The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1930-10-01
MRS. LOITlE HOLMAN O'NEILLS PLATFORM
Expressed in Her Keynote Speech Delivered Mt Carroll
Friday September &C. 1880

Republican convention on August %,
1880, went on record on the subject of
prohibition in the following words:
"Adhering to the doctrine of majority
rule. the Republican state convention
pledges its representatives in the congress
of the United States to vote consistently,
and to carry out fully the expressed will
of the people of their districts at the ref
erendum of those questions of public pol
icy in the election Of November 4. 1880
GAG RULE" AT THE STATE
CONVENTION
When statements of the intention of
the Cook county committee became pub
lie to the effect that wet plank in the
Republican platform was their objective,
many Republicans who believe in prohi-
bition began to appeal to their delegates
for relief. This widespread appeal from
all parts of the state seemed to focus
upon me. AS have said, 1 was delegate
to the convention and many petitions,
which are still in my possession, were sent
to me for presentation to the resolutions
committee In a short speech to the COM
mittee l duly presented these petitions
representing about sixty thousand voters.
I asked them to affirm again the stand of
the Republican party on the Eighteenth
Amendment and law enforcement, BUT
AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE
THAT NO RESOLUTION WOULD BE
READ TO THE CONVENTION, THERE
BY CUTTING OFF DEBATE ON ANY
SUBJECT BY THE DELEGATES.
[ thereupon presented my resolution,
supported by these sixty thousand petit
TONERS, to the secretary of the conven-
ton, who in turn handed it to the minute
ok Nf
the resolution to the resolutions commit
tee All the world knows what happened
at Springfield so far as the final outcome
was concerned, although the full story of
the inside workings has never been told.
It is known that Governor Emmerson
engaged in an overnight battle with forces
under the leadership of Bernard w.
Snow, chairman of the Cook county Re-
publican Central Committee. The protest
against these forces was very vigorous if
gag rule" had not been used by wet lead
ers in control at the convention. 1t was
then the liquor referendum plank was
adopted and the Republican nominee for
United States senator agreed to abide by
its results.
THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
This, then, is the story of the actual
break in the Republican ranks in Illinois
But back of this, and even of greater con-
Germ to our people. is the lack of stamina
on the part of our Republican leaders in
this state.
In their rush to effect an alliance with
the corrupt political forces of the stag,
dominated by the so-called city hal
group, they have forgotten their prin-
ciples, yes their Republicanism.
Many of these candidates for the legis-
lature and congress were nominated as
drys, both on their records and their ex-
pressed declarations. To pledge them aft
er their nomination to course incon-
sistent with their own promises was I'M
worthy of the great Republican leaders
who have made American history No
other excuse can be given for it except
the weak cry of political expediency
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE
SIDESTEPS
Tt came to me as distinct shock, and
I reflect upon it with increasing regret,
that the nominee on the Republican