The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-07-01

SlcCuon. ihey pnDnsnSu III theii
July, 1920, bulletin an analysis OF the
character and qualifications of the
outgoing members OF the Legislature
In that bulletin they condemn eighteen
members OF the House OF Representa-
tives as having made poor records.
Sixteen of the eighteen were from
Cook county. They classify eleven
as having little legislative capacity
and unsatisfactory records, OF these
seven were from Cook county. In
other words OF the twenty-nine mem
bers with unsatisfactory records
twenty-three were from Cook county
and six from down state or less than
six per cent of down state members
were marked as having poor or UNI
satisfactory records while forty-one
per cent OF the Cook co11ty delega-
ton were so classified Only fifty
nine per cent of the Cook county del
egation received any sort of COM
IiSiudlipii WHY hSdliA ninety NV
per cent OF the down state represen-
tatives were commended.
A great deal has been said alleging
poverty in both wealth and man tim
Der i'll that part OF the state called
Egypt" But the Legislative Not-
ers' League commends the record OF
all twenty-one representatives from
that territory except one OF whom
they make the mild indictment of
having a "colorless record and appar-
emily slight legislative qualification. "
One OF the members from Hardin
county, the smallest county in the
state, they characterize as follows:
Ending his fifth term with an ex-
oellent record is a thoroughly efficient
member who possesses sound judg-
ment and who can be relied upon to
vote conscientiously.
OF some OF the other members from
Egypt they speak as follows:
Efficient. able and extremely val
liable legislator"
Ending his third term with an ex-
ccllent record, an earnest and eff
cient member
Ending his fifth term, a thoroughly
dependable member
Ending his fourth term with an
excellent record; is one of the most
trustworthy and capable members of
the House, attends constantly to
work"
Ending his first term with a
highly creditable record; is hard work
ing and capable"
~ 1t might be we'll to remember that
Lincoln and Logan and Bryan came
from southern Illinois and many other
honest and faithful citizens have been
contributed to the state from the
counties of Egypt" Shall these
counties be denied at least one mem
Der IN the Legislature?
In reviewing the candidates for
nomination the Legislative Voters
League in its bulletin of October,
1920, wrote OF candidate from the
Second Senatorial district in Chicago
as follows: Occupation unknown;
under indictment on charge of illegal
voting" He was elected to the SEN
ate in November, 1920
OF another it wrote as follows
According to the records of the
Criminal Court he was indicted for
larceny of an automobile, Sept. Z,
1915 pleaded guilty to that charge
Nov. ?, 1915 and was put on proba-
ton by Judge Thomson for one year.
The records also show that on Au-
gust 80, 1912 he was sentenced to the
House of Correction on fine OF fifty
dollars and costs for disorderly con
duct" He was elected in November,
1920, to the Legislature for two years.
This man was from the Fourth Sena-
torial district in the city OF Chicago.
The Legislative Voters League
testimony is convincing that the in
forests OF good government demands
that the big city of our state like the
large cities of othtr states be not per-
mitted to control the Legislature.
Anti-Saloon League Under Obliga-
ton to Take Part
From the above record the Anti
Saloon League feels that it would be
unjust to its constituency and would
fail in its trust were it to fall short
in doing its best to keep Cook
county, whose representation favors
in a great majority the outlawed liq-
nor traffic, from controlling the state.
This becomes especially important in
view OF the fact that the vets have
shown such strength, activity and de-
termination to defy the Eighteenth
Amendment in the legislative session
that has just closed. A survey of the