Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-16
EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT.

THE Republican party has always
stood, and stands today, for obedience
% and enforcement Of the law as the
very foundation Of orderly government
and civilization. There can be no ma
tlonal security otherwise. The duty OF
the President OF the United States and
Of the officers Of the law Is clear. The
law must be enforced as they find 1t
enacted by the people. To these courses
Of action we pledge our nominees.
THE Republican party is, and always
has been. the party Of the Constitution.
Notification by on-observance by indi-
yiduals or State action threatens the
stability Of government.
While the Constitution makers sought
ni3h degree of permanence, they
foresaw the need Of changes and pro-
vided for them. Article v limits the
proposals Of amendments to two meth
DDS: % Two-thirds of both Houses of
Congress may propose amendments, or
p on application Of the Legislatures
Of two-thirds of the States a national
convention shall be called by Congress
to propose amendments. Thereafter
ratification must be had in one of two
ways: % BY the Legislatures Of three
fourths Of the several States, or 90 by
conventions held In three-fourths of
the several States. Congress is given
power to determine the mode of ratifi-
cation.
"Referendums without constitutional
sanction cannot furnish a decisive an
swer. Those who propose them limo
Gently are deluded by false hopes; those
who propose them knowingly are de-
ceivtng the people.
"a Nationwide controversy over the
eighteenth amendment now abstracts
attention from the constructive solution
of many pressing national problems.
The principle of national prohibition as
embodied in the amendment was sup
ported and opposed by members OF both
great political parties. 1t was submitted
to the States by members Of Congress
Of different political faiths and ratified
by State Legislatures Of different politi-
cal majorities. 1t was not then, and Is
not now, partisan political question.
Members Of the Republican party
hold different opinions with respect to
it, and no public official or member of
the party should be pledged or forced
to choose between his party affiliations
and his honest convictions upon this
question
I'VE do not favor submission limited
to the issue of retention or repeal. For
the American nation never in its history
has gone backward, ard in this case the
progress which has been thus far made
must be preserved, while the evils must
be eliminated
I'VE, therefore, believe that the people,
should have an opportunity to pass upon
a proposed amendment the provision of
which, while retaining in the Federal
Government power to preserve the gains
already made in dealing with the evils
inherent in the liquor traffic. shall allow
States to deal with the problem as their
citizens may determine. but subject al
ways to the power of the Federal Gov
eminent to protect those States where
prohibition may exist and safeguard our
citizens everywhere from the return Of
the saloon and attendant abuses.
Such an amendment should be
promptly submitted to the States by
Congress. to be acted upon by State
conventions called for that sole purpose
in accordance with the provisions of
Article V of the Constitution, and ade-
quately safeguarded SO as to be truly
representative.