The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-24
At Last!
New York World-Telegram)

(NeW York World-Telegram
Twelve years of American humilia-
ton came to an end in the House of
Representatives yesterday. The hu-
initiation of prohibition remains-for
little while. But the greater HUI
initiation of representatives OF a
Democratic country being deprived OF
vote on this basic issue was wiped
out when the House was forced to
vote on the Beck-Linthicum resolu-
ton.
The nation is opposed to prohibit
ton. There are dry sections-dry IN
name, though not in fact. But the
country as a whole is about two to
one against prohibition. That is
demonstrated by numerous straw
votes and by the indirect vote on this
question registered in Congressional
! elections.
The iniquity of the prohibition sys-
tenn, with its curse of crime and in
vasion of personal liberties and eco
nomic losses, has been bad enough.
But the political conspiracy prevent
! ing a popular referendum has been
worse.
That political conspiracy, perpetu-
ated by the professional dry organi-
cations and aided by Republican and
Democratic politicians. has placed
prohibition above and beyond the OPP
erations of representative govern
ment
The American people were good
enough to govern themselves on
everything-except liquor laws. Hav-
ing once been the victims of fanati-
cal propaganda and political squeeze
play which fastened prohibition on
the nation, Americans were never to
be allowed to escape from the great
blunder. 1t was to be kept out of
politics ever after.
Instead Of an experiment, subject
to change, it was to be the one and
only inviolate part of our law and
Constitution which no popular refer
endum should ever be permitted to
profane.
Under this conspiracy all direct
votes on prohibition modification or
repeal were prevented in Congress
and scores of representatives and
senators were returned to Washing
ton year after year because they
could make wet voters believe they
were dry without ever being brought
to book.
Even president, in the person Of
Herbert Hoover, was elected posing a.
a dry to drys and wet to vets.
| Yesterday fhn roop1horC fht
House of Representatives were put or
record by the Beck-Linthicum vote
The sheep have been separated from
the goats. Hereafter representative.
will be of two kinds-one kind who
refuse to let the people vote on thi.
question and another kind who rec.
ognize the right Of American citizen.
to vote on any question.
The majority wet sentiment of tn.
country was not represented in &
House majority yesterday because
many OF those representatives were
sent to Congress by voters who coule
not know how the straddlers woule
flop.
In the next election the voters viii
know. In the next election prohibit
ton will be an issue
Let the drys get all the consolation
they can out of their 227-to-187 vic.
tory yesterday. Only 81 votes changed
would have reversed the majority.
If the popular revolt against pro.
hibttion continues at its present speed
one more election may be enough K
create In Congress the two-third.
necessary to submit to the people ar
amendment allowing dry states to b<
dry and wet states to be wet. That
will be self -government.