The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-03-24
ILLINOIS is PIVOT IN
WET VOTE FIGHT
Hull of Peoria is Out to Get Ireland's
Congressional Seat
(Herald-Ex. March 20)

L COlld. ILL, MdiCH - uS piNotat
wet and dry congressional primary
contest OF the United States has dc
yeloped in the Sixteenth Congressional
District OF Illinois. 1t has been
precipitated by the candidacy OF
William E. Hull, former partner OF
r. d. Clarke in the whisky making
business. He is attempting to un-
seat Congressman Clifford Ireland,
who voted for the Eighteenth Amend
ment and the Nolstead act. Both
are Peorians.
Mr.. Ircland's only promise TO his
constituents in previous campaigns
has been that he pledged himself too
represent what he considered the ma
jority sentiment OF his district, When
the Eighteenth Amendment came up
he made survey OF his district and
found it TO be 6S per cent dry. He,
accordingly, voted dry. When the
Nolstead act was up he believed that
the machinery for enforcement was
necessary and voted for the bill.
Bitterly Opposed
As a result of these votes the vets
in Peoria have bitterly opposed Mr.
ireland. Two years ago they at
tempted to defeat him by bringing
out as his opponent an ultra-dry. Mt
ireland won in the primary by 1000
and in the election by 28,00O
This year, the wet organization
has reversed its position and has
brought out one OF its own "insid-
crs." Mr.. Hull, on his past record
may be considered an ultra-wet lie
| made 100000 in the manufacture
OF whisky. He was a lobbyist at
Springfield for the Illinois liquor in
tercst for years and has made many
political campaigns for the vets.
If successful Mr.. Hull undoubtcd-
" will become one of the leading
Spokesman of the wet interests in
, Congress.
Mr.. Hull has started his campaign
with display OF political pyrotcch-
MICS uncqualed in Peoria. Every one
here is acquainted with the money
: spending ability of the old Clark
Hull whisky faction, which at one
time had a death grip on local city
politics
! Was Field Manager
Mr.. Hull was field manager OF this
outfit. while Mr.. Clarke was sup
: posed to furnish the brains.
: With Prohibition and the closing
: of Pcoria's more than 800 twenty
7 four-hour- day saloons, the Hull
control began TO wane and ended
: with the defeat Of +. n Woodruff,
who had been mayor for seven terms.
: Mr.. Hull claims TO be a business
man candidate and gives as his rea-
son for entering the race the TACT
: that petition bearing $4,000 names
requesting him TO do SO was pre-
scented to him
This petition, it is alleged was cir
: culated at the instignation of the
Woodruff Whitney Hull combination,
and many names on it were secured
by paid circulators at the rate of five
cents a name.
No Promises Made
No promises or indications of "
ture policy have been made by Mr..
Hull, other than saying he will rep
resent the people OF the district i'll
|
Congressman Ireland was well
coined home at banquet given i'll
his honor by 500 of his friends at the
Jefferson Hotel.
He pronounced himself squarley
out in the open on the whisky issue.
81 have no apology for my record
he said. There it is, six years OF IT,
including my votes Tor Prohibition
and the Volstcad act | would not
: change my record. If | am renom-
mated and reelected | will represent
the sentiment OF my constituents as
| believe it to exist
> Mr.. ireland has strong following
among the farmers. The soldiers
are for him almost to man for his
activity in their behalf at Washing
ton. The women gave him huge
majority last time.
On account of Congress being in
session, Mr. ireland has returned to
his duties at Washington. He has
left his campaign. in the hands of his
former secretary, William c. Barnes,
and his friends