The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-20

the lengthy factuaI report and data accompanying
the recommendations, we are unable TO see how any
open-minded citizen hereafter can challenge those
agreed facts. They are:
That there las not been and Is not now adequate
Observance Of enforcement.
That no law Of any kind be enforced without
support Of public opinion, and that public opinion
In many important portions Of the country is def
niteIy hostile to national prohibition.
That no federal prohibition law can be enforced
without vigorous cooperation by the states, which
cooperation is lacking In many Of the most populous
states
That the saloon was an evil and that no consider
able body Of public opinion anywhere favors Its
return.
That there has been much crime, corruption and
lawIessness by law officials incident to prohibition
That despite all efforts at enforcement, there has
been for several years and now is virtually an I'M
limited supply of liquor, easily obtainable.
That the federal government itself is multiplying
prohibition by substituting grape concentrate products
which can be stopped; and by w1nkng at home manu-
facture of liquor, which not be stopped.
That public justification Of violation Of the IN
popular prohibition amendment and law Is serious
1y undermining public respect for and observance
of all law.
In view Of the foregoing agreed facts, We believe
that the commissions recommendations for tinker
ing with the present prohibition laws and machinery
pending modification repeal are relatively unirn-
portant
In far as they are important, we believe that
the fact of this adverse report in itself should be
sufficient to stop congress from enactng any more
piecemeal legislation increasing enforcement ap-
preparations, until national decision Is reached on
continuing prohibition, modifying or repeating It,
Solutions offered by the commissioners were Of
three kinds: Referendum through state constitu-
tional conventions; modification, to permit quasi
governmental dispensary and control system adapted
from the Swedish plan, and outright repeal
A good has been made for the Anderson
Swedish plan. which SO favoraby impressed ma
jority Of the commissioners. But We are convinced
that the first job to get rid OF the present unen.
forceabe system before attempting force some other
system upon public which has not yet decided what
specific alternative it favorS.
Therefore, we agree with Newton D. Baker that
should be referendum through state constitutional
conventions suggested by Commissioner Kenyon
and Chairman Wickersham.
AS stated by Commissioner Baker:
"TI1e eighteenth amendment should be repealed
and the whole question OF policy and enforcement
with regard to intoxicating liquors RENTED to the
states.
eff, for Tactical reasons immediate repeal be
thought unattainable, submission OF the (modify-
ing amendment suggested in the report Of the COM
mission would test the present sentiment of the
try and Il the (modify1ng) amendment were adopted
would accomplish the double result Of removing ar
arbitrary and inflexble police regulation from the
Constitution, where 1t seems to me it never should
have been put, and Of giving congress the power to
adapt federal legislation the subject from time
to time, to the realities Of the situation as they may
develop" nv