The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1920-03-12
Illinois Vets Seek to Nominate
Wei Democrat for President
NATIONAL FIGHT ON
FOR WET CONGRESS
Several Judges Declare Against The
Dry Law
UNITED SOCIETIES ARE ACTIVE

UNITED SOCIETIES ARE ACTIVE
All doubt that the vets expect to
carry on desperate fight against
Prohibition has been cleared away by
Developments during the past few
days. ltds row certain that the drys
arc facing one OF their most despcr-
ate fights since the organization Of
the Anti-Saloon League
All the great power OF the vets is
being masscd for thc purpose Of
breaking down Prohibition by elect
ing wet President, a wet Congress.
"a wet State Legislature. and wet Of
fcials TO every Office having 10 do
WITH the passage or execution OF Pro
iiibition laws
The following are a few rcccnt~de-
velopmcnts:
Want Wet President
Or March Illinois vets net in
Chicago to complete tie details OF FL
ing petition for the nomination OF
Governor Edwards OF New Jersey as
Democratic Presidential candidate
Officials OF the United Societies. the
leading wei organization OF Illinois
had charge OF the meeting. Anton
Cermsk, for years the leader OF the
vets in this state. is quoted as having
said a, this meeting, The crisis has
arrived. The vets hesitate no longer.
We propose to nominate Governor
Edwards at san Francisco. Not only
that, this is definite unit OF nation
vide campaign that IS being initiated
tonight Ii will be followed up logi-
eaily in each state in the Union. We
propose to elect national convention
delegates, Democratic and Rcpubli-
can, who are wcts in principle We
will concentrate upon the nomination
and election OF members OF Congress /
next November who will favor light
wine and beer amendment to the Pro- /
hibition enforcement act Within the
week similar action will be taken by
responsible organizations all through
the nation"
Wet Campaign Plans
The following plan Of action was
definitely decided upon at this meet
ing:
|. The circulation OF petitions for
the nomination OF Governor Edward /
l. Edwards, of New Jersey, as the
Democratic candidate for President
,. Confronting all candidates for
delegates to both the Democratic and
Republican national convention in
April 18th primary with the question,
"Are you wet or dry"
B. Asking all candidates for Con-
gress in Illinois, regardless of party, |
to take a direct stand ON the pro-
posal: Are you in favor OF light
wine and beer amendment to the pres
cnt Prohibition enforcement act?'
On February u the Chicago city
council judiciary committee passed a
resolution, with but one dissenting
vote, requesting the Legislature to
withdraw the states endorsement OF
the Constitutional Prohibition amend |
ment in order that the question may
be submitted to referendum of the !
voters OF Chicago and Illinois,
New York Democrats Wet
That the fight OF the wcts is nation
wide in its scope is apparent from
activities in other states. On Febru
ary 26 the Democratic state convcn-
ton at Albany, n. y, included wet
plank in its platform. This plank |
reads in part. "We are unalterably |
opposed TO Prohibition by Federal
amendment. We believe it is an un-
reasonable interference with the rights
OF the states as guaranteed by the
Constitution We feel that the recent
enactment was the imposition of the
ideas OF an active minority against
the wishes of the great majority of
the American people"
Judges Hit Dry Law
On March | Federal Judge Geiger
upheld the Wisconsin state law per-
mtting the sale OF $50 beer in the
state, granting an injunction restrain
ing the government from interfering
with the sale of stronger than onc-half
of | per cent beer.
On February rs Judge Thompson,
in the United States District Court in
Philadelphia. refused to grant an in
junction to restrain a local saloon