The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-21
|bURD|CK TO SEEK
CONGRESS SEAT ON
REPEAL PLATFORM
Says Experience as Prosecutor
and Federal Attorney
Convinced Him
SEES NO RESPECT FOR LAW
Stand Is Personal One and
Does N9t Bind Progress
sive Supporters
SEES NO RESPECT FOR LAW

Fargo, March 21.-(R}-North Da-
kota, q state born dry" IS asked by
Usher L. Burdick, assistant U. s.
district attorney in charge Of the
prosecution Of prohibition cases. to
support him for congress on q plat
form calling for immediate repeal Of
the 18th amendment.
His experience as states attorney
and special prosecutor for Williams
county and later as assistant U. s.
attorney has convinced Burdick the
amendment brought about disres-
pect for the states own dry statutes
and turned North Dakota's once law
abiding citizenry into a population
largely without respect for either
state or federal liquor regulations.
he declared in q statement issued
Saturday.
Pitching this element into the free
for-all congressional fight, Burdick's
statement bears added interest be-
cause 1t follows closely on the 227
to 1877 vote In the house Of represent
atives against considering legislation
designed to turn control Of liquor
back to the states. Casting their
votes with the majority were North
Dakota's three representatives. o. B.
Burtness, ]. H. Sinclair and Tom
Hall.
Burdick's candidacy for congress Is
Endorsed by Progressive" Repub-
licans but his platform on the
amendment Is a personal draft. not
bearing official approval from the
party.
=. Raps bootleg Barons'
Bootleg barons. under whose thumb
all manner Of crime prevails un-
molested by q helpless citizenry, are
the spawn of the 18th amendment,
said Burdick. They are steadily in
creasing their menace to safety and
and climaxing their inva-
sion of private liberties with vtct-
GUS kidnapping Of an innocent child"
he said.
Personally, l do not use liquor.
hence 1t cannot be inferred that my
political stand arises from any per-
sonal appetite which may have to
satisfy" he said.
Il have been states attorney and
special prosecutor for williams coun-
ty for a great many years. I have
practically all of the liquor
cases for the government since be-
coming assistant U. s. attorney for
North Dakota. am speaking In this
the truth as I see 1t.
Il favor the immediate repeal Of
the 18th amendment of the federal
constitution-for the reason that In
this state 1t has not been effective
in stopping the liquor traffic. While
it has been in force the state has
changed from a condition where the
state law was respected to q condi-
ton where neither the state nor the
federal law IS respected. The re-
peated violation Of the federal law
has created q disrespect for all law.
THE natural policy Of policing
eacl, and every state as to the vio-
lation OF one particular law Is wrong.
Each state should police its own peo-
pie. A mere statute, standing alone,
does not carry with 1t respect or
secure its unqualified support by the
people. A statute based on rever-
ence and faith Of the people In the
eternal rightness Of the principle In
volved, should and does find support
in the general sentiment Of the peo-
pie. ..
Public Sees No Answer
"Just why the federal government,
with It's thousands Of administra-
tors. special agents. regular agents
and informers are covering the coun-
try in cars (taken from the guilty.
to enforce one certain law, Is not
easily answered by public sentiment.
When the violatorS are caught, fed
eral juries turn them out, and those
who plead guilty are generally 50 dis
tressed financially and have 80 many
hungry and helpless dependents. that
no humane Judge can pronounce q
sentence commensurate With the
provided in the law. The
humane attitude Of the court and Of
the prosecution invites further vio-
lationS.
"Under state enforcement in North
Dakota, juries convicted and SEN
fenced were served. North Dakota
was dry. Each state OF the nation
should be intrusted with policing its
citizens In respect to not only one but
al laws. II 4 majority OF the peo-
pie Of . state by vote favor dispen-
sation Of liquor, that state should be
given the opportunity to take care
Of the liquor question In that state.
When the liquor question was made
q national issue instead Of q state
issue q fundamental error Ii govern
ment was made and that error should
be corrected 1t the earliest possible
moment.
"What has happengd in the nation
since this law went into effect. u
years ago7 The price Of liquor went
up from $2.65 = gallon for good IL
cohol III any Of It can be said TO Be
good) to 80 q gallon for the regular
bootlegeers brand which had In It
blindness, sickness and premature
death. The untold millions paid for
this kind Of liquor went into the
(Contluued On paee seveU