The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1917-04-20

| tic qucStlOH-ln the discussion OF THIS
bill today, and that is, is there such
question as the people, but their in
terests, and by its affecting them SO
vitality, that they have the right to
pass upon the question? If | should
so into short history of legislation
or the work for or against temper
ance, you would find from the early
history of Illinois, almost from the
admission of the state this has been a
vital question among the people OF the
state of Illinois.
During 9the carly history down
through the EOS, sos and 40's of the
last century, it kept growing more
and more important until 1855 the
Legislature of the state of Illinois
passed referendum bill very largely
of this sort, referring back to the peo-
pie that question. The people a, ys>xt
time voted, some 10000 for, srfS
and some $4,000 or $4,000 against and
the question of statewide refer
endum has laid dormant from that
time to this, some 81 years, but the
question would not down. The peo-
pie have been interested in it, it has
entered their home life as | said be-
fore, gone into their economic lives,
lit has affected their social life, it has
affected their political life, it has al
fected almost every election, so that
: in over 90 per cent of the cities of the
state of Illinois today have passed
t upon this question.
, Can you say then that they are not
= so conversant with it, that it has not
, SO affected them that they have vi
tai interest in it and that they should
{ not have the right to pass upon it! IT
t has gone, as | say, into the election
OF almost every town, city or village
1t has entered our state politics, Our
r national politics, has come i'll here to
8 vex us and has held back the organ,
| ization of the House for weeks, held
, back the organization Of the Senate
) it has blocked legislation, and | say
5 to you men today, it seems to me
every man on the floor of this House
, ought to be willing and glad to send
it back to the people and let them pass
upon this question and eliminate il
from our fight, both in the political
life and here in the House.
, The referendum is not new thing
in Illinois. There have been some 3
i, times when we have referred back tc
, the people questions for their decision
and SO of these have been since the
enactment of the constitution of 1871
: 1--WE referred back to them amend
ments to the constitution, referend
: ums on the tax question, referendums
), on water ways, referendums on gooo
= roads. and why should we not refei
! back to them this question which at
, fects them just as vitality as any Of
4 the other questions? Michigan has
. done it; Wisconsin has done it; Mis-
a souri, has done it; nearly all the, othel
r. states AROUND us. why ohooio ~
= Illinois? Aren't the electors in YOU
: district just as we'll qualified as an,
:, of the other electors in those othei
a states? 1t seems to me they are. W.
. owe our own right here to sit as mem
bers of this House to the vote OF tht
G people of our district. Shall we &c
q back to them and say, Eyes, | am glat
1 to have your support at the polls,
9 am glad to have you exercise youi
7 judgment and your discretion anc
your right as voter to say whether
|, | should come back here or not, but
= am not willing to let you exercise
. your judgment and your right TO pass
\ upon this question which so vital,
, Interests you" Are you going bach
; to the campaign next fall and say
r Eyes, know that I have come here
with your vote and asked for YOU
approval, am willing to trust you OF
all these, but ] cannot trust you Il
settle this question which affects yot