Evening star., 1932-08-12
Mr., Hoover on Prohibition.

"deep conviction" that "a change is
necessary can be construed as ad-
vocacy of such change-and it is
difficult otherwise to construe it-many
will accept as the significant point OF
the Presidents view on prohibition the
fact that he goes beyond the platform
of his party and becomes an advocate
of change.
For the Republican platform advo-
Gates submission" of the question OF
change without debating, as the Presi-
dent puts it, "to the conscience Of any
member of the party" or, in other
words, without taking a stand as be-
tween change and no change.
AS leader of his party and as an
individual whose high office has en-
abled him to observe the unhappy &C
Commandments of an effort "of high
purpose" to control an ancient evil,
Mr.. Hoover concludes that "in order
to remedy present evils a change is
necessary by which we resummon
proper share of initiative and re-
sponsibility which the very essence OF
our Government demands shall rest
upon the States and local authorities"
As President of the United States
and this point is given peculiar en-
phasis-''the first duty is to
enforce the laws as they exist. That
I shall continue to do to the utmost
of my ability. Any other course would
be the abrogation of the very guar
antics of liberty itself. The Constitu-
ton gives the President no power or
authority with respect to changes in
the Constitution itself"
F.,-..-g thus committed himself as a
candidate whose views on public ques-
tions the electorate is entitled to know,
and as the incumbent of the Office of
President, the next question is the ma
ture of the change that, in this former
capacity, he espouses.
The change he advocates is the
change that his party platform would
submit for approval or disapproval to
the electorate. Elsewhere in these
columns today the Presidents own
words are printed. Here it suf1ices to
describe them as demanding that with
the return to the States of the right
to deal with the liquor problem as they
choose, which means repeal of the
eighteenth amendment, such right shall
be Subject to absolute guarantees in
the Constitution Of the United States"
TO protect the dry States from the wet
States and to prevent everywhere the
return of the saloon. And this means
in commonly accepted if not exact
terms-repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment by substitute, as against Sub
stitutionleSs repeal Of the amendment.
The issue on prohibition between the
two candidates is thus drawn. Gov.
Roosevelt champions outright uncondi-
tional repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment, and when that happens we, as
Democrats, must and will, rightly and
morally enable the St-..cs to protect
themselves against tie importation OF
Intoxicating liquor where such impor-
tations may violate their State laws
We must rightly and morally prevent
the return of the saloon"
President Hoover is unwilling to leave
the protection of the dry States and
the prevention Of the saloon to the good
intentions of any political party. He
would retain in the Constitution implicit
guarantees of Federal assistance to the
dry States and of Federal resistance to
the saloon. The other course, outright re-
neal, he believes, would represent
blind leap back to old evils"
The issue on prohibition between the
candidates is clearly enough drawn.
The issue between the party platforms
is clearly drawn. But the same issue
divides loyal Republicans and equally
loyal Democrats. 1t has become the
issue on prohibition rather than an issue
between the parties.
For one finds the legislative exemph-
fication of Gov. Roosevelt's position ana
the Democratic plank in the following
resolution by Senator Wagner, Demo-
crat, which will find support among Re-
nublicans as well as Democrats:
Resolved, by the Senate and House OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF the Unlteo SIaCes
Of America in Congress assembled, That
the following article is proposed as an
Amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States, which, when ratified by
conventions in three-fourths OF tne
several States, shall be valid TO all m
tents and purposes as part OF tne
Constitution: The eighteenth amend
ment to the Constitution OF the Unltec
States is hereby repealed.
And one finds the legislative exemphn'
cation, substantially, at least, OF Presl'
dent Hoover's position and the propose
outlined in the Republican plank IL
the following resolution py Senato
Glass. another Democrat, which vii
also find support among Republicans a
well as Democrats
Resolved. That the following Il
proposed as an amendment to the Con
stitution of the United States:
Section /, Article XVIII, OF the amend
ments to this Constitution is hereby re
pealed. The sale of Intoxicating liquor
within the United States or any TERN
tory subject to the jurisdiction thereo
for consumption at the place OF sal
commonly known as saloon) and tn
Transportation Of intoxicating liquor
into any State, Territory. District Q
possession Of the United states i
which the manufacture, sale and trans
portation of intoxicating liquors ar
prohibited by law, are hereby pro
hibited The Congress and the sewers
States, Territories and possessions sna
have concurrent power to enforce tn
article by appropriate legislation.
Section 2. This article shall be In
operative unless it shall have hsn rat
fied Is an amendment to the Constitl
ton by conventions in the sever