Evening star., 1932-06-30
HOW THE PARTIES STAND
C. O. P. Adopts Plank
Submitting Issue to
States.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, June 30-The text Of the
platform plank on prohibition adopted
at the Republican National Convention
here June 16 and which proposes re-
submission of the eighteenth amend
ment TO the States, follows:
The Accepted Plank.
1.-THE Republican party has always
stood and stands today for obedience to
and enforcement Of the law as the very
foundation of orderly government and
civilization. There can be no national
security otherwise. The duty of the
President of the United States and the
officers OF the law is clear. The law
must be enforced as they find 1t enact
ed 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.
Nullihcation by observance by in
dividuals or State action threatens the
stability OF government.
While the Constitution makers sought
a high degree Of permanence, they
foreSaw the need OF changes and pro-
yided for them. Article V limits the
proposals of amendments to two meth
DDS: (1) TWo-thirdS of both houses Of
Congress may propose amendments or
~ on application of the Legislatures
of two-thirds of the States national
convention shall be called by Congress
to propose amendments. Thereafter
ratification must be had in one OF two
ways: "a 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 rati-
fication.
"Referendums without constitutional
sanction cannot furnish decisive
answer. Those who propose them in
nocently 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 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 submit
ted to the States by members OF Con-
greSs of different political faith and
ratified by Senate Legislatures of diff
ferent political majorities. 1t was not
then and Is net now a partisan politi-
cal 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 a submission
limited to the issue OF retention or
repeal for the American nation 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.
I'VE therefore believe that the people
should have an opportunity to pass
upon a proposed amendment. the pro-
visions of which, while retaining in
the Federal Government power to pre-
serve the gains already made in deal
ing with the evils inherent in the
liquor traffic, 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 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 pur-
pose in accordance with the provisions
Of Articles Of the Constitution and
adequately safeguarded SO as to be
truly representative.
The RaiAcfad pIanL
The text of the minority report. pro-
posing repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment. and which was rejected. follows:
we recommend that the Congress
of the United States Immediately pre-
pare an amendment to the Federal
Constitution repeating the eighteenth
amendment thereto, to be submitted to
conventions Of the people of the several
States called for the sole purpose, IN
accordance with the provisions OF
Article OF the Constitution OF the
United States.
Should the eighteenth amendment
be repealed, we pledge our best effort
toward enactment of such measures i'll
the several States as will actually pro-
mote temperance, effectively abolish
the saloon, whether open or concealed,
and bring the liquor traffic itself under
complete public supervision and con-
troll. with revenues properly drawn
from legalized sources for the relief Of
the burden of taxpayers"
o