The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1920-03-12
Illinois Democrats
Not For Edwards
State Leaders and Drys Will Not Fol-
low Cermak


ties in behalf of Governor Edwards
of New jersey for the Democratic
nomination to the office of President
is not receiving the united support of
the Democratic party. In fact, it is
merely the members of the party who
are vets regardless OF party principle
Who are trying to influence the nomi-
nation of 4 wet candidate.
News that the wet movement did
not have the support OF Chicago DEM
ocrats came in Washington dispatch
to the Chicago Tribune from its po-
litical correspondent. This corrc-
spondcnt on March 4 said
Roger Sullivan Speaks
From political quarters emanatcd
an authentic report that Roger Sulli-
van, when i'll the capital few days
ago, had dropped stick of dynamite
into that aggregation of Jefersonians
which is entertaining visions of VIC
tory in the Presidential election on a
wet platform. Mr.. Sullivan, it APP
pears, did not mince words i'll assur-
ing sundry Democratic leaders that
they are only making trouble for
themselves and their party i'll attempt
ing TO force the liquor issue to the
fore.
'Mr. Sullivan is quoted as assert
ing that the country is ovcrwhelm-
ingy dry, that only a few big cities
are wet that a party indorsng even
light wines and beer would be defeat
ed and that neither national eonvcn-
ton will dare write wet plank into
its platform.
Commenting cditorially on Roger
Sullivan's statement, the Chicago
Tribune said:
Roger docs not speak as dry by
persuasion, but by necessity, He is
always fresh from the people, and he
says that if the Democrats nominate
wet candidate on a wet platform
they'll carry New York City, Chicago,
New Jersey and Rhode Island, and
can take that to the electoral college
and sec what it will get them
Congress and the State Lcgisla-
ture went dry because the members
of Congress and the Legislature
thought the country was dry in prin-
ciple, and if they had made mistake
it will cost them their jobs. They do
not risk their jobs lightly
Another disagreement with the wet
democracy of Anton Cermak and the
United Societies was given expression
at a meeting of dry Democrats at the
Hotel Sherman on March s.
Dry Democrats Object
At this meeting, which was pre-
sided over by Clayton Z. Crafts, a
resolution was passed calling upon
the government to enforce the Eight
centh Amendment. One of the rea-
sons for the meeting was given as
The Widespread publicity given to
the political activities of vociferous
but unrepresentatiye minority in the
Democratic party which, in manifest
disregard OF the fundamental princi-
pies OF the party, is seeking to further
the candidacy OF men for the Presi-
dcncy and for Congress whose chief
and apparently only interest in these
Offices appears to be the opportunity
they offer Tor opposition to the effec-
tive enforcement of the Eighteenth
amendment"
In introducing the resolution, which
was unanimous, A. L. Rouland called
attention 20 the fact that Anton Ger
max, who is leading the Edwards
campaign in Illinois, was a wet can
didatc for sheriff in 1918 and was
beaten in an election in which most
Democrats were elected.
Neither Governor Edwards nor
any other wet will be nominated by
the Democratic party" said Mr.. Rou-
land Are the great states of the
West with woman suffrage and the
Southern states, which cast their votes
for a Democratic President last time,
to be turned down for Anton Cermak
and his United Societies candidate?