Evening star., 1932-12-13

Failure of the prohibition repeal
measure to receive the necessary two
third vote on the first day of the short
session of Congress produces numerous
protests that the legislators failed TO
respond to popular sentiment as eX-
pressed in the national election. some
blame is held to be attached to the
lame duck members, while others are
credited with belief that naked re-
peal" with no curb on the saloon, did
not meet the situation. Supporters Of
this view concede the possibility of
Senate action on more CONSERVATIVE
measure. Taxation Of beer IS widely
accepted as logical.
Republicans who voted against the
repeal measure" says the Cleveland
News, "had the defense that it was not
in accord with their platform, which
advocated a more moderate course OF
prohibition reform, but the Democrats
who voted against it will have to an
swer to the party which gave them
mandate on November 8, to bring about
repeal in the quickest possible man
ner' The Asbury Park Evening Press
holds that Congress has defied the will
of the people by refusing to extend
them a power for which they have
asked" and that "our system of rep
resentative government is not always
representative" The Columbia (Mo)
Tribune contends that never in politi-
cal annals was mandate so nouted
by representatives of people, and that
after they had been weighed and de-
MED the public confidence" The Min
neapolis Tribune, however. finds sig
nificance, not in the fact that the vets
were technically the losers. but in the
striking evidence of the definite and
almost violent shift of sentiment away
from prohibition" The Fort Worth
Star Telegram voices the feeling that,
regardless of the lame ducks, the
care of in good order by those who are
given the direct responsibility.
Those nations where mo lame duck
members can prevent the translation
of the will of the people into law" are
lauded by the Schenectady Gazette.
THE argument in favor of the final
enactment of the Norris amendment
ending lame duck sessions Is lent un-
mistakable strength" declares the Roa-
noke Times, while the Akron Beacon
Journal remarks that "the event con-
firms the wisdom of the Nations reso-
luton to do away with lame ducks" at
the same time observing that "the fact
that the holdovers and turndowns IN
Congress came SO near to obedience OF
the public will voiced in the ballot
boxes Is its own best tribute to the
force and sweep of public sentiment.
The Omaha World-Herald points to
evidence that "only IL States are at
the moment rock-ribbed dry"
Striking character of the change IN
public sentiment on prohibition Is en-
phasized by the Atlanta Journal in the
statement: with both parties COM
mitted to a referendum on prohibition
repeal and with the party which spoke
out plainly for repeal an overwhelming
victor at the ballot box, there could be
no question as to how the majority OF
the people wish this issue to be dealt
with. Most of the members OF the
present Congress, whose term expires
next March the fourth, were elected
two years ago, fact which doubtless
explains the failure of the Garner reso-
luton to receive the full two-thirds
majority required. But when a lame
duck session comes within six votes OF
that majority 1t can hardly be ques-
toned that the new Congress, fresh
from the people, will 60 promptly for
ward for submission OF the repeal
amendment"
1.-THE repealists came SO near success
on the first day Of the session." In the
opinion Of the Providence Journal,
that we may witness q demand for
another vote on exactly the same issue.
and the sooner such a resolution goes
to the ;;tates, embodying the single
question Of getting rid Of the eighteenth
amendment, the better 1t will be for
true temperance, national sincerity and
the welfare Of the American people"
Belief in the possibility Of another vote
also Is voiced by tAe Sioux Falls Daily
Argus.leader. the scrantoo T1mel md