Evening star., 1932-06-26
The G.. o. p. Plank
On Prohibition

The Republican party has al
uavs stood. and stands TO-DAY, DI
obedience 10 and enforcement OF
the law as the very foundatlon Oh
orderly government ana clviLlza ,
tirn There can be no national
security otherwise. The DUTY OF
the President of the United states
and of the officers Of the law Is
clear. The law must be enlorceo
as thev find it enacted by tne
people. To these courses Oh az
ton we pledge our nominees
The Republican party Is. ano
ALWAYS has been, the party OF NE
Constitution. Notification by
non-observance by individuals or
state action threatens the staolI-
ity of government.
While the Constitution makers
sought a high degree Of perma-
nence. they foresaw the need OF
changes and provided for them:
Article V limits the proposals OF
amendments to two methods: ID
Two-thirds of both Houses OF
Congress may propose amend
ments. or (2) on application OF
the legislatures of two-th1rds OF
the States a national convention
shall be called by Congress TO
propose amendments. Therea1ter
ratification must be had in one OF
two ways: % BY the Legislatures
of three -fourths of the several
states. or (2) by conventions held
in three-fourths of the several
States, Congress is given power
to determine the mode OF ratifica-
ton.
Referendums without constitu-
tional sanction cannot furnish a
decisive answer. Those who pro-
pose them innocently are deluded
by false hopes: those who propose
them knowingly are deceiving the
people.
A Nationwide controversy over
the eighteenth amendment now
distracts attention from the con-
structive solution Of many press
ing national problems. The princi-
pie of national prohibition as EN-
bodied in the amendment was
supported 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
political 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 chCose be-
tween his party Affiliations and
his honest convictions upon this
question.
We do not favor a submission
limited to the issue OF retention
or repeal. For the American Ma
ton never in its history has gone
backward, and in this case the
progress which has been thus far
made must be preserved, while the
evils must be eliminated.
We, therefore, believe that the
people should have an opportu-
nifty to pass upon 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 trafic. shall allow
States to deal with the problem
as their citizens may determine,
but subject always to the power
of the Federal Government to
protect those States where pro-
hibition may exist and safeguard
our citizens everywhere from the
return of the saloon and at
tendant 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 adequately safe
guarded so as to be truly repre-
sentative.