Evening star., 1933-02-28
Moves in Prohibition Battle
Held to Require Great Care

The adoption by Congress of an
amendment to the Constitution repeal
ing prohibition is viewed by the public
as evidence of rapid change in legis-
lative sentiment. Ratification by State
conventions, method hitherto unused
in modification of the Constitution, is
approved as eminently fair, but warn
ing is sounded that succeeding steps
should be taken with great care in
order to avoid any question of the
legality of the referendum. There is
much debate as to the rights of the
States and the correctness of the gen.
orally accepted method of choosing
delegates by districts.
Suggesting differences of opinion as
to the State conventions, the Louisville
Courier journal holds that no chance
should be taken of having the result
of the referendum set aside" while the
Buffalo Evening News advises that
every precautiol should be taken to
have the decision unchallengeable."
The New Orleans Times-Picayune sug-
gests that there is entirely new ground
to be broken in the ratification process"
and that 1t may be well to clarity the
situation at the earliest moment" and
the Asbury Park Evening Press feels
that "the methods should be above
criticism" The Charleston IS. c.
Evening Post advises that the choice
Of delegates should not be haphazard."
X
"The battle front Of prohibition is no
longer at Washington, as always here
tofore. but is transferred to the States"
says the Rock Island Argus, while the
Providence Bulletin advises that there
Is no need to confuse the issue of re-
peal by beating up the issue Of Fed
eral versus State control" and the
Springfield (Mass) Republican looks for
complete control by State jurisdictions,
with a multiplicity Of opportunities for
variations in procedure" The Chicago
Daily News comments: THE Federal
Supreme Court has held that considera-
ton of an amendment to the Federal
Constitution submitted by Congress to
the States is a Federal function, but it
does not necessarily follow that Con-
gress has power to determine how the
prohibition repeal conventions shall be
constituted, when and where they shall
assemble, and what form their action
shall take" The. San Antonio Ex-
press concludes that the Constitution
logically implies that Congress duty
is done when that body has proposed
the mode Of ratification"
The Scranton Times adds that "dif-
ferent situations prevail in different
States, so that the set-up must be
adapted to State conditions If truly
representative convention is to be or
ganized' The Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin argues that 1T is not desirable
that the matter should become con-
fused in long and involved technical
controversy"
Necessity that the candidates should
declare themselves in advance is up
held by the Indianapolis News and the
Sioux Falls Daily Argus-Leader. while
the judgment that more accurate re-
suits would be obtained by electing dele
gates according to congressional dis
tricts than according to State districts
Is voiced by the Baltimore Sun and
the Roanoke Times. The Topeka Daily
Capital raises the objection to dele
gates at large that they would give
American cities strangle hold in the
referendum" Endorsement of repre-
sentation according to State districts
Is given by the New Castle News, while
the Hartford Times, criticizing that
methods accuracy, yet AYERS that "it
is well to bear in mind that the Federal
Government itself never has been truly
representative in the popular sense"
The Texarkana Gazette declares that
the advantageous way to handle the
matter would be to select the delegates