Evening star., 1932-06-26
Democratic Plank Possibilities.

Democratic Plank Possibilities.
With Bishop Cannon's analysis thus
presented, it may be interesting to take
up the points as he enumerates them
and to look into the possibilities LOT
variance between this plank and that
to be adopted by the Democratic con-
vention. :,
The first point might be accepted
casually at first as mere phrase making.
As a matter of fact, the developments
already tend to emphasize its slg11ln-
canoe. Former Gov. Smiths arrival In
Chicago was marked by his issuance OF
formal statement outlining his views
on the prohibition issue, and. coming
from this source, they will play a highly
important part in the considerations OF
a plank bv the Resolutions Committee.
Gov. Smith repeated his former decla-
ration in favor Of modifying the VOL
stead act Immediately by "sclentln-
cally correct" definition that viii per-
nit the sale OF beverages of reasonable
alcoholic content. Now, everybody
might grant that scientific definitions
OF what constitutes intoxicating bever-
ages could be obtained by the bushel.
But would they be accepted? And II
they were not accepted. would an at
tempt to modify the drastic provisions
of the Volstead act-to permit the sale
of light wines and beer, for instance
be considered as nullifying the consti-
tutional amendment that forbids the
manufacture, transportation and sale OF
intoxicating beverages? ,
The Volstead law might be amended
in such a way as to avoid any OBJ
lection on the ground Of notification.
But to amend it to permit light wines
and beer certainly would raise the
notification issue. The alcoholic content
of "unfortified" light wine is normally
from II to IA per cent. That is the
alcoholic content resulting from natural
fermentation. Light wines, moderately
fortified would run higher. Pre-
prohibition" beer had normal alcoholic
content of Al per cent, sometimes found
to run as high as SIS per cent. 1t is
idle to contend that If light wines and
beer-of the alcoholic content given
above-were permitted by amendment
of the Volstead LAW the cry OF "nulltflca-
ton" would not be raised. There might
be room for a difference Of opinion
whether beer with 2A per cent Of alco-
holic content, as demanded by the
labor unions, would necessarily be de-
fined as Intoxicating" but hardly con-
cerning wines of IL to 80 per cent
, 0AlJ1iUlAk NkAAeNAh'
The first issue that is invited by the
Smith proposal, therefore. is on modi-
( fcation of the Volstead act, and that
issue includes the issue Of enforcing
the law as it stands until amended in
such fashion as not to nullify the eight
eenth amendment, or until this law Is
conceled by repeal Of the eighteenth
amendment.
Referendum" Now Obsolete Term
The second point enumerated by
Bishop Cannon may be passed over.
Such proposals as "referendums" and
submission" are practically obsolete in
the light OF frank recognition by nearly
everybody that no referendum or sub
mission IS practical or possible, except
through the formal steps provided Coz
IN the Constitution. Congress by two
thirds vote may submit an amendment
to the Constitution. But that is all.
Stunned as Partisan Issue.
The third point enumerated by
Bishop Cannon is important. The Re-
publican plank refuses toshakk prolii-
bition q partisan issue, recoenizing the
right Of its members to dissent. INT