Evening star., 1933-02-17
The Senate Settles It.

The Senate vote on the Blaine repeal
resolution yesterday undoubtedly marks
the end of prohibition by constitutional
amendment. The vets were repre-
sented as being even more surprised
than were the drys by the result. II
that is true, and all the indications are
that it Is true, the Senate vote was in
the nature of a shot in the dark. 1t
was more or less aimless. But it struck
home.
It struck home because it has dealt
q mortal blow to constitutional prohi-
bition. There Is little doubt about the
result to be expected Monday when the
House takes up repeal for the second
time and votes ON the Blaine resolution
under suspension Of the rules. Six
votes killed the naked repeal resolution
voted on by the House ON the opening
day Of the session. More than six votes
will be switched when the matter comes
up again on Monday after caucuses OF
Democrats and of Republican vets.
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the States before March A. there is
every prospect that the ratification by
three-fourths of them will be only a
matter Of time. That appears to be
true for the simple reason that the
source of any effective opposition to a
change in prohibition laws is yet to
be revealed. The question to be sub
mitted to the States will be change or
no change. The manner of change,
unfortunately, has received secondary
consideration. The manner Of change
win not be the question submitted to
the people.
The Senate method Of repeal Is open
to criticism because nobody knows how
effective 1t will be In guaranteeing to
the people Of this country that the
evils Of the liquor traffic exemplified in
the saloon Of pre-prohibition days will
not return. The straight repeal Of the
eighteenth amendment, modified only
By constitutional prohibition against
shipment Of liquors into States which
choose to remain dry, places again upon
the States the same problem that they
decided to solve by ratification Of the
eighteenth amendment. Their desire
10 prevent the return Of the saloon now
and their ability to prevent 1t have been
promised. The test is yet to come. The
duty Of vets and drys alike Is to ac-
cept the new challenge; to work in the
States for the preservation Of gains
made under the eighteenth amendment,
and to prevent those gains from being
placed in Jeopardy by acceptance Of
the theory that 1t will be a simple task
now to prevent the return Of the saloon.
It will be no simple task. It will re-
quire vigorous and intelligent and con-
sistent effort.
Should this Congress, as in all probabil-
ity 1t will, submit the prohibition repeal
question to the States, problems confront
ing the special session Of Congress will
have been unexpectedly ightened. With
the prohibition question out Of the way,
the special session will be free to con-
centrate upon the more important eco
nomic problems Of relief and recon-
struction. But both this Congress and
the next may have to occupy them
selves with setting up a new and un-
tried machinery for ratification of a
constitutional amendment. Ratifica-
ton by State conventions, favored by
both political parties, will be the meth
Cd directed by Congress. Congress is yet
10 decide whether the expenses and
the rules governing such conventions are
to be Federal or State responsibilities.