THE LIQUOR LAW.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 April 1927, Page 5

THE LIQUOR LAW.

DEBATED IN AMERICA

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SPEAKS SENATOR BORAH’S REPLY. dl CABLE--BEESS ASSOCIATION- -COPYBIGU'J NEW YORK, April 9. At Boston last evening the most authoritative discussion on prohibition since the amendment was enacted occurred, when Senator Borah and Mr Butler, president of the Columbia University, debated the question: “Should the Republican national platform for 1.928 advocate the repeal of the Eighteenth Amndment ?’ ’ Air Butler, speaking in the affirmative, outlined the following argument in a. 45 minutes’ speech : “Prohibition is in no direct sense a question of morals; it is primarily and chiefly a question of government. The Eighteenth. Amendment is subversive legislation and a revolutionary Act. It has nothing to do with the form or structure of government; therefore it does not belong to the. Cnstitution. “Prohibitoin has filled this* nation with traffic in intoxicating liquor, illicit, illegal, untaxed and tremendously profitable*. Prohibition interferes with the State’s right, to deal with this question. There are States which do not desire prohibition. It interferes with local .self-government. The Eighteenth Amendment is the worst way of dealing with the liquor traffic and saloons. “Prohibition agents, under the guise of law- enforcement, are guilty of murder, intrapments and solicitations to crime. Law enforcement is impossible when conflicting laws are to lie enforced. The Eighteenth Amendment conflicts with the Constitution. It .attempts to dragoon the body, politic When the need is to convince it. This coukl end only in revolt, and so it has clone.”

Senator Borah, speaking for one hour, gave the following argument in the negative: “The liquor traffic is a curse to the human family, and must be dealt with by law in some way to protect the public interest. The American people deliberately outlawed the intoxicating liquor system, which _is entitled to a full trial before talking of repeal. I believe it can be enforced.

“The Supreme Court ha.s. declared the Eighteenth Amendment constitutional. Prohibition violations continue, but the battle against evil must continue. AVe cannot talk of repeal unless we have a. substantail .programme ready. Increasing the alcoholic content to an extent greater than was permitted under the Volstead Act is. no solution; modification is sheer political expediency. “Government sale, and distribution of liquor is a, scheme born of confusion. The Canadian .system lias proved unsuoressfiiL and T do not think the American people want to go bade to the old saloon under another name. The efforts being made against the Eighteenth Amendment are delibrate, organised attempts to nullify the Constitution. Obedience to the law is a. fundamental principle, and upon this rests our Government. “ ‘Dry’ States under the. system of control of,liquor by individual States have their rights invaded l>y the shipment of liquor from ‘wet’ States. There have been attempts from the very enactment of 'the amendment to prevent its being accepted in the -minds of the American, people.” . Air Butler has 15 minutes for his speech in rebuttal of Senator Borah’s argument, hut no decision was rendered.