Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-16
Eighteenth Amendment Va
Iidity to Be Challenged in
House by la Guardia.
COMMITTEE TO TAKE UP
DRY SHIFT NEXT WEEK
Wickersham, in Reply to Critics,
Denies Board Proposed to End
Jury Trial Right.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

National prohibition is 10 years old
today. The close of the decade. how
ever, finds Congress faced with pro-
posals to strengthen. the enforcement
of the law and militant group in and
out of Congress denying that prohibi-
ton is enforced, can be enforced or
should be enforced
The prohibition issue, which the drys
claim was settled when the eighteenth
amendment was adopted, threatens to
force itself more and more into poll
tics. 1t will be an issue in many State
and congressional district campaigns
this year. Unless enforcement becomes
more effective, it is likely to force It
self into national political campaigns
of the future.
Committees of the House are busying
themselves with consideration of leEis-
lation just recommended by President
Hoover and the Law Enforcement Com
mission to strengthen the enforcement
of the prohibition laws.
A direct challenge of the validity of
the eighteenth amendment will be made
in the House.
Representative La Guardia of New
York, wet, during the consideration of
the Treasury appropriation bill, which
carries the funds for enforcement Of the
dry law, will rise to point of order
that the eighteenth amendment has
never been properly ratified and there
fore is void. Mr.. La Guardia declared
that while the necessary IS States had
ratified the resolution creating the
amendment only 10 had ratifed the
amendment itself
Drys Scout Suggestion.
Drys secuted today the suggestion
that the eighteenth amendment had not
were Senator Morris Sheppard OF Texas,
co-author of the resolution proposing
the eighteenth amendment, and Senator
Borah of Idaho an ardent supporter of
prohibition enforcement.
The eighteenth amendment reads:
Section /. 1870
After one year from the ratification
OF this article the manufacture, sale or
transportation of Intoxicating liquors
within, the importation thereof into. or
the exortation thereof from the United
States and all territories subject to the
jurisdiction thereof for beverage pur-
poses Is hereby prohibited.
Section 2.
THE Congress and the several States
shall have concurrent power to en-
force this article by appropriate legisla-
ton.
Section 3.
This article shall be imperative un-
less 1t shall have been ratified as an
amendment to the constitution by the
Legislatures of the several States, as
provided in the Constitution, within
seven years from the state of the SUBJ
mission hereof to the State by the
Congress"
Oliver Sees Revolution.
The anniversary was featured In the
House with both attack and defense
OF the dry laws. Representative Frank
Oliver of New York declared that the
American people were in revolution
against prohibition.
Representative Cooper of Ohio, chair
man of the Ohio congressional delera-
ton, rose to the defense of prohibition.
replying to Representative Schafer, who
In speech last Friday attacked proni-
bition. Mr.. Schafer said drys In Con-
gress must choose between prohibition
and the Christian religion"
Mr.. Cooper more than a score of
years ago hit the sawdust trail" at a
Billy Sunday revival and for the last
Is years has been a strong supporter of
prohibition in Congress.
Mr.. Cooper said that prohibition has
its roots in the teachings of Christ and
in the program of the Christian Church
Mr.. Cooper said THE Christian
churches and ministers and the mil
lions of their members who believe in
prohibition will stand like O solid
phalanx alongside Of our splendid Chris
tan President Herbert Hoover, and
support him to the end in his earnest
desire to have the laws of our Republic
respected and obeyed."
Ridicules Law Commission.
Representative Oliver, in q scathing
attack on prohibition. ridiculed the rec
concentrations of President HooverIs
Law Enforcement Commission TO
strengthen enforcement of the dry laws.
Mr.. Oliver said that about January
l. 1920, America woke up In church,
took the pledge and resolved to be bet
ter than our fathers. BY the eighteenth
amendment Uncle Sam took q plea of
guilty to charge that for $50 years he
had been drunk and disorderly. On TIE
morning after Uncle Sam laughed and
the whole world laughed with him We
have tried by law to make q tenth.rate
heaven, but have discovered that our
paradise is populated not by angels, but
by human beings"
There was a demonstration In the
Continued on Page 4, Column Il