The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-03-09

signing OF the Declaration of In.
dependence nearly century and
hall ago. We arc too near the great
epochai event to properly measure its
massive magnitude. and estimate its
priceless value. But we have already
learned that the wetiest dry city is
very much drier than the driest wet
city. 1t will grow greater with the
years. No wonder leaders in both
church and state are now calling it
our greatest achievement
Enforcement Bill Passes
On May |, 1910, our Blind Tiger
bill, known as the law enforcement
bill, IN harmony with the Nolstead
act. was PASSED by the senate by the
decisive vote OF 20 to II. after hard
battle, i'll which the vets exerted every
possible resistance; the house passed
it by a vote of 80 to OF, after three
hours debate, following one OF the
heroest battles in all our legislative
history. Thus the proud State OF
Lincoln. and Douglas. and Grant. and
Logan. and Miss Frances Willard,
secured one OF the best laws of that
character in all the states. This
greatly enhanced the enforcement OF
all prihibitory laws and regulations,
and incidentally OF all other laws.
And yet, excellent as is this law. cx-
perience proved that it was not suf-
heienty comprehensive, and other
legislation was needed TO supplement
this in closing up some loop holes
and adding some very essential new
features. On that issue the next
legislature was chosen in 1920. A
tremendous campaign was waeed by
the Anti-Saloon League Enough dry
men were named at the primaries and
chosen at the elections to win out. As
a result, be tn houses OF the legislature
had dry organiza tons. The drys for
the first time elected house speaker
who was originally and still was
rock-bound dry member. This would
have been impossible without the
League campaign.
The Illinois Prohibition Act
The greater result, for which the
League was responsible, wa, the
enactment OF the Illinois Prohibition
Act, as the new law is known. The
vets put up the stiffest fight along
all lines of which they were capable.
1t was the hardest battle for Prohibi-
ton to date in all Illinois history. But
the drys won, i'll the senate by so to
L, and in the house by 81 to g.
This affirmative vote was about the
same as that. by which we gained
township option fourteen years earlier,
beyond question the
necessity for the continued
existence and activity OF the Anti
Saloon League. The governor signed
the bill with the pen OF the state
perinteudent, F. Scott Mcbride. who
was the leader in framing the bill,
with the cooperation of his League
attorney, !. Fl. Collier, and in adroitly
and persistently pushing it through
the legislature. as the climax OF
legislation in Illinois for the
OF National Constitu-
tional Prohibition. As an outcome OF
all prior proceedings, the last advance
was made in our election November 7,
1922, when VIC held our own and got
more of our own to hold.
Beer and Wine Candidates Lose
In tho election OF congressman at
large where two of the candidates
were running avowedly for beer and
light wine, and the other two were
standing openly against any weaken
ing OF the dry legislation at Washing
ton, Ex-Governor Richard Yates and
Henry X. Rathbonc the dry cand-
dates, were chosen by majority en-
ceedng 100000. That was our
answer. to the illegal, unconstitutional
referendum on the beer and wine
measure. The people were intelligent
enough to recognize the move as wet
propaganda, and sinister nuilihca-
ton propc sal, and to see with Chief
Justice TAFT that "The makeshift OF
beer and wine would make the Eight
zenith Amendment d laughing stock
He laughs best who laughs last. We
have been winners.
Enforcement Duty of Oficials-Status
Take a look at existing conditions.
Our upto-date laws especially
emphasize the duty OF every state and
local official, including county boards,
as the true local unit, to rigidly en-
force the laws. This is the true
theory. On assuming office such
agents OF the people take solemn
oath to see that all laws are enforced,
including Prohibition laws. They
draw salaries for that purpose The
people arc taxed to pay those salaries,
and they have an inalicnable right to
! eu1and that ali cflcars mol lie naoG