The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1931-04-01
ADDRESS AGAINST REPEAL OF ILLINOIS PROHIBITION LAWS
DELIVERED BYHo ANDREWS cBER1soN SENATE MARCH

Mr.. President and Members OF the Senate:
ask the indulgence of the members OF
the senate while I discuss at some length
the most important piece of legislation
which has been before this body for con-
sideration since I have had the honor of
being a member of it.
I am going to endeavor to confine my
remarks to the legal aspects of this propo-
sition and not indulge in any personali-
ties; and I want it definitely understood
at the outset that anything I may say has
no personal application to any member of
this body. I grant to every senator the
right to vote upon any measure in any
way his conscience may dictate for am
firm believer in the constitutional proVi-
sion that no senator shall be questioned in
any other place for any speech he may
make here; and I claim for myself the
same right that [ grant to others.
In 1919 the Eighteenth Amendment to
the constitution of the United States was
ratified and became a part of the organic
law of this nation January 16, 1920. 1t is
as follows:
Section l. After one year from the
ratification of this article the manu-
facture, sale or Importation Of intoXi-
eating liquors Within the importation
thereof into, or the expectation thereof
FROM the United States and all terri
tory subject to the jurisdiction there
Of for beverage purposes is hereby
prohibited.
Section 2: That congress and the
several states shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by ap-
propriate legislation.
In compliance with the provisions of
this amendment the Illinois prohibition
ooh hxT "a
and became part of the law of this state.
Why? Because the injurious effects of the
liquor traffic and Intoxicating liquor upon
society have always been recognized in
this state, and from a very early period
such traffic has been regulated and re-
strained by stringent legislation culminat-
ing in the dram-shop act of 1874 and the
local option law of 1907. Up until the eff
fective date of wartime prohibition, July
1, 1919, the state was under license and
local option. The so-called search and
seizure law was enacted and took effect
July l. 1919, in order to assist in effective
enforcement of wartime prohibition.
When the Eighteenth Amendment was
adopted the legislature enacted the COM
plete enforcement code known as the ILL
noiS prohibition act, thereby discharging
its obligation to the federal government
under Section of the Eighteenth Amend
ment.
1t is now proposed by the O'GradyMc-
Dermott bill, pending in this senate and
under consideration at this time, to repeal
the Illinois prohibition act and also the
search and seizure law The repeal meas
ure is in these terms
Section l. An act to restrict the
manufacture, sale, transportation,
possession and use of Intoxicating liq-
uors, aiding thereby in establishing
uniformity in state and federal laws
in regard thereto approved June 81,
1921 and IAN act to restrict the man
ufacture, possession and use of in
toxicating liquor within prohibition
territory" approved June q, 1919, are
repealed.
REPEAL WOULD WIPE OUT ALL
STATE PROHIBITORY LAWS
If this bill shall pass the senate, be
signed by the governor or allowed to be-
come a law without his signature, where
will that leave us so far as the state of