ous states were relieved of much of the responsibility of enforcement of the liquor laws.
 By the very nature Of tho con stitution the federal government should, with the assistance of the states, guarantee to the people and