Evening star., 1931-12-26

Varying effects are seen as result Of
the proposal to maintain common in
terest among the anti-prohibitionists in
both the Republican and Democratic
parties. Much attention also has been
given to the suggestions from Senator
Bingham and Representative Tlson of
Connecticut for the establishment of
State authority in liquor matters.
That Republican Congressman should
band together to bring about change
IN the prohibition law Is significant"
| says the Scranton Times, quoting Rep
chosen leader of the Republican wet
bloc in the House, as stating that his
bloc stands ready to cooperate with
the Democratic wet group in pressing
for action in this session for a change. -
The Times offers the opinion: Regard
less of any action now by Congress, the
| question is sure to be major one in the
campaign next year. Nor can either of
the great parties dodge responsibility
for an outright declaration on the uues-
ton"
The Charlotte Observer gives attention
to the fact that So Democrats and 49
Republicans have combined in a fight
on prohibition, having united on two
bills-"one for modification and one
calling for referendum on the eight
eenth amendment. The Observer
continues: Senator Bingham has been
blazing the way by introducing variety
OF bills rounding it all up with a reso-
luton that would wipe off the dry slate.
II the Bingham amendment Is adopted,
1t would nullify the amendment. It Is
written as a revision of the fifth article
OF the Constitution and provides that
no amendment comforting added power
over the people Of the United States or
their individual rights shall hereafter be
adopted validly otherwise than bv con-
vent1ons OF the people meeting In their
several States The new amendment
requires ratifying vote by conventions
IN three-fourths of the States, and stip-
ulates that delegates to such conven-
tions for any proposed amendment shall
be chosen at separate public election" !"
X X X X
Senator Bingham's plan for amend
ment," according to the Hartford Times.
"contemplates complete return of con-
troll over liquor to the States and seeks
mass referendum on his plan. Mr..
Iilson goes at the matter in another
way. He would make the eighteenth
amendment ineffective In States which
have their own liquor laws reserving
for Congress the full power to tax the
manufacture and sale of legalized intox-
lcating beverages. Thus a State could
get out from under Federal prohibition
BY enacting its own liquor laws. This
plan would leave the eighteenth amend-
ment In force except where something
is put In the place Of it. The other
would abolish the eighteenth amend
ment. The two attack the problem
from opposite SIDES"
Pointing out that for the first time
an anti-prohibition Republican group
has been formed in the House. the
Providence Bulletin offers the judgment
as to the probable results: What is so
pleasing about this new group is the
sign that anti-prohibition sentiment is
rapidly being welded into organization,
the absence of which in the past has
caused diffusion Of energy. There will
be few wasted shots from now on; the
drive will enjoy q single direction;
strategy will be unified under intelligent
command. 1t Is to be noted that the
leader OF the new organization and its
secretary stand poles apart in their po-
litical and economic viewpoints.
ment, proposing to give States power
over the liquor question and still keep
out the saloon" Is criticized by the
GAINESVILLE Gazette, which charges hy-
pocrisy, and declares that "if we have
liquor, we shall have saloons" The
Gazette also argues: I'VE should have
the issue set down squarely-either pro-
| hibition or the saloon. There Is nc
middle ground in this affair. We have
demonstrated clearly that any Office
becomes corrupt In this Nation as soon
as there is q great sum. Of money to