The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1931-02-01
SHOULD NOT BE CALLED
The Rumored Constitutional Convention to
Repeal the Eighteenth Amendment

The Rumored Constitutional Convention to
Repeal the Eighteenth Amendment
The Chicago Tribune OF November Il under the
heading Convention Test of Prohibition, ETC.. con-
tains interesting story invoked by alleged rumors
that the presidents law enforcement commission
might recommend the calling OF natonal consul
tutional convention to consider an amendment to,
or repeal Of the Eighteenth Amendment. We have
seen no reports with any trace of authenticity to
such effect, and doubt very much that the presl-
dents law enforcement commission would suggest
any such action.
Article of the Constitution of the United
States provides two methods Of amending the con-
stitution as follows
"The congress- whenever two-thirds Of both
houses shall deem it necessary shall propose amend
ments to this constitution, or, the application OF
the legislatures Of thirds of the several states,
shall call convention for proposing amendments,
which in either case shall be valid to all intentS and
purposes as part of this constitution, when ratified
by the legislatures of three-fourthS OF the several
states or by conventions in three-fourthS thereof,
the one or the other mode of ratification may be
proposed by. the congress.
The convention method of amending the federal
constitution furhered in the Illinois legislature
in 1927 and passed the house, but 1t was defeated IN
the senate by vote of more than two to one. The
Anti-Saloon League prepared legal brief for mem
bers Of the legislature against the calling of such
convention. Lee ONeill Browne, outstanding leader
of the VETS injected surprise into the debate on
the floor of the house by stating that brief had
been presented to him in opposition to the resolu-
tion and that for he would vote With the dryS
and the Anti-Saoon League against the adoption Of
the resolution. And now comes the Chicago Tribune
in editorial entitled The Il-advised Plan," de-
claring:
"a convention thus called upon the initiative of
the states probably if not indeed certainly, could
not be bound by the congress- but would be free to
propose not only repeal OF the eighteenth Amend
ment but that of any other provision Of the consti-
tuition. It would be free to propose any amendment
amendments to the constitution or to undertake
q complete revision Of the whole document.
THE method adopted throughout the history Of
the nation is better than the convention method,
which opens the door to il-c0nSidered changes and
calls for greater craftsmanship than is apparent in
public affairs at this time II it inks the impatient
reformer and theorist, that is merit and not
fault It is more consistent with the wise law of
gradual evolution and permits the people to give to
proposals for change in the fundamental law de-
liberation they could not give to the grist conven
ton might bring forth"
The Tribune has touched upon some of the rea-
sons why such q convention should not be called.
very serious objection which should be especially
emphasized is this: The present constitution re-
fed by the legislatures of threefOurths of the states
by conventions in thrce-fourtS of the states as
congress may elect. But should convention now
be called and new constitution adopted the con-
vcntiOn might provide entirely new method Of
amending the constitution and different method
Of ratification. The question is do we want to give q
group of individuals such unlimited power to eX-
pertinent with our institutons'
No national constitutional convention has vet
been called IL the history of the nation and with
the vets themselves divided on the question: it is
not likely that Will be called now solely in the
interests Of booze.
A dry man is proud because he i9 dry while wet
hunts for an excuse for his Wetness