The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-02
I''LE On ]
)||ER quEsTION
IDoNSIN STATE

(epecial % the Argus. (


WashinstCn, Sept. IA wet ard
80 nght With lines drawn even
Doee sharply than they have bsen
~ year IN other states Ii foreseen
~ Illinois In 1874 BY men in Wash
.1ugtCn Who are familiar with c0n-
1lllcns In the sta4e.
According 70 their predictions
~ forces throughout the state, dis
satisfied With present enforcement
q the 18th amendment. are de-
ierInined to bring matters to a
shOaS -down two years hence. by de-
manding q definite declaration on
ne prohibition issue from con-
gressional and state candidates.
National heads OF the prohibition
bureau here hive given color to
this forecast by admitted dissatis-
motion with the Illinois situation at
various times.
At present they declare them
selves optimistic over the outlook
for stricter enforcement through
ont the state, but are giving atten-
ton to q number Of cases where
compliance with the Volstead act in
Illinois has not been satisfactory to
them.
Press bulletins recounting prog
ress in stopping Illicit distribution
Of liquor in various states are is
sued almost daily at prohibition
headquarters in Washington. ILL
8 nois, however, is one of the few
states OF which mention is rarely
made, indicating that the reports
from the state have not been to the
liking Of Commissioner Haynes and
his assistants.
Seek Shorts Removal.
Frequent rumors Of impending
displacement Of district prohibition
officers in Illinois are communicated
to Illinois members Of congress,
usually in the form OF protests from
dry" leaders. A typical instance
concerns Charles Short, East st.
Louis, an agent who was recently
wounded by q charge of buckshot
while raiding an alleged bootleg
gers establishment. Numerous let
ters have been received in Washing
ton from the Twenty second dis
trtct. stating that rumors Of Shorts
removal are being circulated. w. c
T. U. leaders are rallying to Shorts
support and have asked Senators
Mccormick and Mckinley to retain
him In his present Office. Der
Lautx, Belleville, has been men.
toned as Shorts successor, but II
being opposed by the same elemen
which favors the incumbent
Coupled with this and similar in
stances are rumors that Charles A
Gregory, state prohibition director
formerly of Lovington, is soon t
resign. The opinion is held in re
sponsible quarters here that Direc
tor Haynes is particularly dissatis
fed with alleged failure of loca
authorities in certain sections o
the state to cooperate with fedora
prohibition agents. and holds then
largely responsible for the failur
Of some sections of Illinois to dr.,
up as quickly as.others.
Gregory Not,Supported.
State Uirect0t'GregOry, 1t is hell
here, has not, had thorough coop
Grafton from his own deputies, an,
the recent removal of many of tn
latter is accepted here as evidenc
d that fact.
In recent primaries in Missouri
Ohio, Iowa, Texas and West Wiz
gtnia and in those now in progress
in Wisconsin, Maryland, Michiga
and New Jersey, the prohibition is
sue has assumed tremendous in
portance with "wets" and "drys
contendtng as determinedly as bt
forc the adoption Of the prohibitio
amendment
The 18th congressional district
Illinois. where w. f. Hull, Peoria,
y candidate ON a beer and ligl
wine platform, is the main battl,
ground ON the liquor issue in IL
state this year, but two years hent
Anti-Saloon league leaders here a,
init they plan to carry the fight
every quarter Of Illinois.