The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1917-03-09

referendum bill pending in the House
of Representatives, have urged the
passage of the bill. Not only have
they given liberal space to hundreds
of resolutions passed by various civic
and other bodies, as we'll as to open
letters from prominent citizens urg-
ing the passage of the bill, but many
of the leading papers in the state
have advocated its passage editori-
ally.
People Want the Vote, Says State
Register
In long editorial, the Illinois
State Register urges the House OF
Representatives to pass the referen-
dunn bill. The editorial closes with
these words:
at is a moral question. 1t relates
to the well-being of the home, the
community and the state. Partisan
politics is not in any proper sense in
volved in it. Democrats and Re-
publicans should consult their entire
constituency and represent them as
a body by their votes. If they do,
the people of Illinois will be given
an opportunity to vote upon this all
absorbing question in November,
1913"
The Galesburg Register points out
that the only strong opposition to
the bill comes from the distilleries OF
Peoria, and the breweres of Chi
cago.
mo such opportunity as this
says the Register, "has been before
the Illinois House for 80. years. Il
would put Illinois on level with
Indiana and Iowa. 1t would disclose
to the world that the distilleries and
breweries of Peoria and Chicago do
not own and control the state"
Great Change of Sentiment, Says
Aurora News
The Aurora News, which cannot
be accused of being strongly biased
in favor of the dry interests, points
out the radical change of sentiment
upon the saloon question in recent
years.
"a few years ago." says the News
"a statewide dry bill would have
stood as much show in the Senate oi
Illinois as the proverbial skating rink
in the blast furnace.
"The passage of the bill by sub.
stantial majority indicates the change
of sentiment on the part of the peo.
pie toward the sale of liquor"
Representative McCabe, in the
Joliet News, also calls attention to
the fact that the referendum ques-
ton is now the big issue before the
Legislature.
at is certain that the campaign tc
submit the question to the voters oi
Illinois, both men and women" says
Mr.. McCabe, "is the big issue before
the Legislature at this time. Win OF
lose, the ardent drys see ultimate
success in Illinois either through the
referendum or by statutory action
Merely an Extension of the Local
Optional Principle, Says Wau-
kegan Gazette
One of the most pertinent edi,
torials upon the question is that Of
the Waukegan Gazette, already
quoted in The Issue. The editor Of
the Gazette calls attention to the
fact that the bill is based upon the
democratic principle that the people
should rule.
"At Springfield now is being
waged a fight to pass statewide
local option measure" saws the Ga
zette. "The Senate har already
passed the bill and sent it to the
House. The liquor interests are
loud In their denunciation of the -
Should it be passed, the people W
have a right to vote on the propssi
ton, Shall the state of Illinois bs
dry7' The people, the very ones
who the wets claim should be giver
chance by their vote to say whether
Waukegan township should be wei
or dry, must be shut off from enjoy
ing the same privilege when the
whole state is taken into considera'
ton"
Many Resolutions Passed
While the Illinois press has MOI
vet been Indifferent to the big issue
in the Legislature, yet the main sup
port of the bill has come from the
people at large. Thousands of let.
ters have been written to the State
! Representatives, and many have beer