The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-10-26
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
EXTRAORDINARY LOGIC

| Senator Josiah W. Bailey has come out with d
statement by which he hopes to influence the cltl
zens of North Carolina to cast their ballots for
repeal of the 18th Amendment.
Certainly Mr.. Bailey is within his rights, a.
though the role he now assumes is not that which
his constituents had reason to expect In fact, the
senior Senator looks somewhat grotesque as ne eS-
says to lock arms with "Our Bob and head the
grand march of those demanding legalized booze in
America.
If Senator Josiah had the natural grace and
debonair poise with which Senator Bob comes home
to lead 'his people, he would blend more perfect
" into the campaign setting Even the extraordi-
nary logic with which he justifes his entry on the
side of tbs wet forces, becomes labored and ap-
pears awkward, it seems to The Record.
For while Senator Bailey would have US walk
blithely to the polls and vote to repeal the 18th
Amendment, he urges to demand the right OF
a "plebscite" later on, at which time we would be
given opportunity to vote on the question Of
whether North Carolina shall retain her prohibit
ton laws.
In other words, the senior Senator has Joined
that remarkable species of logician which assures
us that our votes on November 7th really mean
very little, and assuredy cannot be construed as
committing US on the wet and dry issue from the
standpoint of our own state.
Thus bv merely crossing ones fingers, it will b2
possible to follow the Bailey lead and vote for 70
peal Once out of the election booth, quickly I'M
cross the fingers clear the throat and you are qua
| lifted to join with the Senator in the chorus OF
Coward Christian Soldiers whatever similar
song shall be chosen by him in whooping it up for
the retention of the burlington Act.
| Fortunately Senator, most good citizens do not
possess chameeonic conscience They are either
for or against prohibition
| Those who believe prohibition to be basically
right should not be encouraged to kid themselves
| by such specious reasoning as you incorporate IN
| the following portion of your statement:
"Since 33 states have declared by large major
| ties against the 18th Amendment, enforcement OF
its terms is out of the question. Public opinion III
more than half this Republic has already repudiat-
ed the 18th Amendment in elections duly held and
| by overwhelming majorties. Manifestly, the 18th
Amendment has lost its sanction so widely that 1t
is futile to seek to sustain it. In 33 states, the
people have spoken in no uncertain terms How
could we hope to maintain or enforce the 18th
! Amendment in those states? Having lost the sup
port of the public opinion which put it in the Con
stution to seek to keep it there is impractlcable
even impossible under the circumstances. Why
waste the fine energies and impulses that animate
those who would reduce the drink evil to its low
est possible terms, in manifestly van undertak-
| ing? Why involve the question of the States pol
| icy in question of national policy beyond the
power of this State to determine, and which does
not present the consideration attending the ques-
| ton of the States policy"
The people of your state are not altogether
dumb. There is nobody being deluded into believ
ing that the result of the voting in North Carolina
on November 7th will have any effect one way OF
the other throughout the nation. We might just a:
well not vote so far as the national fate of prohi
biton is concerned The only question actually al
issue, therefore, is to determine the sentiment o.
our people with reference to legalized booze.
What would be the sense of saddling the added
expense of another and later election on the shou!
ders of our already overburdened taxpayers ir
order to hold the so-called "pebiscte' which yOr
suggest for this state?
There will be no need, Senator Bailey, to pu
the question in Latin if it is properly submitte;
in plain English on November 7th-are you for o.
: against the return of legalized booze.-Hickor.
[ Record