War On Department Stores

Springfield, Hls., March 23.- The Cook County Business Men's association, 400 strong, arrived from Chicago on a Wabash special at 7:05 Tuesday morning. This imposing delegation is here to wage a war until death on the great department stores of Chicago. It was followed about noon by another special train wlth an additiona 200. The Springfield Business Men's association and Grocers' association sent committees to the train and escorted the visitors to the Leiand hotel. The procession, headed by the Illinois Watch Company's band, marched through the streets in a drizzling rain. The delegates, with the yellow badges, filled the Leland hotel and headquarters were immediately opened in Room 4 on the ground floor. The band then went to the other hotels and escorted to the Leland the delegates which had arrived from other cities. Shortly after 9 o'clock another procession was formed and proceeded to the state house, passing through the executive grounds. As the delegation approached the executive mansion Governor Tanner appeared on the front porch and Mrs. Tanner viewed the procession from an upstairs window. Moses Solomon greeted the governor and briefly explained the mission of the delegation. He said: "On behalf of this delegation, representing the manufacturing and laboring interests of Illinois, we have come here to ask for a law to abolish department stores. It is a great pleasure for us to pay our respects to the governor of the state this morning, believing, as we do, that you will assist us in the future, as you have in the past. Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce Governor Tanner." [Loud applause.] Some in the delegation proposed three cheers, which were given enthusiastically. Governor Tanner responded as follows: "Senator Solomon and fellow citizens of the great city of Chicago and of Illinois: I am more than pleased at this meeting and compliment you as your respects not to Governor Tanner, ,but to the executive of the great state of Illinois. Gentlemen, I thank vou. As to the mission you are on, in favor of the department store bilí, I wish to say that bilí has not reached the executive branch of the government. After the legisiative branch passes upon it, then the executive has the right to exercise his veto. This bilí has not reached me, and I can take no action until it does. My sympathies are always ■with the weak, and if the bill passes both branches of the legislature I will examine it carefully and if I believe it is constitutional I will take great pleasure in signing the bill." [Applause.] Three cheers were then given to Mrs. Tanner. The delegation then proceeded to the capitol building. After sharp debate the anti-deparcment store bill was amended in the senate Tuesday so as to apply ta cities of 50,000 or more inhabitants.