Evening star., 1933-04-14

Eyes are turned to emphatic popular
votes in Michigan and Wisconsin in
favor of repeal of the prohibition
amendment of the Federal Oonstitu-
ton. The two States represent, in the
popular mind, what the Baltimore Eve
ming Sun describes as "the starting of
the bandwagon," with evidence of the
reversal of opinion in the country" The
Goshen News Times believes that
Michigan is representative Of the Mid
die West at least" pointing out that
"the big dry vote in that State was not
confined to the cities" The Oshkosh
Daily Northwestern records of the Wis
consin vote that "a great majority OF
the farmers registered against contlnu-
alton of the amendment" although the
dry opponents of repeal had hoped TO
make some showings of strength In the
rural communities"
In opposition to these conclusions,
the Oklahoma City Times declares that
repeal is still far from an accomplished
fact" emphasizing that Michigan Is
an important industrial State, with one
of the largest four cities of the Nation
within its boundaries" and also is
border State" The Times advises that
"the final triumph Of the anti-prohibi-
ton forces, if they win, VIII result from
the change Of sentiment In several
States that had State prohibition before
the eighteenth amendment was adopted"
1T is said" according to the Roanoke
Times, that the dry board of strategy,
undisturbed by the overwhelming wet
victories at the polls of Michigan and
wisconsin, plans to concentrate its
campaign to block ratification OF the
eighteenth amendment in the Middle
West and the South Members of the
board are confident that they can hold
a block of the requisite number OF
States to prevent repeal. In view of
the unmistakable indications that the
voters of North Carolina, Alabama and
Louisiana, which can certainly be
are overwhelmingly in favor Of repeal,
1t may turn out that the confidence OF
the dry leaders are misplaced"
Advocates Of prohibition reform gain
decided psychological advantage,
AYERS the Cleveland News, With the
statement as to the significance OF the
latest development: Michigan has been
dry State 1t Is the State which en-
acted the 'life-for- pint law. one OF
the most drastic and oppressive of all
the prohibition statutes. 1t treated Vlo-
lators Of the dry laws pretty harshly. IL
tried to make prohibition work ana
found that it couldn't. 1t has shown
reversal of opinion In the matter OF the
regulation Of personal habits by law
probably as marked as that anywhere
in the country" The Appleton Post
Crescent recalls that Michigan was one
Of the original dry States" and that II
enforced prohibition with a reasonable
degree of tightneSs." sending people TO
prison for life because, upon their 1ourtn
conviction, they were found with a pint
of moonshine" The Rock Island Argus
gives figures showing that lin 1916, by
q popular vote Of $4,000 to 284 600. an
amendment was written into the States
ccnstitution-a 5-to-4 vote-while the
other day. by 3-to-1 vote. Michigan
declared in favor OF repeal"
Michigan has had" according to the
louisville Courier-Journal, more than
It's share of bootlegging, gangsterism and
corruption spawned by the eighteenth
amendment Being at the gateway to
Canada, the State has served as a
passage for the transportation OF vast
quantities of liquor smuggled through
from across the border The people OF
Michigan, in a large majority, are sick
of this order of things. They regis
tered their disgust with 1t last Novem-
Der by voting for repeal OF the State
dry laws, and now they express their
Will WITH even greater eHpAaSlS on the
straight issue of repeal or retention of
the eighteenth amendment"
IAN indication of what is to be ex-
pected when the other commonwealths
begin to express themselves" Is sug-
gested by the Oakland Tribune, while |
the Port Huron Times Herald sees IAN |
advance expression Of the national SELL
timent," although 1t advises that what |
ever benefits the country is to receive |
from the latest change In the basic law |
viii depend to1 large extent upon the !