V 



Circle bills as the most important agri- 

 cultural legislation in the session. The 

 Association believes the adoption of 

 these measures is necessary and funda- 

 mental if needed changes in our State 

 G)nstitution are to be made. The As- 

 sociation informed members of the leg- 

 islature of its position on these meas- 

 ures and stressed their importance. The 

 voting record of downstate legislators 

 on the amendment issue was given in 

 the August 1943 issue of the Record. 

 In view of the fundamental importance 

 of the Gateway Amendment and the so- 

 called Party Circle bills, this report is 

 weighted heavily by the vote and attitude 

 of members on these measures. 



Basis of Report 



This report is based entirely upon 

 the legislator's record and attitude as 

 observed in Springfield. The Associa- 

 tion has not given and obviously can- 

 not be aware of, or give consideration 

 to, the record or attitude upon local 



problems which may affect the voters' 

 decision. 



The first column of the jcport tabu- 

 lated below lists the number of regular 

 sessions of the General Assembly dur- 

 ing which the respective members have 

 served. The second column carries the 

 legislative record of the legislators as 

 determined by their votes on agricul- 

 tural legislation during the last reg- 

 ular session, together with their gen- 

 eral attitude on legislation supported or 

 opposed by the Illinois Agricultural As- 

 sociation throughout their terms of serv- 

 ice. 



Ratings Used 



A member, to receive a rating of 

 "Excellent" must have not only a sat- 

 isfactory voting record, but his general 

 attitude throughout his legislative serv- 

 ice must have been generally recognized 

 as actively supporting the Illinois Agri- 

 cultural Association's legislative pro- 

 gram. To achieve an "Excellent" rec- 

 ord, a member must also have served 



more than one two-year legislative pe- 

 riod and must have taken a favorable 

 position on highly controversial legisla- 

 tive proposals. 



First term members, to secure a "Very 

 Good" rating, must have a satisfactory 

 voting record and must have actively 

 supported the Illinois Agricultural As- 

 sociation's legislative prpgram. This rat- 

 ing is the highest given any first term 

 member. 



In compliance with the directions giv- 

 en by the delegates of the Illinois Agri- 

 cultural Association, members of the As- 

 sociation are advised that all members 

 of the present General Assembly seeking 

 reelection who are rated as "Excellent" 

 or "Very Good" are entitled to support 

 by all members and friends of the Illi- 

 nois Agricultural Association in the com- 

 ing general election. 



The records of members rated as 

 "Good" are worthy of careful consider- 

 ation in comparison with the qualifica- 

 tions of new candidates seeking office. 



[ 



OCTOBER. 1944 



