The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1930-09-01
THE REFERENDUM MERELY A
SMOKE SCREEN

In re-affirming this policy we wish to
call attention to the contents of the ref
erendum now proposed for our state and
we offer the following suggestion as rea-
son why they are not worthy of serious
consideration by the dry forces.
The first proposition is. Shall the
Eighteenth Amendment to the eonstitu
ton of the United States which among
other things prohibits the manufacture,
sale or transportation of intoxicating nq-
nor for beverage purposes within the
United States be repealed" This PROPOSE
ton is destructive and rot constructive
and offers no substitute plan TO control
the iniquitous traffic. Until the vets offer
some alternative plan which is calculated
to accomplish the same general end there
is no reason why the drys should partici-
pate in referendum on the question.
Repeating the Eighteenth Amendment
is merely an academic proposition. To re-
peal the amendment would require the
approval of the legislatures of three
fourths of the states and this could never
be accomplished since thirty-two states
were already dry by constitutional pro-
vision or by state enactment prior to the
adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment,
therefore agitation to repeal is not what
it seems but is an attack on law enforce
ment and leads to anarchy and chaos.
The second proposition proposes to leave
the determination of the alcoholic content
of permitted liquor to the states. Upon
this subject Senator Borah, of Idaho, once
made the following Illuminating comment:
IF this referendum interrogatory has
any meaning at all it is that every state
shall determine for itself its own con-
struction of and obligation to the consti-
tuition of the United States. and that con-
struction is to bind the federal govern
ment.
THAT doctrine was shot to death at the
Battle of the Wilderness. A reunited and
disenthralled and happy nation has put it
behind us for all time Now, what these
advocates of the referendum want, when
they speak candidly and plainly, is the
right to sell and transport intoxicating
liquor. What they want is to transfer the
control of this question to the states and
these things they want to do by nullify-
inc the constitution instead Of amending
it."
The third proposition on the proposed
referendum is, shall the Illinois prohibi-
ton act be repealed?" This proposition is
straight in the teeth of the Eighteenth
Amendment which provides for the con-
current enforcement of the amendment
by the federal and state governments. A
favorable vote on this proposition while
not conclusive or binding on any official
would be an encouragement to bootleggers
and tend to defeat enforcement since Of
fenses against the Eighteenth Amend
ment could not be prosecuted in the state
courts, and the federal courts would be
flooded with prosecutions which could not
be brought TO a conclusion, and enforce
ment of the law would be paralyzed.
Wet referenda are merely smoke screens
thrown out by the vets to distract atten-
ton from the main issues. namely the
election of dry candidates for state and
federal Offices.
To engage in these referenda diverts
needed funds from the election of dry
candidates and eXpends them in securing
mere expression of opinion on PROPOSE
tons which have no binding force.
And in this particular instance in Illf-
nois it is known in advance that with the
election machinery in Cook county Of both
parties in the hands of the vets and hon
est count is practically impossible and a
candidate following it would have to vote
wet.
MRS. O'NEILB WILL GIVE TRUST
WORTHY LEADERSHIP
In conclusion we repeat; the voters of
Illinois, both Democrats and Republicans,
are entitled to candidates who will not
talk referenda but who will give clean-cut,
trustworthy leadership.
Mrs I,Ottie Holman O'Nei1l furnishes