The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-06-20

vote 1Or repeal, declared
Governor Wilbur L. Cross in a
radio broadcast over Station VITO
Monday evening, inwhich he urged
each citizen to vote today on the
question Of ratifying the proposed
18th Amendment to the Federal
Constitution.
Congressman Charles M. Bake
well of New Haven also broadcast
an appeal to Connecticut voters to
roll up a big majority for repeal
so that Connecticut's position
might be Enthusiastically clear be-
fore the other states of the Union.
Tomorrow we citizens of Con-
necticut are to decide by our bal
lots whether the state shall ratify
or reject a proposed amendment
to the Constitution Of the United
States repeating the 18th Amend
ment, which among other things
prohibits the manufacture and
sale ,of Intoxicating liquors for
beverage purposes. As interpreted
by the enforcing Volstead Act, any
liquor containing more than half
OF one per cent of alcohol was de-
clared to be Intoxicating. Half Of
one per cent Is said to be the al
coho1ic content Of buttermilk. The
question we have to settle tomor-
row is whether we are for or
against national prohibition, such
as we have had for more than
decade.
"The method of procedure is
novel. We are to vote for dele
gates to the state convention to
determine the issue. The dele
gates are divided into two groups.
Delegates of one group are pledged
to the, ratification Of an amend
ment repeating the 18th Amend
ment. Delegates of the second
group are for rejecting the new
amendment. 1t. Is the duty OF
every citizen to go to the polls and
to cast his ballot in accordance
with his conscience.
with the people of. Connecticut
have always been frank. They
know that I am for the enforce
ment of the law. No state has
better police force than ours.
have done my best against odds
that could not be overcome to re-
move from municipal courts the
corruption of sinister influences.
have exerted all the power at my
direct command to enforce prohi-
bition statutes in this state. The
state police are always on the
watch. Arrests, followed by fines
or imprisonment. have been con-
tinuous. But 1t has been impossi-
BILE to prevent the flow of hard
liquors into and through Connec-
ticut. Bootlegging is profess
sion regarded by many as honor
able. It is estimated that there
are now more speakeasies In the
state than there were saloons in
the old days. Prohibition under
the 18th Amendment has broken
down. The force inherent in any
law is the force of public opinion.
Remove that and notification be-
comes the rule.
1.-THE choice now lies between
notification and a repeal OF the
18th Amendment so that each
state in the Union may enact laws
for the control of alcoholic liquors
in harmony with public opinion.
For ten years the question of pro-
hibition was manipulated by poll
ticians as merely a political issue.
without reference to his personal
habits or his convictions, the can
didate for office was either wet
or dry, dependent upon whether ne
was more likely to be elected as u
wet or as a dry. Public officials
who have professed to be dry. have
been ready to accept bribes from
bootleggers and racketeers. In
stances are without number. II
difficult to prove conspiracy
where all who are engaged in It
are skiilful liars. The public will
no longer be fed upon this kind OF
hypocrisy and flapdoodle. Both OF
the leading political parties have
been compelled to come out for
straight repeal.
"The question for or against the
18th Amendment has become q
great social question transcendfng
politics. When you cast your bal.
lot tomorrow morning, you VIII
find, whichever way you vote, the
names of republicans and demo-
Gratis co-mingled in each group Of
delegates t othe convention.
"The modification of the Vol
stead Act permitting the manufac-
ture and sale Of beer and wine Of
az per cent alcoholic content sud
denly brought the question Of con-
troll Of all alcoholic liquors.
whether intoxicating or not. Dis
cussions and debates almost at
once made 1t clear that the best
opinion in this state was firmly
opposed to a return to the condi-
lions prevailing in the old days be-
fore prohibition when politicians
and distillers OF hard liquor We're
in the saddle.
Acting in accordance with the
demand, the general assembly
passed a bill requiring the COVER
nor to appoint a commission with
statewide jurisdiction. No better
plan than the one adopted has yet
been devised in any state in the