The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-06-25
ACTION
! BY LIQUOR men
Such as Exists in State Of llIi-
nois at the National
Convention.

. s
NI8GRA FALLS. n. VI. Tune "a
The following Is an abstract Of an
ADDRESS delivered by William Z. Huh
on THE Illinois State Association. ..
Ct the convention OF the National
Wholesale Liquor Dealers Associa-
ton here.
We have: Just gone through one
OF the fercest' battles with the Pro-
hibitionlsts for supremacy in the
state of Illinois that has been carri-
ed on In the United States in my
Judgment. There never has been In
the history OF the state political cam
paign fought more viciously than the
one that ives fought on April Z. 1908.
The local option law in the state Of
Illinois is an unjust law.
That in union there Is strength
we have illustrated in the state Of
Illinois by bringing an organization
together composed OF the distillers.
wholesale liquor dealers, brewers and
manufacturers. and there is nothing
tbut harmony existing in this organ
ization. 1t is small In number but
mighty In character. 1t Is the duty
of this organization to lok after our
interests in a political way in the
State of Illinois, and put before the
voting public the injustice and the in
consistency of the Prohibition rule,
and TO bring the members OF the legis
lature and other officers in the State
to realize that all We desire is fair
play; also to bring the politicians to
realize that We are an organization
OF good citizens, and are ready to ba.-
tie for our rights.
Prejudice Eliminated
II believe that at the present time
we have eliminated from the minds of
great many people in the State of
Illinois the prejudice that existed
against our business. Our organiza-
ton Is strong and effective: there are
no feuds between the beer and whis-
key men, we have all agreed that
man should have the privilege of
drinking either whisky or beer as he
may desire, and We have also agreed
that It would not be either satisfac-
tory or profitable to operate retail
liquor business without the sale OF
both.
II desire at this time to impress
upon your minds that the brewers In
the State of; Illinois are willing 10
give and take. they are liberal in
their views as to the future of the
business, and the whiskey men in the
state connected with the organiza-
ton have taken the same liberal view
with the 'hrewer, and they have de-
clded that It, Is best to aid the brew
er in evry way possible, in the con-
Quoting Of retail business, which
the brewer usually controls. We
have confidence in the integrity and
the ability Of the brewers to regulate
traffic.
Unison In Action.
II am confident that national or
ganization can be perfected on the
same lines as the Illinois organiza-
ton. What we need Is unison In
action between the whiskey men, the
brewers and the allied trades. We
should have at the head of this or
ganization a man who is adroit, cool
headed, strong In character. shrewd
in politics, and a man of firmness and
ability. Then We would be in a po-
sition to do effective work, not only
in the way Of publicity and educa-
ton but when the actual time comes
IOI lIie hBult we sHuuiu We bH lut
firing line wit hour speakers, with our
national organization. our state or
ganization. and the backing of all
the trade. You viii then see that
the politician. cunning as he is, will
be swayed in other direction: he will
st up and take notice and give us a
respectable hearing within the limits
of his organization, and should he be
selected to office, he will not be SO
willing to jump into what he consid-
ers the popular band wagon and lend
his efforts to the Prohibitionists.
Il entreat this association at this
time. regardless of all differences
that have arisen or may arise be-
tween the brewers and the wholesale
liquor dealers to overlook the short
comings, b peaceful in mind, har-
monlous in action. then you will in
my judgment accomplish the desired
results,