The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1930-10-01

United States senator from Illinois. 1t is
a new experience for me to be running as
an Independent 1 have been Republic
can all my life and have been four times
elected to the state legislature as Re-
publican was delegate to the Repub-
lican convention at Springfield and have
always been closely identified with the
affairs of the Republican party. 1t is in
eyitable therefore, that I shall be asked
to give an adequate reason why. as can
didate for the senate, l now wear the
label of an Independent. 1t is a part OF
my duty to inform the voters Of the con-
ditions which have led up to this cam
didacy and to submit to them the entire
case.
REAL REPUBLICANISM
We are a government of parties and as
such must be cautious in bringing about
a disintegration of the system, so long
as the party spends its energies in pro-
noting and guarding the welfare OF our
people as a whole and Is not diverted
from the course through improper influ-
ences. When that happens, there is but
one recourse and that is to serve notice
on the party leaders that they have gone
too far and to refuse to follow them.
Illinois has been satisfied with the Re-
publican party through many years. AT
the last national convention held in Kan
sas City, when Herbert Hoover was nom
mated no protest was made by the Re
publicans of this state upon the adoption
of the party platform. On the contrary,
the Kansas City platform was everywhere
hailed as high-water mark of national
Republicanism. Among various policies
adopted were those of prohibition and
law enforcement The words expressing
the attitude of the national party on that
subject were:
1--WE reaf1irm our position in favor of the
Eighteenth Amendment and stand for
the efficient enforcement of the laws en-
acted Hereunder"
NATIONAL PLATFORM CLEAR
No chance for misunderstanding here;
there is no evasion in that statement.
Further, the platform of the Republican
party in Illinois, adopted the same year
at Springfield. included the following
plank: 1.-The Republican party stands
suuarely for law enforcement. The ex-
istence of government depends upon OBJ
servance of and respect for law" Nor is
there any evasion here. The people of IL
linois expressed their approval OF these
principles of Republicanism as set forth
in the party platform, and the result was
an overwhelming victory.
What, then, has happened to bring
about the widespread unrest and dissatls-
faction in the Republican ranks oil the
state? What has happened to bring about
the Independent candidacy of one who
has been lifelong Republican? l will
briefly recount to you the story of the
events leading up to the breaking of our
ranks, and in doing so I hope to make
clear to you that the only real Repubh-
can candidate to be elected United States
senator on November A. 1880 is the indie
pendent.
SMOKE SCREEN ISSUES
I want to say here that agree with
those who think that economic questions
should be holding the stage at thisetime,
but deny the charge made in some
quarters that the prohibition issue has
been thrust to the front by its friends. 1t
is not the drys who are guilty of subordi-
mating such vital questions as unemploy-
ment and the Anticipated system OF tax
alton in Illinois to the question of prohi-
bition 1t is the vets who have done this.
Through the maneuvering of some OF
our leaders who seem to have been actu-
ated more by personal ambition and de-
sire to control the state, regardless OF
means employed, than by a desire to serve
the people of Illinois; as well as the eolos-
sal error on the part of our prohibition
people in failing to be as active in broad
casting the advantage of prohibition as
the vets have been in decrying it, We are
faced with this unfortunate situation.
can best describe the situation by ind1-
about