Show I. I bA DECISION HITS WET HOPES CAt N T Of Lt Supreme Court ourt Rules j A Action Hon I of Legislature t re n E. E Ratification V- V M lr Dry Law T Is T Final 1 j jT T J WASHINGTON June Jun 1 Tl 1 Trie t W Q referendum j reI d m of of last st November as trie result of which the tate state ed d. d to withdraw v i atiQ of the prohibition ame amendment dm nt is unconstitutional U. U u- u ional the supreme s pr ourt rt today de- de e- e v r The he c court rt held that the ratification of ot ota a any y constitutional t o ria 1 a amendment nen nl y a legislature is final r 0 Jt I i also so granted ed an n nn Injunction n cUo Jk x r straining the the- state officials from froim the hie wb suffrage s-e s seam am amendment men to a referendum ef t. t fall r J- J ib legislature r ratified the I fir pro prohibition am amendment but wet suc succeeded suc- suc c eded fn calling fa a r referendum andt and t the e voters voters- decide cI against gI I 1 t n J prohibition L f J proceedings yvere vere t j 1 started to enable hi to iQ withdraw its t vana the state r supreme reme court courtin uti i in d d' d I jt St cb 1 prem toda ts aSide f. f Th The 1 f me court c rt tailed failed again to tode de decide th the of the prohibition ame amendment nt portions rt of the ena en- en a act t. t and n recessed until ne net t T Monday Mon Y w the present term m close The c court urt dl did l not not- rule as s to validity of ot the Ohio r referendum fere dum Ja law but merely ly slated that ftfe referendum Js unnecessary ly for tor th i 4 ratification of ot the constitutional amendments amendment and dl did not express an opinion as to the necessity for a a rEf referendum r on n state matters The decision affects affect the statEs statys of th the prohibition n cases only It had been been argued uby bY Root before the he- he hec c la law had not not be been n f ratified because a a. ref referendum ren um hatt not be been 11 taken in s several veral t st slates Today's roday de decision upsets this contention S Seven ven other proceedings have been bro brought t to prevent submission of t the prohibition n amendment to a referendum dum T The e n. n supreme Jeme court took virtually the same aine of the question as did the Ohio court while the cou courts s in Oregon llaine Colorado Arkansas California and Mi Michigan held that fed federal l amendments w wr r not subject tto to ref referendum x THE DECISION N. N 4 Justice Day y Jn In rendering Jb courts court's cou ts t's opinion which was unanimous said in part Th constitution th the United ed States was oi- oi ordained bv by the people eople and when duly ratified J it became the ha constitution of the people of the United States The states surrendered urr dered to the general g government the powers specifically cont conferred up the th nation and antl the constitution c n arid art the laws of the United States ate are t th 8 supreme law of he the land Th The framers of the constitution on realized d that it might ire change To Tp th that t end U-i U they y adopted d the fifth article This makes provision on f f the amendments either by two thirds ot t both houses houses- hous s of c congress or Oran an aP v appU p cation o of legislatures of t two f the states s. s The proposed d change can can Only nty beco e effectively Y the Ratification o ot the legislatures l t of three three fourths rt s pf thE states te or or by con con v Jn n a like numb number r. r of states The method pt pf ratification is left to the ch choice of ot congress B Both methods of r ratification n by legislatures sl tur sor or con is call calf for acU action n by DY dell deliberate er t I assemblage representative of f. f the lie peg peg- pie which jt was assumed would d dolc Vole the of the people T Th The Thel l language pf the article is plain and dO doubt In j Its interpretation E a.- a. admits admits' of Qt no no s pr tion MEANING PLAIN PLAIN The only fuestion 1 or det ii atlon a- a lion Is What Wha did did the he frame rs s of the constitution mean in requiring g ratification cation by legislatures at was idt a term of ot uncertain meaning ea J ui when in edi In tb V constitution constitutions CT s There can be no- no question q that the framers am r of th the to constitution in understood and carefully cl used ui Hie terms In which that at Instrument le- le tErr d to the th action of f th the legislatures Q of the states states- When the intended n tended that direction by the people should i lie h had d they Were vere no less acc accurate r te in theus the I to I cairy cairS o out t tuch us use of apt pt phrase logy v such uch purposes purposes' t I 1 t I I I I 1 i I j I I i |