The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-19
Beer for Illinois?

, Deer
the Volstead prohibition act An organization
embracing the leaders of the liberal element
has been formed and plans are under way for
an intensive campaign to be carried into every
county in the state. In order to get the propo-
sition on the ballot, however, it will be neces-
sary to secure the signatures of 10 per cent
of those who voted at the last general election.
Anyone knowing the ease with which it is pos
sible to obtain names to petition appreciates
that this part OF the wet campaign will be
simple
The vets undertaking promises reopening
of the old battle of the state forces aligned on
either side of the liquor question, fight that
it was supposed was ended when the Volstead
act was passed by the national congress in
response to affirmative action by the state
legislatures Of the country. Campaigns SIM
liar to that proposed in Illinois already are
being organized in New York and Ohio by the
wet forc&s. 1t may be expected that the wet
crowd will have unlimited capital and it is
likely that the dry forces will be well
equipped financially to conduct their battle as
they have been in previous campaigns.
In Illinois the dry forces will attempt to
prevent a vote on the beer and wine proposition
by appeal to the courts. Putting aside the legal
aspects of the case and assuming that the pro-
posal will be placed on the November ballot,
what is to be the attitude of the people of the
state? Illinois is dry by vote of its legislature,
the members of which supposed to have
represented the sentiment of the people at the
time they voted the liquor question.
The legalized saloon has disappeared, but
in its stead We have so-called soft drink bars,
at the majority of which it is possible to pur
chase hard liquor, most Of it Of the homemade
variety The vets may be expected to take full
advantage of the conditions that have followed
in the wake of the Volstead act.
On the other hand the dry forces will have
facts to prove their side of the argument that
the prohibition act, despite its loose enforce
ment. has greatly minimized the drinking evil
in this country; that there is less drunkenness
and consequently less suffering in homes whose
members formerly wasted their time and money
in public bars.
There isn't any doubt that there has been
less drinking in the nation since passage of the
Volstead law. Making it more difficult to get
liquor has been most effective among the cas-
uaI drinkers, those who could take a nip or
leave it alone, but people who didn't crave the
stuff enough to pay fancy price for it. The
legalized saloon and resort where intoxicating
drinks were doed out have ceased to exist in
this country Legally, there is but one place
at which citizen may obtain hard liquor, and
that is at drug store upon prescription OBJ
tanned from his physician.
Thus all know that there are lot Of
people who are breaking the law. You break
the law when you buy drink of whisky over
the bar. You violate the law when you obtain
a prescription from your physician to get whs-
ky under the pretense that you need it for your
health. The soft drink bar proprietor who
deals out whisky is a law breaker. There are
said to be more than hundred of these law
breakers in Rock Island alone. Federal agents
a week ago succeeded in finding one bar in
Rock Island at which whisky was being sold
The Argus believes in respect for the rights
of the majority in nation and state. The Vol
stead law manfestly was enacted in response
to the wishes of the majority of the people of
the nation The Illinois prohibition law like
wise is supposed to have been enacted in con-
formity with the wishes of the majority Of the
people Of the state. To be sure there is such
a thing as people changing their minds on
question, but The Argus doesn't believe that
the people of this country ever want to see a
return to the conditions that existed in the
liquor traffic in America prior to the enactment
of the Volstead law.
While it is very true that conditions under
prohibition are not what might be expected,
were the government to apply the law as it's
supporters intended, still start has been made
and it remains for the people to determine the
future course of the government The govern
ment. after all, is the people. and if the voters
of Illinois next fall place themselves on record
as favoring return of beer and light wines
their verdict will go long ways in settling the
status of the Volstead act in future years.
When the people of this country accepted |
prohibition they did not intend that the govern
ment should wink at the bcotlegger. The gov
eminent can put end to bootlegging and |
should do so without delay. The movement to
revive, beer and light wine is recognized by
most people effort to restore the legal
zed saloon. The people of America are opposed |
% the saloon. Beer and wine may come back
some day in this country, but when they do it
will be with the express understanding that |
hey will not have such vicious affiliations as
surrounded them in the olden days. Some day
t may be possible to purchase beer wine at
he corner grocery or drug store, just as you
low buy other merchandise, but the day has
'assed in this country when all the desirable
BUSINESS locations OF a city are controlled by |
he liquor traffic, and it is impossible to walk
own principal street without viewing an
nending procession Of drinkers passing in