The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1918-12-27
NOTHING MORE IMPOR.
TANT

Editorial in Sterling Standard)
The one issue that has been before
the people of Illinois longer than any
other issue is the liquor question
the prohibition of the unnecessary
evil. The Federal amendment will be
passed without doubt from present
indications. But that is not enough.
The state should be organized to back
up the federal legislation when it is
completed. Passing the Federal
amendment is long step in the right
direction. But there are many things
yet to be done. One of the most inn
portant is to organize the state Legis-
laturc on basis that will represent
the sentiment of the people of Illinois.
Nothing is more important than that.
1t is known now that the House of
Representatives has dry majority.
1t certainly would be the height of
folly for the men who represent the
dry districts of Illinois to elect wet
Speaker of a dry House. A wet
Speaker can appoint committees that
will hold up all kinds of dry lcgisla-
ton. He Can force dry men to sub
NIT to his domination against their
will. or have their proper measures
showed to one side. 1t would be the
height of folly for the drys to con-
tnue to elect dry men to the Legisla-
ture and then have them help the state
partisan organization for the sake of
party harmony turn the state House
over again and again to the vets.
There are many important questions
looming Neutrality-suspicious. of the great
est importance. But on every one of
these questions the dry members will
be a unit in support of the war and
reconstruction measures. If there will
be any opposition it will come from
the wet members, not from the drys.
\ House organized as it should be
to represent the sentiment of the drys
voters of Illinois will do more pro-
gressive work, will be more ready to
go ahead with war and reconstruc-
| ton measures than will house Or
ganized by the vets.
With ali the important measures
ahead, with all the reconstruction
work that is to be done, the settlement
of the liquor question is the most inn
portant. Progress has been held back
for years in most all directions by the
vets. Reform measures have been
opposed by them. 1t would now be
the height of folly for the Republicans
to permit this condition to continue.
The dry voters are learning. They
once thought all that was necessary
was to pass prohibitory laws. They
are learning that laws do not enforce
themselves. They are learning that a
whisky soaked states attorney and a
whisky stewed sheriff and a whisky
nosed judge, and jury selected by a
whisky syn1pathizing gang, will not
enforce dry laws. They are going to
learn that dry men elected to the Leg
islature who help elect wet Speaker
of the House and turn the dry cause
over to wet organization, are not
safe men to be trusted. They are 60
ing to look more and more after the
conduct of the men they elect to office
in the future than in the past. and any
representative who is willing to turn
a dry House over to wet organiza-
ton for the sake of harmony in the
organization will find himself quite
likely to be suddenly dropped by the
voters who have heretofore delighted
to do him honor.
The Legislature is overwhelmingly
drys to turn the organization over
to the vets will be paving the way for
the dry members who help do so to
cet Iono varatiou from, ,,,,h1;c J;f.